Hell is the absence of God; the one place in all existence where He may not be found. Christians generally believe what they are taught until something greater is revealed to them. Are there conflicting statements about Hell? Absolutely yes, and absolutely no.
Hell was created for Lucifer and the angels with him who rebelled against God. Being eternal beings, they were condemned to eternal damnation. So hell is a very real place. The lake of fire is the best known component of Hell, but I believe that Hell is more than just that. I believe that outer darkness plays a part as well, for those who are cast away from Heaven but not to the eternal fire.
In Romans 2 we learn that "All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in Gods sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous." So the one who has never learned about Christ will be judged differently from those who have heard and have rejected Him. If there is different judgment, then there is a different fate and consequently multiple facets to Hell.
In Revelations we learn that some will be cast into the fire and consumed; the second death. This is the destruction of body and soul in Hell. It is a far better fate than eternal damnation. This shows that God's judgment is fair; that there isn't simply eternal reward or eternal damnation. Each of us will be judged according to our works.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes unto the Father but by me." By coming to the presence of God, we are able to actually behold our Creator. The question is, if Hell has segments, wouldn't Heave as well? What of the pious and good hearted person who lives his life by God's standards but that never learned of the Savior? I personally believe that it is possible for them to make it to Heaven, though they will never be in the actual presence of the Father. Romans 2 gives some support to this idea by saying "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them."
Jesus spoke more about Hell in the Gospels than He did about Heaven. He intended for us to know that it was a real place with dire consequence.
This is what I believe from what has been taught and what I have studied. The true nature of the Lord is revealed not by the fallible words of men, but in the perfect record of His word. Anyone stating opinions about the subject would be well suited to support their opinions with what is written in the Bible. We may all be wrong, but the word of the Lord is perfect.