"Nichols is to be commended for this outstanding introductory text on death, the afterlife, and resurrection. His book is ambitious in the best senses of that term. It addresses a topic that Christians too often sheepishly neglect or, perhaps worse, speak of in simplistic platitudes and imagery. The book is also ambitious in addressing every possible facet of its subject matter, including chapters on ancient Judaism, the New Testament, the Christian tradition, scientific challenges and responses, and even literature on 'near death experiences.' Quite evidently a gifted teacher, Nichols treats all of these topics in an accessible manner that is nonetheless clearly nourished by a command of available scholarship on these topics. The text will be invaluable in university classrooms. Indeed, the book will reward all Christians seeking to better understand Christian belief about the next life, as well as seekers who would benefit from a clear and fair account of Christian belief on this topic."--__William C. Mattison III__, The Catholic University of America  
  
"In a world where even some Christians are embarrassed by talk of life after death, Nichols makes a compelling case that the afterlife is integral to understanding how life really is. This book provides the enormously valuable service of digesting a wide variety of scholarship--from theology to neuroscience--and presenting all sides fairly and accurately. The reader encounters not only biblical views of death and afterlife but also startling debates about near death experiences. Nichols provides sound arguments for why traditional Christian views of the afterlife are viable today and gives us ways not only of dying well but also of living well."--__William T. Cavanaugh__, University of St. Thomas  
  
"Modern theologians tend to avoid the topics in this book. Nichols, however, takes them on with courage and clarity. As a systematic theologian, he rises to the challenge of facing deep human questions and tough contemporary doubts that nag around the edges of our systems of thought, trendy or not. But he does this above all because he is a deeply committed teacher who knows from years of conversation with students that the question of life after death has hardly gone away, if it ever could."--__Gerald W. Schlabach__, University of St. Thomas

__Terence Nichols__ (1941-2014) received his PhD from Marquette University and served as professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas for more than twenty-five years. He also founded and codirected the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Center at the University of St. Thomas. His books include That All May Be One: Hierarchy and Participation in the Church and The Sacred Cosmos: Christian Faith and the Challenge of Naturalism.

Many people fear dying and are uncertain about life after death. In this engaging book, a Catholic theologian addresses perennial human questions about death and what lies beyond, making a Christian case for an afterlife with God. Nichols begins by examining views of death and the afterlife in Scripture and the Christian tradition. He takes up scientific and philosophical challenges to the afterlife and considers what we can learn about it from near death experiences. Nichols then addresses topics such as the soul, bodily resurrection, salvation, heaven, hell, and purgatory. Finally, he addresses the important issue of preparing for death and dying well.

This biblical examination of the afterlife addresses both contemporary and perennial human questions about death and what lies beyond.

Introduction   
1\. Underworld, Soul, and Resurrection in Ancient Judaism  
2\. Death and Afterlife in the New Testament  
3\. Death and Afterlife in the Christian Tradition  
4\. Scientific Challenges to Afterlife  
5\. Near Death Experiences  
6\. On the Soul  
7\. Resurrection  
8\. Justification and Judgment  
9\. Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell  
10\. A Christian Way of Dying Well  
Indexes

Nichols, Terence

Back Cover

Many people fear dying and are uncertain about life after death. In this book, a Catholic theologian addresses perennial human questions about death and what lies beyond, making a Christian case for an afterlife with God. It begins by examining views of death and the afterlife in Scripture and the Christian tradition.

Terence Nichols (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of theology and chair of the department of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of That All May Be One: Hierarchy and Participation in the Church.

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Death and Afterlife is a short, and easily accessible, introduction to the theology underpinning Christian belief in life after death.  
The book begins with three chapters charting the development of pre-Christian Jewish, New Testament and Early Church thinking on death and the afterlife. This forms the basis from which Terence Nichols explores a series of Christian responses to contemporary scientific objections to belief in life after death. These objections include the challenges of neuroscience to the existence of a human soul and the physical problems associated with the reconstitution of matter implied in the bodily resurrection of believers on the day of the Lord’s return.  
In addition to confronting some of the questions scientific enquiry presents to belief in an afterlife, Nichols also explores the mystery of near death experiences and the thorny theological issues surrounding judgement, purgatory and hell.   
While addressing the scientific and theological questions is interesting Death and Afterlife also raises pastoral issues as Nichols asks the question ‘how can Christians die well?’ Here, he suggests that death is the ultimate expression of a person’s trust in God. Nichols argues that a good death is like a journey that has to be prepared for through the lifelong practice of faith hope and love. Death and Afterlife is a well researched and solid introduction to a Christian understanding of human death. In addition to addressing some of the scientific arguments relating to the afterlife Terrance Nichols also provides a pastoral resource for the lifelong preparation for death; because of this it has more than earned its place on my bookshelf.

Death and Afterlife

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