First off in the interview, I think it's interesting that Martin Bashir's first question for Bell is a variation on the ancient formulation of the problem of evil - popularly attributed first to Epicurus, but restated in various ways by various people.  The formulation goes as follows:

The upshot is either that there isn't a God, or that God is not as we typically think Him to be.  Bashir substitutes "suffering" for "evil", but the argument is the same.  The argument is flawed in that it only admits of two possible solutions to the problem of evil, both of which dictating that God is not who He has told us He is.  The Bible provides an explanation of why there is evil/suffering in the world, as well as a description of how God has dealt with evil/suffering, is dealing with it, and will ultimately deal with it.  

Bell doesn't bother to answer this question.  Granted, he's probably nervous and geared up to talk about something much different - a la his new book.  The question as Bashir phrases it is not a paradox of God - it's a much repeated yet easily answered question.  As much media attention as Bell is used to, it surprises me that he doesn't demonstrate it for the illogical question that it is - but hey, I'm sure even famous people get jittery on television.  

Bashir drives home the pertinent question regarding universalism after Bell denies that he's a universalist and yet attempts to defend a vaguely universalistic stance as within the Christian tradition.  If God/love wins ultimately, then what is the worry about evangelism in this lifetime?  Why share the love of Jesus with others, why spend hours each day fretting about and trying to figure out how to share the hope of eternity with God with friends and family who don't share this belief, if ultimately it doesn't much matter what they believe before they die because they end up with all their options on the table?

Bell wants to argue that the afterlife is nothing but speculation.  And while I'm willing to agree to a certain point that we need to be careful, Scripture does speak to this issue.  If Scripture is maintained to be the inspired Word of God, then we have to listen to what Scripture says on this topic rather than insist that we can't possibly know anything about it since it only is revealed after death.  Bell wants to insist that it matters a great deal about what we believe in this life, yet he isn't logically consistent.  He claims that it's important, but he has no answer to Bashir's question.  He goes immediately to the classic questions about salvation (what about those who never hear the Gospel?) 

Bell identifies himself primarily as a pastor, and it's true that we deal with people who have questions and struggles.  But if the answer is simply to say hey, lots of people who call themselves Christians have come up with some interesting and very conflicting ideas on this topic - why don't you just choose one of these viewpoints that you resonate with since they're all 'Christian'?, you're not being very pastoral at all.  You're taking the easy road out and putting it back on the person rather than taking them to Scripture.  It's Bell's responsibility to help people sort out all of these various responses in light of Scripture.  It's my responsibility as well.  And sometimes, it's our job to sit there with that person struggling and hurting and just be.  To witness to the very Biblical truth that life is messy (because we have made it so) and life is painful (because we have made it so) and that this does not deny that God exists and is ultimately in control and loves us deeply.  Our job is to lead that person to the cross and remind them of what God has done for us through His Son.  

It's OK to have questions - the Bible leaves plenty of room for questions.  But we need to be very careful about how quickly we leap into the gap where Scripture doesn't give us the answers we'd like.  We need to be very careful about which parts of Scripture we attempt to drown out in order to shout out the comforting words that our parishioners (and ourselves) wish to hear.  The greatest comfort Scripture gives us is Jesus, and I don't remember Bell mentioning Jesus in this brief interview.  

I look forward to reading this book, even as evidence seems to mount that Bell's position is not orthodox on this issue.