John Hick's Replica Theory

Some suggest that to be recognised as a person a physical body is necessary and, therefore, post-mortem existence must be physical

How is physical post-mortem existence possible? What form is the physical existence to take. If the mind/soul is re-embodied is it still the same person as it was during it’s earthly existence?

The concept of the resurrection of the body is one that has always existed within Christianity

The human is an “indissoluble psycho-physical entity” ; humans are made up of physical and mental aspects which are a unity and cannot be separated. If the body dies, so does it’s mental aspects

Human beings are mortal, the only way they can continue to exist after death is if God resurrects or recreates them. The recreated individual retains the characteristics and memories of the deceased physical body in a new spiritual body

Hick’s understanding of resurrection:

God creates an exact psycho-physical ‘replica’ of the deceased person in a different space

Hick defines ‘replica’ as follows:

“A living person ceases to exist at a certain location, and a being exactly similar to him in all aspects subsequently comes into existence at another location” (page 283, “Death and Eternal life)

He does not use the term replica in the usual sense whereby the term refers to a more or less exact copy of an original object which may exist simultaneously with the original. Indeed, it is possible for many replicas to exist at any one time

According to Hick these replica are exact copies even down to the memories

Nobert Wiener’s view to clarify

Imagine each psycho-physical being has their own ‘code’. In order for the ‘replica’ to be the same psycho-physical being it doesn’t have to be composed of the exact same physical matter. As long as the new material body has the same ‘code’ psycho-physical individuality can continue

What are the possible advantages of physical post mortem existence?

• can have relationships

• happiness comes from things we experience in a physical way