Afterlife? Discussions for Curious Christians about Life After Death

By John Zehring

This book grapples with one of the oldest of human curiosities:  Where do you go when you die?  Intended as a six-week group study of life after death, it is also enlightening for anyone who is curious about life eternal.  It is designed for curious Christians who recognize that asking tough questions does not weaken their faith.  Nor is the asking of probing questions discourteous, challenging to orthodox teaching, insulting to God, or a sign of a weak faith.  Rather, to probe out of curiosity is perfectly appropriate.  Questions are considered, like… Where do we go when we die?  Is there a heaven and a hell?  What will it be like?  Who goes and who doesn't?  Is there something else too, perhaps something in-between?  Is eternal life more of the same or something different?  Is it physical or spiritual in nature? 

Each chapter begins with discussion starters to stimulate the conversation.  Then, reflections and background information are provided.  This format recognizes that learning by discovery is the most powerful form of learning.  Rather than a lecture, sermon, or having a teacher, it is preferred for the group to lead itself by considering provoking questions and conversation. 

The discussions push the envelope and may cause intellectual or emotional conflict, but fear not.  Conflict and wrestling with ideas that challenge is creative because the mind attempts to resolve conflict.  A group conversation that confronts real questions has potential to reaffirm current belief, to grow one's faith, and to consider which parts of belief are most important.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Zehring
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005154165

John Zehring

John Zehring served United Church of Christ congregations as Senior Pastor in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine.  Prior to parish ministry, he served as a vice president and teacher at colleges, universities, and a theological seminary.  He is the author of more than fifty books and is author of recent Judson Press books on church growth and on stewardship.  He graduated from Eastern University and holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rider University, and the Earlham School of Religion.

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

One:  What informs your beliefs about an afterlife?

Two:  Is heaven hard or easy to get into?

Three:  What Jesus did not say

Four:  Death is one of two things

Five:  Was the Resurrection physical or spiritual?

Six:  the other place

Conclusion

APPENDIX

The teaching methods of Jesus

Basic questions to consider in bible study

FAST FACTS:  Authors of the Gospels

About the Author

John Zehring’s Series for Curious Christians

Books by John Zehring

Introduction

Where do we go when we die?  Is there a heaven and a hell?  What will it be like?  Who goes and who doesn’t?  Is there something else too, perhaps something in-between?  Much of humankind since the earliest ancient civilizations have believed in some form of an afterlife.  We are curious, and that curiosity is engaged in this book.  What do you believe about an afterlife?  What informs that belief?  Is eternal life more of the same or something different?  Is it physical or spiritual in nature?  What do you think it will feel like?  Look like? 

How much does an afterlife mean to you?  For some, it means too much.  It was said about one woman that she was so heavenly-minded that she was no earthly good.  For others, it does not alter how they live.  For Christians – I write this from a Christian perspective, but seek not to impose my beliefs – a life of love and forgiveness is their ambition, not so they can get into heaven but in response to their love for God.  Love and forgiveness were the foundation of Jesus’ teachings, and those teachings are always the best way for humans to live.

Most of the world’s religions, even going back to ancient peoples, held beliefs about an afterlife:  Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Native Americans – it is hard to find a great religion that does not hold some kind of belief about where you go when you die, although the range of beliefs is wide.

Walk around any great museum with displays of ancient civilizations – Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Asian, Mayan, India, Mesopotamian – and it is hard to miss how their artifacts, art, tombs, and statues depict belief in an afterlife.  The weight of a history full of personal experiences, religious belief, and inspired teachings from every corner of the planet in every age point to humankind’s sense that there is more to come.  Is that just wishful thinking?  Great inspired teachers and prophets pointed to something beyond.  It would be a good guess that evidence of an afterlife could never be proved, although there have been accounts of men and women who died for a few moments, felt drawn to a warm, comforting, and bright light, and then returned to the land of the living.  One man who had such an experience told me that he would never again be afraid of dying, because his experience pointed to a life to come which was better than could be described or imagined.

This book is designed to stimulate engaging conversations for adult study groups as you consider afterlife.  Each chapter begins with discussion starters to stimulate the conversation.  Then, reflections and background information are provided.  Please feel welcome to venture off the main path to explore new territory as the conversation leads.  This study format recognizes that learning by discovery is the most powerful form of learning.  Rather than a lecture, sermon, or having a teacher, it is preferred for the group to lead itself by considering provoking questions and conversation.  A convenor might be appointed to help coordinate the group’s conversation, but she or he is not to present a discourse on the topic.

This work is designed for curious Christians who recognize that asking tough questions does not weaken their faith.  Nor is the asking of probing questions discourteous, challenging to orthodox teaching, insulting to God, or a sign of a weak faith.  Rather, to probe out of curiosity is perfectly appropriate.  You can see from the gospels that Jesus took people seriously.  Jesus took people and their questions seriously, as he did with Thomas, whom history inaccurately nicknames Doubting Thomas.  He was not doubting.  He was curious.  Thomas had a lot of questions.  Notice that even at the end, even when Thomas said he would not believe until he saw the nail marks in Jesus’ hands, Jesus still took Thomas seriously.  In fact, Jesus used questions, even questions from hostile sources, as a teaching moment.  This suggests that when we do not understand something, we are at least dealing with a kind teacher who has patience with us and takes our questions seriously.

The discussions push the envelope and may cause intellectual or emotional conflict, but fear not.  Conflict and wrestling with ideas that challenge is creative because the mind attempts to resolve conflict.  A group conversation that confronts real questions has potential to reaffirm current belief, to grow one’s faith, and to consider which parts of belief are most important.

The format for chapters begins with suggested discussion questions.  Use them as a guide for your own questions, but do not feel compelled to tackle all of them.  Reflections are then included to provide background information. 

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A FEW NOTES ABOUT THIS BOOK

All scriptures in this work come from the New Revised Standard or the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) unless otherwise noted.

I have attempted to use inclusive language wherever possible in the words I have written, although I have not altered the author’s reference to God as he.  I recognize that the Divine has no gender and for many it may be just as appropriate and accurate to acknowledge God as Mother or Father.  Whichever pronoun is used, consider God as a loving parent.

Some of this work is adapted from other books or books I have written.  My website can be found by searching online for John Zehring books.

It is my hope and prayer that this book guides you to grow in your ability to tackle difficult questions, to stimulate your thinking about an afterlife, and to know God better and to love God more.  Thank you.

John Zehring

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COVER PHOTO by Donna Taber Zehring, Double rainbow over Taunton Bay

One:  What informs your beliefs about an afterlife?

This first chapter is briefer than the others to allow the group time to introduce themselves and to review the book’s introduction and the tools provided in the Appendix.

As the group begins its time of conversations, a worthy endeavor would be to agree among yourselves that no one will be judged for his or her questions, doubts, beliefs, or expressed thoughts.