Leven voor de dood: aanzetten tot een christelijke thanatologie

Popular literature shows the need for a contemporary art of dying. This article argues for a Christian thanatology that engages with modern phenomena such as near-death-experiences, end-of-life legislation and the lack of imaginations to envision a life beyond death. Drawing from Reformed sources, a three elements for a Christian thanatology are suggested: (a) death as boundary of human existence; (b) a spiritual attitude toward death; and (c) death and an excentric existence. A Christian thanatology moves beyond a systematic-theological exploration of the ‘last things’ and offers a ‘practical eschatology’ that is able to connect Christian imaginations with cultural expressions.