Life after Death- Hick and Calvin

Life after death is a big topic but I found it helpful to break it down into smaller sections. There were 4 key thinkers in this section:
- Plato
- Aristotle
- John Calvin
- John Hick

John Hick and John Calvin both had ideas about life after death. Calvin believed in Divine Election (very similar to predestination) and Hick came up with his replica theory. These ideas are very important to remember for the exam. 

John Calvin

Calvin believed strongly in the idea of Divine Election. Basically God chooses the elect, and our actions in life show whether or not we are part of the elect God has chosen. For example a murderer obviously isn't part of the elect chosen by God as their actions would suggest they aren't. This does seem to take away free will which is a huge issue for many people. It would appear to follow a more determinist pathway than traditional Christian beliefs. There is some evidence in the Bible to support Calvin; in the Book of Revelation reference is made to the 144,000 servants who are saved. It is important though to remember that the Bible can be interpreted in many different ways, and the historical context also needs to be taken into account. 

John Hick

Hick came up with the replica theory to try and explain how we could be resurrected. He stated that we are "psycho-somatic units", meaning that the body and soul cannot be separated. Due to this belief that the body and soul can't be separated Hick was a monist. Hick thought that the resurrection was a Divine Action, in which God makes an exact replica of a person. This could happen straight after death or after a time lapse decided by God. To help explain his ideas Hick came up with an analogy:

If a person disappears in London the reappears in New York they have to be the same to be identifiable. The arrangement of their matter can't have changed. If you then change this to somebody dying in London then an exact replica exists in New York it would be easier to identify the replica than the dead person. 

Hick was adamant that there is only one replica, as otherwise you cannot be an individual. 

Problems with Hick 

• Identification with the real person- Some people think that physical continuity is important.

         Hick argued that the replica is the same as it has the same "consciousness, memory,

         emotion and volition" 

• Are illnesses (terminal) replicated? 

         Hick argued that healing takes place in the existence of the replica. 

• Can there be multiple replicas? If there are individuality could be lost

          Hick completely rejected this argument as he thought there could only be 

          one replica.

John Hick

Calvinism- predestination