The Influence of Fear of Death in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity

This podcast episode explores the fear of death and its influence on the development of ancient Judaism and early Christianity. It highlights how various religious and philosophical views emerged to address this fear, including the belief in a future resurrection of the dead. The episode discusses the different views on the afterlife in Greek and Jewish cultures, as well as the changes in beliefs about resurrection within early Christianity. It also touches on the role of heaven and hell in resolving the fear of death, and how these concepts were used as a missionary tool to attract non-Christians to convert. Bart Erman provides insights into the historical context and the evolution of beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife.