The Oxford Handbook of EschatologyJerry L. Walls Oxford University Press, 2007 M12 3 - 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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... possible, but these three highlight the fact that mainstream interpreters have read the Apocalypse in very different ways. These differences also point up one of the most fundamental tensions in this field of theology, namely, that ...
... possible, but these three highlight the fact that mainstream interpreters have read the Apocalypse in very different ways. These differences also point up one of the most fundamental tensions in this field of theology, namely, that ...
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... possible to speak of eschatology in a fashion that is too broad to be of any use in this discussion. It is insufficient to assert that eschatology is expressed in hopeful promises or expectations of a brighter future, especially if that ...
... possible to speak of eschatology in a fashion that is too broad to be of any use in this discussion. It is insufficient to assert that eschatology is expressed in hopeful promises or expectations of a brighter future, especially if that ...
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... the righteousness enjoined by the prophets. This definition is not bound to any distinct genre, since eschatology is characterized by themes and motifs possible in prose, poetry, or any manner of literary form. By contrast, “apocalypse”
... the righteousness enjoined by the prophets. This definition is not bound to any distinct genre, since eschatology is characterized by themes and motifs possible in prose, poetry, or any manner of literary form. By contrast, “apocalypse”
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... possible, however, to speak of a literary function of the genre as “intended to interpret present, earthly circumstances in light of the supernatural world and of the future, and to influence both the understanding and the behavior of ...
... possible, however, to speak of a literary function of the genre as “intended to interpret present, earthly circumstances in light of the supernatural world and of the future, and to influence both the understanding and the behavior of ...
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... possible to have an interpretation of Judaism which claims to remain a part of that religious tradition without accepting the literal implementation of the laws (e.g., circumcision) for matters of belief and practice while retaining the ...
... possible to have an interpretation of Judaism which claims to remain a part of that religious tradition without accepting the literal implementation of the laws (e.g., circumcision) for matters of belief and practice while retaining the ...
Contents
Eschatology in the Early Church Fathers | |
Jewish Eschatology | |
Failed Prophecy Apocalypticism and | |
Roman Catholic Theology | |
Eastern Orthodox Eschatology | |
Protestant Theology | |
Fundamentalist Theology | |
Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology | |
Process Eschatology | |
A Latitudinal Perspective | |
Muslim Eschatology | |
Buddhist Eschatology | |
Hindu Eschatology | |
Eschatology in Christian Feminist Theologies | |
Church Ecumenism and Eschatology | |
Millennialism | |
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Common terms and phrases
afterlife ancient annihilationism apocalyptic literature apocalypticism argued belief Bible biblical body Book of Revelation Buddha Buddhist Cambridge Catholic century Christ Christian eschatology church concept contemporary cosmic culture dead death dispensationalism divine doctrine early Christian earth earthly ecumenism Eerdmans eschata eschaton eternal Eucharist evangelical evil faith final Fortress freedom future God’s Gospel Grand Rapids Hal Lindsey heaven hell Holy hope human Ibid idea immortality individual interpretation Islamic Israel Jehovah’s Witnesses Jesus Jewish Jews John Judaism judgment kingdom last things liberation living Mahāyāna means messianic millenarian millennial millennium modern moral movement nature one’s Oxford University Press Parousia Paul Pentecostal person philosophical political possible postmillennialism prayers premillennialism present problem process theology prophecy prophetic punishment purgatory Rabbi Rahner reality reject religion religious resurrection Revelation ritual salvation scripture sense social soul Spirit teaching texts theologians theology Tim LaHaye traditional trans transformation understanding unity Veda Vedic vision York