Eschatological Verification: Hick
John Hick proposes eschatological verification: religious claims will be verified or falsified in the eschaton (end times). If the afterlife exists and God exists, believers will verify these; if neither exists, they'll be proven false.
Real World
When a terminally ill patient chooses to maintain religious faith despite unanswered prayers, they are effectively wagering on Hick's eschatological verification — that ultimate confirmation will come after death, not before.
Exam Focus
When 'assess' questions arise, contrast eschatological verification with Flew's falsification challenge and explain why Hick thinks religious language remains meaningful.
How well did you know this?