From Time magazine:
N.T. "Tom" Wright is one of the most formidable figures in the world of
Christian thought. As Bishop of
Durham, he is the fourth most senior
cleric in the Church of England and a major player in the strife-riven
global Anglican Communion; as a much-read theologian and Biblical
scholar he has taught at Cambridge and is a hero to conservative
Christians worldwide for his 2003 book The Resurrection of the Son of God, which argued forcefully for a literal interpretation of that event.
It therefore comes as a something of a shock that Wright doesn't
believe in heaven — at least, not in the way that millions of
Christians understand the term. In his new book, Surprised by Hope (HarperOne), Wright quotes a children's book by California first lady Maria Shriver called What's Heaven,
which describes it as "a beautiful place where you can sit on soft
clouds and talk... If you're good throughout your life, then you get to
go [there]... When your life is finished here on earth, God sends
angels down to take you heaven to be with him." That, says Wright is a
good example of "what not to say." The Biblical truth, he continues,
"is very, very different." (Read Interview)
One of my favorite movies of all time is "The Killing Fields", the remarkable story of Dith Pran and his survival of the Khmer Rouge genocide. He passed away yesterday after a long career as a photojournalist and activist. A video called "Last Word" is online and features Mr. Pran. It's well worth a viewing. The movie comes highly recommended. It is violent and the language is extremely coarse but the story is true and inspiring. 
