Embryonic Afterlives?: Soteriological Reflections on the Problem of Early Pregnancy Loss

While much has been written on the moral and metaphysical status of fetuses in Christian bioethics, little thought has been given to how we might characterize the afterlives of the unborn, especially of those human biological individuals who die before even developing a body that could theoretically...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Griffioen, Amber L. 1979- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Presses Universitaires de Louvain, Université Catholique de Louvain 2024
In: TheoLogica
Year: 2024, Volume: 8, Issue: 1, Pages: 78-101
IxTheo Classification:KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity
NBE Anthropology
NBK Soteriology
NBQ Eschatology
Further subjects:B Augustine
B Pregnancy
B pregnancy loss
B Afterlife
B Infant baptism
B Miscarriage
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:While much has been written on the moral and metaphysical status of fetuses in Christian bioethics, little thought has been given to how we might characterize the afterlives of the unborn, especially of those human biological individuals who die before even developing a body that could theoretically be resurrected. In this paper, I therefore undertake an examination of questions surrounding the afterlife, specifically as it relates to early pregnancy loss. I first lay out what I call the "problem of weird heavens" that arises when we consider that significantly more unborn human beings have died than have been born in the history of humankind. I then go on to consider questions surrounding both the soteriological status of the embryo and the status of any resurrected "body" it might have. I conclude with the germs of an alternative approach mirrored on the idea of embryonic resorption and mystical union.
ISSN:2593-0265
Contains:Enthalten in: TheoLogica
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.14428/thl.v8i1.65873