The Oxford Handbook of EschatologyJerry L. Walls Professor of Philosophy of Religion Asbury Theological Seminary Oxford University Press, USA, 2007 M10 31 - 744 pages Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thoughtfrom the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformationthese issues were of the utmost importance. In other religions, too, eschatological concerns were central. After the Enlightenment, though, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of an embarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of phenomena that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. From the rapid expansion of fundamentalist forms of Christianity, with their focus on the end times; to the proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements; to the recent (and very public) debates about suicide, martyrdom, and paradise in Islam, interest in eschatology is once again on the rise. In addition to its popular resurgence, in recent years some of the worlds most important theologians have returned eschatology to its former position of prominence. The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology will provide an important critical survey of this diverse body of thought and practice from a variety of perspectives: biblical, historical, theological, philosophical, and cultural. This volume will be the primary resource for students, scholars, and others interested in questions of our ultimate existence. |
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already American apocalyptic appear argued become beginning belief biblical body Book of Revelation called century Christ Christian church claims coming concept concern continue creation culture dead death developed discussion divine doctrine early earth eschatology especially eternal evil example existence expectation experience fact faith final freedom future God’s Grand Rapids heaven hell hope human idea important individual interpretation issue Jesus Jewish John judgment kingdom later liberation literature living London means millennialism moral nature Oxford Pentecostal period person philosophical physical political position possible present problem progress promise prophetic purgatory question reality reason relation Religion religious resurrection Revelation salvation sense social society soul Spirit Studies teaching Testament texts theologians theology theory things thought traditional transformation understanding University Press vision York