Michael Bahry
Michael Bahry
Adjunct Faculty | Religious & Theological Studies
Abstract: At the age of 53, Michael Bahry went back to school to study Christianity, and earned two graduate degrees in theology and Biblical studies from Providence College. The thesis for the second degree, Hell and the Savior of the World, was accepted “with distinction,” and was later edited, expanded, and published as a book. Michael teaches “The Quest for the Ultimate” at Salve, where students bring their own spiritual perspectives into dialogue with the great religions of the world, and consider how religious vision impacts concrete human needs.
In 2014, Michael founded the non-profit Fifty-Three: Five, which provides spiritual and material assistance to the underprivileged. Fifty-Three: Five has an all-volunteer workforce, including his work as executive director; every penny donated goes to those in need.
Featured Spring 2025
HELL IS A BAD WORD
A Place of Never-Ending Punishment that Jesus of Nazareth Never Spoke of
Michael Bahry
Abstract: Vatican II recognized that salvation is available to all people and not just Catholics; Catholic doctrine develops over time. Pope Francis recently said, “I like to think of hell as empty, I hope it is,” and he shares this hope with some very distinguished theologians. It may be that the English word “hell” and its definition are the reason many hope it is empty.
Michael’s book examines the words and the passages in the Bible that have been translated and interpreted as “hell” to see if they indicate a place of never-ending punishment in the afterlife; a place where forgiveness is lost forever. The focus of the book is on the mercy and justice of God, and it questions the definition of hell, and the use of the word in the Bible. The book achieved #1 status on Amazon for “New Releases of Books on Ecumenism.”
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Published by Mercy Publishers, 2023.
McKillop Library Main Collection: BT836.3 .B347 2023