What Christians believe about the make-up of their human nature largely determines what
they believe about their ultimate destiny. Historically, most Christians have believed
that human nature consists of a material, mortal body and a spiritual, immortal soul. This
belief, known as dualism, is largely derived from Greek philosophers who regarded the body
as temporary and evil but the soul as eternal and good. Dualism has led Christians to
envision a destiny where immortal souls survive the death of the body and spend eternity
either in the bliss of paradise or in the torment of a fiery hell.
During the Middle Ages the belief in the afterlife was promoted through literary and
artistic representations of hell as a place of absolute terror where the damned writhe and
scream forever, and of paradise as a beatific place where the saints bask in eternal
glory. Today, the belief in conscious existence after death is propagated through the
polished image of mediums and psychics, the sophisticated "scientific" research
into near-death experiences, and the popular New Age channeling with the alleged spirits
of the past. These various methods are very successful in making people believe
Satan’s lie that no matter what they do, they "shall not die" (Gen 3:4) but
become like gods by living for ever. The outcome is that according to a recent Gallup Poll
71 per cent of Americans believe in some forms of conscious life after death.
In recent years the traditional dualistic view of human nature and destiny has come under
massive attack by Biblical scholars, philosophers, and scientists who find such a view
contrary to Scripture, reason, and science. In Immortality or Resurrection? Dr. Samuele
Bacchiocchi builds upon recent research and challenges Christians to recover the Biblical
wholistic teaching that the body and soul are an indissoluble unit, created, redeemed, and
ultimately restored by God.
Immortality or Resurrection? is a most important book for today. With compelling Biblical
reasoning, it unmasks the oldest and possibly the greatest deception of all time, namely,
that human beings possess immortal souls that live on forever. It will help you understand
how this deceptive teaching of innate immortality has fostered a whole spectrum of
erroneous beliefs that have affected adversely Christian thought and practice. Most
important of all, this book will increase your appreciation for God’s glorious plan
for your present life and future destiny.
Four of the ten chapters can be accessed by clicking their titles below:
The Debate over Human Nature and Destiny
The Old Testament View of Human Nature
Hell: Eternal Torment or Annihilation?
