📄The Areopagus Update – October/November 2019
To paraphrase a famous quote by the renowned English essayist, Dr. Samuel Johnson: “The realization that one is scheduled to hang in the immediate future has a wonderful effect in terms of focusing one’s mind.” I feel somewhat the same way when attending a memorial service: it’s a stark and vivid reminder of just how ephemeral and transitory this life is, as well as a very poignant opportunity to focus on what really matters.
Thanatology is the study of the phenomenon of death and dying, including the scientific, philosophical, theological and psychological factors that contribute to this fascinating field of research. Over the past forty-five years numerous books have been written on Near-Death Experiences (NDE’s) and what awaits us when we die everything from Raymond Moody’s Life After Life and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s On Death and Dying to the recent emergence of “Heaven Tourism” books (and films).
Most of this literature is based exclusively on anecdotal testimonies and interpreted through a non-Christian worldview. Even more troubling, much of the recent “Heaven Tourism” accounts by Christians are full of sensationalistic claims that have been thoroughly debunked.
The Bible says surprisingly little about physical death and what awaits us beyond the veil of this life, and few Christian philosophers and theologians throughout history have written much on the subject. While living with the prospect that we could be called into God’s presence at any moment, apparently our time, energy and priorities are to be focused on the development of our faith and character in this life rather than fixated on the next dimension of reality.
Nonetheless, there is much to gain from ruminating on the issue from time to time, and for those interested in a thoughtful approach to the subject, there are three books that I highly recommend: Gary Habermas and J. P. Moreland’s Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality (1998); Dinesh D’Souza’s Life After Death: The Evidence (2009); and Michael Sabom’s Light and Death (1998).
There is no better authority on the subject than Dr. Michael Sabom, our Areopagus Forum speaker in October. Beginning in the late 1970s Dr. Sabom, a Christian cardiologist, began collecting and analyzing the testimonies of medical patients who experienced the phenomena associated with Near-Death Experiences. The results of his research were published in 1983 in his ground-breaking book, Recollections of Death, the first scientificallydocumented analysis of the evidence. Fifteen years later, after considerably more research, analysis and reflection, Dr. Sabom summarized his findings in Light and Death (1998). In our upcoming Areopagus Forum, Dr. Sabom will correlate and summarize some forty years of scientific research with biblical insights into the mysteries of dying and the afterlife.
Since the reality of death awaits us all, there is no topic more relevant than this, and we are honored to have with us one of the world’s experts on this vital topic. Join us for this Areopagus Forum with Dr. Sabom as this is truly knowledge that every Christian needs to know.
