ABSTRACT
In view of the theological challenges of the contemporary global refugee crisis, this chapter discusses how a contemporary understanding of eschatology can include a hope that surpasses immanent categories without lapsing into the view that this life does not really matter or fueling religious polarisation. Eschatology is not on the given agenda of contemporary Scandinavian theology. Two recent Swedish books on reconciliation are analysed and three requirements for a contemporary eschatology are identified. It needs to (1) relate to Christian tradition, (2) contain a worldview that keeps together life in this world with the belief in a world to come and (3) provide an image of God that can deal with darkness and despair in a way that does not leave God capricious, frightening or powerless.
The theology of reconciliation is related to the biblical witness of the unanswerable questions of life, what literary critics call the aporia and theologians refer to as heteronomy. Life is here understood as an unresolved mystery in view of incomprehensible and continuous suffering. It is argued that theology should resist to fill the gaps reason needs to leave open. By leaving room for the question mark and providing a vision of the transformative power of a good God, the author claims it is meaningful to engage in struggles for human dignity, justice and peace without losing hope, motivated by an eschatological belief in a good future beyond time. Putting reconciliation in the centre also underlines the ecumenical and interreligious calling not give in to delimitations and differences.
