New book by Christian Bishop
N.T. "Tom" Wright, "one of the most formidable figures in the world of Christian thought," Bishop of Durham, the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England, and author of Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, gave an interview with TIME in which he describes some changes that need to happen in Christians' beliefs about heaven that sound very... Mormon.
Common Christian belief: When I die, I'm going to heaven and then I won't need this stupid body
His correction: The Bible says when you die, you enter an intermediate state. Then, when Christ returns to Earth, our bodies will be resurrected, and Christ will join heaven and Earth.
Mormon belief: You die, you go to a waiting place, at the Resurrection you get your body back in its perfected form and if you were good you live forever on Christ's literal heaven on Earth.
Common Christian belief: In heaven, we'll hang around listening to nice music.
His correction: After we're resurrected, we will be running the new world.
Mormon belief: Life after the Resurrection will be just like life now, except without pain, suffering, and loss.
Common Christian belief: My physical body doesn't matter much, so who cares what I do with it? This world doesn't matter much, so who cares what we do with it?
His correction: After this life God wants you to be a renewed human being to help him renew his creation. So take care of yourself and the planet.
Mormon belief: Your body is a temple, made by God, and is going to be with you forever. You're commanded to treat it well.
Crossposted here.
Common Christian belief: When I die, I'm going to heaven and then I won't need this stupid body
His correction: The Bible says when you die, you enter an intermediate state. Then, when Christ returns to Earth, our bodies will be resurrected, and Christ will join heaven and Earth.
Mormon belief: You die, you go to a waiting place, at the Resurrection you get your body back in its perfected form and if you were good you live forever on Christ's literal heaven on Earth.
Common Christian belief: In heaven, we'll hang around listening to nice music.
His correction: After we're resurrected, we will be running the new world.
Mormon belief: Life after the Resurrection will be just like life now, except without pain, suffering, and loss.
Common Christian belief: My physical body doesn't matter much, so who cares what I do with it? This world doesn't matter much, so who cares what we do with it?
His correction: After this life God wants you to be a renewed human being to help him renew his creation. So take care of yourself and the planet.
Mormon belief: Your body is a temple, made by God, and is going to be with you forever. You're commanded to treat it well.
Crossposted here.