Chapter 8 of Fortress Introduction to Contemporary Theologies starts off describing a German soldier captured as a prisoner of war by the British in 1945.  Interned in POW camps in Belgium and Scotland for three years, this prisoner discovered Christ and a renewed faith in Christianity, claiming that this faith saved both his soul and his physical well being.  This man, Jurgen Moltmann, would later become a famous theologian.  I like Moltmann’s words on his psyche during his time at the prisoner camps.  He talked of the absence of hope and how devastating such a state of mind is.  Indeed, this life is full of suffering, but hope offers us a promise of salvation, either in this world or the next.  Though as Christians we know the promise of eternal life in Christ, it is nonetheless extremely difficult at times here on earth when all hope seems lost.  On the flip side, Moltmann writes, hope can urge one to not be satisfied with one’s current position, and desire to change things for the better.  This is certainly not a negative.  One of mankind’s greatest abilities is that of daring to improve society by not being satisfied with the current state of things. 

            Another theologian, Ernst Bloch utilized a form of theology incorporating theology and the idea that humans are instinctively hopeful.  Bloch influenced Moltmann and his theology greatly.  However, as an atheist, Bloch’s idea of hope did not sit well with Moltmann, and I agree.  How can one subscribe to hope when one believes that there is no true goal in sight?  As Moltmann writes, Boch’s theology turns the struggle of life and hoping for the future into an endless “on and on”, with no resolution.   It almost surprises me that Boch is so passionate about hope, when he believes that his story will end at his grave.