Available for pre-order: Postponing Heaven, by Jad Hatem

10.05.2015 | The Maxwell Institute

“Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.” —Doctrine & Convents 7:2

Christianity, like other world religions, acknowledges the existence of multiple human messianic figures. In this comparative work, philosopher Jad Hatem examines the Book of Mormon’s Three Nephites, Buddhism’s Bodhisattva, and Islam’s Mahdi—all distinctive messianic figures who postpone Heaven, sacrificially prolonging their lives for the benefit of humankind. Jonathon Penny’s translation of the French original includes two additional papers in which Jad Hatem deals with various aspects of Latter-day Saint belief. It also includes an interview between Hatem and Latter-day Saint philosopher James E. Faulconer. Postponing Heaven: The Three Nephites, the Bodhisattva, and the Mahdi is the first book in the Maxwell Institute’s new series, Groundwork: Studies in Theory and Scripture (more information to come).

Advance Praise

“Jad Hatem has a detailed knowledge of Mormon doctrine—from the Book of Mormon to the Pearl of Great Price to Bruce R. McConkie and Orson Scott Card. Beyond this, he brings in-depth knowledge of Islam and Buddhism. Remarkable. Postponing Heaven’s purpose is not to be motivational or even to necessarily promote belief in any of these teachings, which is not to say those who see the connections won’t be inspired by what they learn. This is definitely a high-octane read.”

—Charles Inouye, professor of Japanese literature and visual culture, specialist in comparative religion, Tufts University

About the Author

Jad Hatem is a professor of philosophy, literature, and religion at St Joseph’s University in Beirut, Lebanon, where he has taught since 1976. He has served as the chair of the philosophy department at the university, as also the director of the Centre d’études Michel Henry. He is the author of dozens of books. Among his most recent publications are Qui est la vérité? (Hermann, 2012), L’Amour comme puissance et comme vérité (Éditions du Cygne, 2012), and Un bruit d’avoir été. Sur Qohélet (Orizons, 2014).

About the Translator

Dr. Jonathon Penny is a published poet and scholar of letters, whose work examines the intersection of theology and literature in surprising ways and places. He has taught at universities in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.