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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afterlife American annihilationism apocalyptic apocalyptic literature apocalypticism argued belief Bible biblical body Book of Revelation Buddhist Cambridge Catholic century Christ Christian eschatology church claims coming concept contemporary cosmic cosmology creation culture David dead death Dispensationalism divine doctrine dualism earth Eerdmans escha eschaton eternal evangelical evil existence faith final Fortress freedom future God’s Gospel Grand Rapids Hal Lindsey heaven hell Holy hope human Ibid idea immortality interpretation Israel Jesus Jewish John Judaism judgment kingdom Left Behind series liberation literature living London Mahāyāna means messianic millennialism millennium modern Moltmann moral nature Near-Death Experience Oxford University Press Paul Pentecostal person perspective philosophy physical political possible postmillennialism premillennialism present problem process theology promise prophecy prophetic punishment purgatory reality Religion religious resurrection Revelation salvation scriptures sense social soul Spirit teaching temporal Testament texts theodicy theologians theology theory Tim LaHaye traditional trans transformation Veda vision York