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Series:   Elements in Christian Doctrine

Life after Death after Marx

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2025

Simon Hewitt
Simon Hewitt
Affiliation:
University of Leeds

Summary

Karl Marx's criticism of religion, as applied to afterlife belief, needs to be taken seriously by Christian theologians. After outlining that belief, the author examines a picture of heaven implicit in much Christian belief and practice which is susceptible to that critique. he sets out an alternative eschatology, centred on the Kingdom of God and the resurrection of the body, which is somewhat less susceptible. He then explores whether a doctrine of the intermediate state can be sustained in the light of Marx's criticisms. He goes on to examine the politics of remembrance in the light of Marxist criticism, and to ask whether Christianity can help compensate for the tragic character of Marxism. A constant theme is that Christian theology should exist in tension with Marx's criticisms, never assuming that it has overcome them completely.
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Keywords

Marxeschatologyheavenpolitical theologyafterlife
Type
Element
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Series: Elements in Christian Doctrine
Online ISBN: 9781009526852
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 17 April 2025

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Life after Death after Marx
  • Simon Hewitt, University of Leeds
  • Online ISBN: 9781009526852
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Life after Death after Marx
  • Simon Hewitt, University of Leeds
  • Online ISBN: 9781009526852
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Life after Death after Marx
  • Simon Hewitt, University of Leeds
  • Online ISBN: 9781009526852
Available formats
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