The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

XIV. Tubingen’s Heim-No Continuance in “Disembodied State”

A passing allusion must suffice for KARL HEIM,” ⁷⁹ distinguished German Lutheran theologian, who deals with the relationship of Christian faith and natural science. Discussing similarities and contrasts between Platonic and Pauline (or New Testament) concepts, and the question of an “interval of bodilessness,” Heim says that “here they [Plato and Paul] part company.” ⁸⁰ CFF2 862.1

“The divergence between the apostles’ thought and Plato’s human understanding is to be found at two points. Firstly, according to the Indian and Platonic belief in metempsychosis, the ego can change its abode as often as it likes and settle repeatedly in new bodies; whereas in the New Testament this change can take place only once, namely at the dawn of a new aeon, which began with the resurrection of Christ but will achieve its consummation only at the end of the world.” ⁸¹ CFF2 862.2

Continuing, Heim says that the “apostles”—“do not believe that the ego can be simply separated from the physical world by means of a ‘concrete detachment’ and continue to exist in a disembodied state.” ⁸² CFF2 862.3