The question of whether life exists beyond death remains one of the most pertinent of our existence, and theologians continue to address what relevance the answer has for our life in the present. In this book, William J. Hoye uses the phenomenon of emergence - the way higher forms of existence arise from a collection of simpler interactions - as a framework for understanding and defending the concept of eternal life, showing how it 'emerges' from our present life, our human longing for fulfilment and happiness, and our striving for knowledge of reality. Hoye uses the work of Karl Rahner and Thomas Aquinas to explore questions concerning suffering, the ultimate relevance of morality, and how the fundamental idea of responsibility changes when viewed eschatologically. Contemporary reasons for denying an afterlife are examined critically and extensively. This book will be of great interest to those studying systematic theology, theological anthropology and Catholic theology.

Seeks to understand and defend the concept of eternal life, and our human longing for fulfilment and happiness.

About the Author
William J. Hoye is Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Munster. He is the author of many books, including most recently Tugenden. Was sie wert sind, warum wir sie brauchen (2010), Liebgewordene theologische Denkfehler (2006), Die mystische Theologie des Nicolaus Cusanus (2004) and Die Wirklichkeit der Wahrheit (2013).

Reviews
'As philosophy of religion goes, this is a relatively accessible and occasionally very insightful account of the provenance and character of eternal life ... this book can be commended to Anglican students of philosophical theology with a special interest in eschatology and the nature of eternal life.' Church Times



Book Information
ISBN 9781107041219
Author William J. Hoye
Format Hardback
Page Count 301
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 580g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 157mm * 22mm