The Theology of Hell -- as Jesus taught It

"... the Greco-medieval vision of hell remains a dominant element in the worldview of many Western Christians today.  The threat of being punished for eternity by an all-loving but sadistic God seems to be so prevalent that the average church-goer might be forgiven for assuming that fear of a literal hell is actually the heart of the so-called good news. The not-so-biblical version of Hell has become such a pillar of the evangelical enterprise that those who understand the gospel as simply glorified fire insurance or a Get Out of Hell Free card are left asking, if there's no Hell, then why be a Christian?". Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity, Felton and Proctor-Murphy, p, 100.