Theologische Annäherungen an die Rede vom »Ewigen Leben«

Abstract

Abstract In our days, Western thought has a skeptical attitude towards talk about eternal life. The article first shows that in his famous Theology of Hope Jürgen Moltmann does not only discuss this skeptical position, but identifies a source for a realistic approach to eternal life, namely hope that is inspired by the forces of eternal life and becomes itself a resource of power in ecclesial and political contexts. Secondly the article focuses on the vitality of eternal life and the need for its embodied presence. It addresses the problem that, as a rule, the body is associated with finite corporeal existence; it is not endowed with the soteriological power we associate with eternal life. So what could be a connecting point between finite and perishing bodily existence and saving eternal life? In a third step the article explores the spiritual body and its presence in the existence of the resurrected Christ and his Spirit. We encounter the spiritual body with its saving powers in the hope-igniting presence of Christ not only in word and sacrament, but also in a multitude of received and given diaconal forms of love of one’s neighbor and in prophetic search and care for truth and justice.