ABSTRACT
The theologies of the resurrection of the dead proposed by Said Nursi and Jürgen Moltmann are grounded in the scriptures of their respective traditions; they also reflect the experiences and contexts of their lives. Both Nursi and Moltmann lived through oppressive political regimes that persecuted devout believers. Both witnessed the powerful ambiguous effects of modern Western culture, with its objectification of nature, its scientific breakthroughs and its unprecedented destructive power. Both were captured on the battlefield and were held as prisoners of war; both survived disastrous military defeats that led to the dismemberment of the reigning political structures. After realizing that their lives could not continue in their formerly accustomed paths, both went through profound personal crises that eventually led them to a deep faith in God despite the massive violence and suffering of history and the danger of tyrannical regimes. Faith in the resurrection from the dead offered both thinkers a way of affirming belief in God’s justice even in historical and political contexts where injustice prevailed. Both have had widespread influence in shaping the attitudes of believers towards concrete social and political issues in this world.
