"Thus Saith the Lord": Edwardsean Anti-criterialism and the Physicalist Problem of Resurrection Identity

Authors

  • Christopher Woznicki Fuller Theological Seminary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14428/thl.v0i0.1333

Keywords:

Anti-Criterialism, Identity, Jonathan Edwards, Metaphysics, Resurrection

Abstract

The doctrine of bodily resurrection is a core tenet of Christian faith, yet it is a doctrine fraught with several philosophical problems, the most significant of which concerns the persistence of personal identity. This is especially true for physicalist accounts of human nature. Here I put forth a possible solution to the problem of resurrection identity. Turning to the theology of the 18th century American colonial theologian, Jonathan Edwards, as a resource, I argue for what I am calling “Edwardsean Anti-Criterialism.” This is a form of anti-criterialism in which pre- and post-resurrection bodies are identical because God treats these bodies a metaphysically one. After providing a sketch of this view I defend Edwardsean Anti-Criterialism from two objections and provide three reasons why Christians might be inclined to accept this proposal.

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Published

2018-03-27

How to Cite

Woznicki, C. (2018). "Thus Saith the Lord": Edwardsean Anti-criterialism and the Physicalist Problem of Resurrection Identity. TheoLogica: An International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology, 2(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.14428/thl.v0i0.1333