The disappearance of hell is not simply a curious episode in the evolution of Christianity. On the contrary it presupposes a profound disruption, a revolutionary restructuring. A Christianity without hell is something completely different than a Christianity with hell
–Robert Joly, “Petite histoire de l’enfer,” in Jean Préaux, ed., Problèmes d’histoire du Christianisme 2 (1970-1971) (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut d’Histoire du Christianisme), p. 27.