Some think that, in contrast to miracles & martyrdom, the fear of perpetual torment in hell may be what drove the early growth of Christianity. After all, who WOULDN’T want to avoid eternal fiery torture?

Here’s what I said about that in my book Triumph of Christianity (Simon & Schuster)

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I’ve indicated that fire and brimstone preaching won many converts in early Christianity.  What about the idea that the stalwart faith of Christian martyrs, the willingness to “die for the truth” had a big effect on ancient people as well?  As it turns out, those two were closely related.

The horrors of hell may have been the argument for why people should convert, but

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