Positive eschatology consists of discussion of the afterlife and of the end of the world that uses specific images of what those states are like. For example, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Negative eschatology means discussion of the after—life and the end of the world that primarily states what they are not like, what their limits are not. For example, John and Paul——"Eye hath not seen.... (This is similar to two approaches to prayer: one that emphasizes images and one that does not and that goes beyond images.)

Muslim male suicide bombers are primarily given positive eschatology: the promise of seventy virgins. Muslim female suicide bombers are primarily given negative eschatology: they are promised that they will not be one of the seventy for any of the male suicide bombers.

Posted by R.L.A. Scahefer  8 2 04