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.

Introduction by Jerry L. Walls; I. Historical Eschatology; a. Biblical and Patristic Eschatology; 1.: Old Testament Eschatology and the Rise of Apocolyptic Bill T. Arnold 1; 2.: Apocalyptic Eschatology in the Ancient World John Collins 33; 3.: The Eschatology of the New Testament Church Chris Rowland 57; 4.: Eschatology and the Quest for the Historical Jesus Benedict Viviano 84; 5.: Eschatology in the Early Church Fathers Brian Daley 119; b. Eschatology in World Religions; 6.: Jewish Eschatology David Novak 154; 7.: Muslim Eschatology William Chittick 190; 8.: Buddhist Eschatology Jan Nattier 222; 9.: Hindu Eschatology David Knipe 251; 10.: Eschatology in Modern Religious Movements Christopher Partridge 286; II. Eschatology in Distinct Christian Traditions and Theological Movements; 11.: Roman Catholic Theology Peter Phan 324; 12.: Eastern Orthodox Theology Andrew Louth 354; 13.: Protestant Theology Gerhard Sauter 379; 14.: Fundamentalist Theology Robert Clouse 404; 15.: Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology Frank Macchia 438; 16.: Process Theology David Ray Griffin 467; 17.: Liberation Theology Vitor Westhelle 499; 18.: Feminist Theology Rosemary Ruether 529; III. Issues in Eschatology; a. Theological Issues; 19.: Church, Ecumenism and Eschatology Douglas Farrow 549; 20.: Millenialism Timothy Weber 578; 21.: Eschatology and Resurrection Stephen Davis 610; 22.: Heaven Jerry L. Walls 635; 23.: Hell Jon Kvanvig 660; 24.: Purgatory Paul Griffiths 686; 25.: Universalism Thomas Talbot 723; 26.: Annihilationism Clark Pinnock 749; 27.: Death, Final Judgment and the Meaning of Life David Hart 774; b. Philosophical and Cultural Issues; 28.: Modernity, History and Eschatology Wolfhart Pannenberg 799; 29.: Eschatology and Politics Stephen Webb 810; 30.: Eschatology and Theodicy Mike Peterson 841; 31.: Human Nature, Personal Identity and Eschatology Charles Taliaferro 868; 32.: Ethics and Eschatology Max Stackhouse 891; 33.: Cosmology and Eschatology Robert Russell 916; 34.: Eschatology and Epistemology William Abraham 951; 35.: Time, Eternity and Eschatology William Lane Craig 977; 36.: Near Death Experiences Carol Zaleski 1009; 37.: Eschatology in Fine Art Heidi Hornik 1035; 38.: Eschatology in Pop Culture Robert Jewett & John Lawrence 1068; Conclusion; 39.: Emerging Issues in Eschatology in the 21st Century Richard Bauckham 1095