Christology: Eternal Life

0. Introduction 

A well-known quote comes from the Gospel of John, John 3:16: […] „For GOD loved the world so much that he gave up his only son so that everyone who believes in him, is not lost, but has eternal life.“ […] Here eternal life is represented as the result of belief in Jesus Christ.

The concept of eternal life has always fascinated humanity and at the same time raised questions. For some believers, eternal life is a firm belief, a fact that strengthens their faith and gives them security.

The idea of eternal life as a fact of faith is based on the assumption that there is an immortal soul that continues to exist after death. This idea brings comfort and hope to Christian believers. However, eternal life is not an empirical fact that can be proven by scientific knowledge. Rather, it remains a belief based on subjective experience and religious tradition. Immanuel Kant, for example, who did not deny God, was overall looking for the objective that is at the top in the middle between the subjective perspectives.

1. Explanations and elaborations 

1.1. Kant

Kant differentiated between the theoretical belief in God, which aims at rational evidence, and the practical belief in God, which is based on moral beliefs. While skeptical of the theoretical belief in God, he saw the practical belief in God as important for moral responsibility and as a kind of regulatory principle for action.

Kant emphasized the importance of the categorical imperative and moral duties, regardless of religious beliefs. He argued that moral action should be derived from reason and the will to fulfill obligations, rather than from the hope of reward or eternal life.

1.2. Bultmann and Barth

Rudolf Bultmann’s and Karl Barth's theological interpretations of „eternal life“ are as follows:

Bultmann and Barth were two influential protestant theologians of the 20th century, who represented critical views on traditional religious ideas.

Bultmann emphasized the need to demythologize the Christian faith in order to make Jesus’ message understandable in a modern context. This also includes the editorial demystification of the Easter hypostasis of the historical Jesus who became famous only through mystification.

According to Bultmann, eternal life is not to be considered a physical existence after death, but a symbolic expression of the radical change that belief in Jesus can bring about for human kind, now and in the future.

Barth, on the other hand, emphasized God’s transcendence and the limited human knowledge. For him, eternal life was not an individual reward, but a mysterious event that only determines the sovereign God. He emphasized the need to focus on this world and to express belief in the immanent God instead of focusing on speculative questions of the hereafter. Mark 12:27: [ ... ] „He is not a GOD of the dead, but of the living.“ [ ... ]

The idea of an immortal soul is closely linked to the concept of eternal life. But the idea of an immortal soul is not without controversy and is controversial in philosophy and religious studies. There is no clear evidence of the existence of an immortal soul.

The idea of eternal life as a fact of belief requires a certain degree of naivety because it is based on assumptions that cannot be supported by verifiable evidence. The certainty derived from this is not an evident fact, but rather a wish and can also lead to, that believers want to alienate themselves from the reality and challenges of earthly life or to overcome death caused by fear of the loss of life, to lose the ego and with it consciousness. The latter is a basic attitude in one’s own interest. There is also some danger of perhaps neglect of responsibility for the here and now due to the focus on a hypothetical hereafter.

1.3. Freud

>>The feeling of infinity is closely related to what Freud called the "oceanic feeling" of boundlessness. "These ever-active, so to speak immortal desires of our unconscious... these repressed desires, I say, are themselves of infantile origin."
Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, Psychology Fischer, 2003, p. 544<< (s. also the following link, further down)

1.4. On the other hand: Apeirophobia

"Apeiros" (ancient Greek) means endless. "Phobia" is fear. Thus "Apeirophobia" is the fear of infinity in the context of the imagination of an eternal life after death.

Fear of eternal life, also known as Apeirophobia, is a fascinating topic worth discussing. It is understandable that some people become anxious at the thought of infinity. The concept of eternal life can evoke a range of emotions, from fascination and curiosity to fear and uncertainty.

[...] >> Viele stellen sich vor, dass der Mensch einen sterblichen Körper, aber eine unsterbliche Seele habe. Dadurch kann sich die Angst vor der Unendlichkeit verstärken. Kirchenbesuche, in denen über das ewige Leben gepredigt wird, können hier zum echten Problem werden. Andere Menschen haben die Vorstellung, dass auch die Seele sterblich ist, wie z.B. [...] Jiddu Krishnamurti [...] <<

In the quotation above there is the point that many people believe in the concept of a mortal body and an immortal soul, which can lead to a fear of eternity. Therefore church visits that focus on preaching about eternal life can be problematic for those who hold this belief. There are others who believe that the soul is also mortal, as mentioned by Jiddu Krishnamurti.

https://www.medizin-im-text.de/2023/25356/angst-vor-der-unendlichkeit-apeirophobie/

For some individuals, the fear of eternal life lies in the idea that there is no way out. The thought of existing forever can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to imagine how one would cope with the infinite possibilities and challenges that such a life could bring.

Another aspect of Apeirophobia is the question of the purpose of eternal life. If life is endless, what happens to the goals, dreams, and relationships we build during our limited time on Earth? The fear of losing meaning and purpose can arise in this context.

It is important to emphasize that fears and concerns related to eternal life are individual and may vary from person to person. Some individuals may find comfort and security in the concept of infinity, while others may feel overwhelmed by it.

1.5. Comforting theology and Rudolf Otto's Mystery

In this sense, the dogmatics of Bultmann and Barth are comforting for those with Apeirophobia.

The theological approaches of Bultmann and Barth offer a refreshing perspective on the subject of eternal life. They emphasize the importance of faith and relationship with God in current life. By looking at this world, they encourage believers to focus on ethical action, social justice, and charity, rather than being fixed on abstract ideas of the hereafter.

The idea of God as an immanent and transcendent numinous, the mystery according to Rudolf Otto, offers an interesting perspective on the understanding of eternal life.

The immanent God is present in the world and in human life, while the transcendent God is beyond human experience. Eternal life can thus be understood as a deeper connection with the immanent God, which enables people to experience God's presence and work in their present lives. Not because of HIS action but because of what is.

2. Conculsion

So the idea of eternal life as a fact of faith is a complex topic that encompasses different theological approaches and philosophical perspectives. While the concept of eternal life offers comfort and hope to many people, we should be careful to consider it an objective fact. Rather, it is important to look at current life and understand faith as a source of ethical action and relationship with God. The theological approaches of Bultmann and Barth offer valuable suggestions here to focus on this world and the immanent presence of God. Ultimately, eternal life remains a belief that each individual must interpret and reflect upon for themselves. © E.S. 23.09.2023