Religious Studies
- Religious Studies / Volume 47 / Issue 01 / March 2011, pp 23-40
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0034412510000089 (About DOI), Published online: 06 April 2010
Articles
Some further reflections regarding the Talbott–Crisp debate on the Augustinian concept of everlasting punishment
DROR EHRLICHa1
a1 Department of Philosophy, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel e-mail: ehrlichd@biu.013.net.il
Abstract
This article consists of a critical discussion of the debate between Thomas Talbott and Oliver Crisp on the philosophical justification for the traditional Augustinian concept of everlasting punishment in hell. First, I outline the debate, describing Talbott's challenges to the Augustinian retributivist understanding of everlasting punishment and Crisp's responses to them. Next, I analyse their main points of disagreement, indicating the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments. Finally, I present conclusions arising from analysis of the debate in the framework of Christian theology, and I discuss possible implications for the thesis of everlasting punishment in monotheistic religious thought in general.
(Online publication April 06 2010)
