Embryonic Afterlives?
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 theoreticall...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Catholic University of Louvain
2023-05-01
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| Series: | TheoLogica |
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/theologica/article/view/65873 |
| _version_ | 1797829836046073856 |
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| author | Amber Griffioen |
| author_facet | Amber Griffioen |
| author_sort | Amber Griffioen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
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.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:27:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68047694c4ed44b39812318b7bbfdf8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2593-0265 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:27:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Catholic University of Louvain |
| record_format | Article |
| series | TheoLogica |
| spelling | doaj.art-68047694c4ed44b39812318b7bbfdf8e2023-05-10T07:27:54ZdeuCatholic University of LouvainTheoLogica2593-02652023-05-018110.14428/thl.v8i1.65873Embryonic Afterlives? Amber Griffioen 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. https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/theologica/article/view/65873Miscarriage, Pregnancy loss, Pregnancy, Afterlife, Infant baptism, Augustine |
| spellingShingle | Amber Griffioen Embryonic Afterlives? TheoLogica Miscarriage, Pregnancy loss, Pregnancy, Afterlife, Infant baptism, Augustine |
| title | Embryonic Afterlives? |
| title_full | Embryonic Afterlives? |
| title_fullStr | Embryonic Afterlives? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embryonic Afterlives? |
| title_short | Embryonic Afterlives? |
| title_sort | embryonic afterlives |
| topic | Miscarriage, Pregnancy loss, Pregnancy, Afterlife, Infant baptism, Augustine |
| url | https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/theologica/article/view/65873 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ambergriffioen embryonicafterlives |