ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Christian eschatology, the theology of God's purposes for the future, in the context of the interdisciplinary dialogue with the sciences. It aims to shed light on the dialogue between psychology and theology over Christian doctrine, and to place that in the context of the wider dialogue between science and theology. The wariness of many theologians about getting into dialogue with the natural sciences about resurrection seems to come from the fear that this will make the concept of resurrection appear indefensible. The chapter examines eschatology in the light of both cosmology and psychology. The dialogue with cosmology emphasizes its propositional aspects, whereas dialogue with psychology emphasizes its attitudinal aspects. The chapter argues that authentic hope depends on holding together the objective and subjective strands. The dialogue between theology and psychology over the fear of hell raises issues about how to hold together objective and subjective aspects.
