ISSN 2360-7998
Abstract The Catholic theology of eschatology (doctrine of the four last things) identifies the last, post-historic event of the soul in life and after life as death (morte), judgement (judicium), heaven (caelum), and hell (infernum). People often conceptualize the last two (heaven and hell) of these four last things (CCC, 1021, 1023, 1033, 1038) as a realm within the physical order, raising questions about the scientific evidence for their specific domicility in space and time, particularly in this verificationistic era of reductive materialism. These scientific attitudes towards religious concepts or doctrinal teachings often lead to atheistic suppositions and, more significantly, detract the Christian community of believers from the numerous practical values inherent in holding such a belief. It also deprives them of the freedom to freely express their religious convictions in faith, which they view as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Under this condition, there is great need to emerge from the conflicting dilemma of belief or disbelief, by proposing a pragmatic dimension which emphasizes practical usefulness or utility of the doctrine of heaven and hell to human life and social order while jettisoning the stern focus on scientific verificationism and evidentialism of their existence in the physical order. To achieve this, we need to ask the question: How can the philosophy of pragmatism help in our understanding and appreciation of the eschatological teaching on heaven and hell? In response, this paper attempts the following undertakings: Firstly, this paper aims to carefully retrieve the fundamentals of pragmatism as a philosophical ideology. Secondly, it delves into the theological and epistemological foundations of heaven and hell. Lastly, it explores the hermeneutic role of pragmatism in understanding the eschatological teaching on heaven and hell.
Keywords: Religion, Science, Heaven, Hell, Eschatology, Pragmatism