Title
Heaven And Hell: A History Of The Afterlife
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A New York Times Bestselling Historian Of Early Christianity Takes On Two Of The Most Gripping Questions Of Human Existence: Where Did The Ideas Of Heaven And Hell Come From And Why Do They Endure?What Happens When We Die? A Recent Pew Research Poll Showed That 72% Of Americans Believe In A Literal Heaven And 58% Believe In A Literal Hell. Most People Who Hold These Beliefs Are Christian And Assume They Are The Ageold Teachings Of The Bible. But Eternal Rewards And Punishments Are Found Nowhere In The Old Testament And Are Not What Jesus Or His Disciples Taught.So Where Did These Ideas Come From?In This Eloquent Understanding Of How Death Is Viewed Through Many Spiritual Traditions (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review), Bart Ehrman Recounts The Long History Of The Afterlife, Ranging From The Epic Of Gilgamesh Up To The Writings Of Augustine, Focusing Especially On The Teachings Of Jesus And His Early Followers. He Discusses Ancient Guided Tours Of Heaven And Hell, In Which A Living Person Observes The Sublime Blessings Of Heaven For Those Who Are Saved And The Horrifying Torments Of Hell For Those Who Are Damned. Some Of These Accounts Take The Form Of Near Death Experiences, The Oldest On Record, With Intriguing Similarities To Those Reported Today.One Of Ehrmans Startling Conclusions Is That There Never Was A Single Greek, Jewish, Or Christian Understanding Of The Afterlife, But Numerous Competing Views. Moreover, These Views Did Not Come From Nowhere; They Were Intimately Connected With The Social, Cultural, And Historical Worlds Out Of Which They Emerged. Only Later, In The Early Christian Centuries, Did They Develop Into Notions Of Eternal Bliss Or Damnation Widely Accepted Today.In This Elegant History (The New Yorker), Ehrman Helps Us Reflect On Where Our Ideas Of The Afterlife Come From. With His Richly Layerednarrative (The Boston Globe) He Assures Us That Even If There May Be Something To Hope For When We Die, There Certainly Is Nothing To Fear.
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- Q: What is the main topic of 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife'? A: 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' by Bart Ehrman explores the origins and evolution of the concepts of heaven and hell throughout history, particularly in relation to early Christianity.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' is Bart D. Ehrman, a New York Times bestselling historian known for his work on early Christianity.
- Q: When was 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' published? A: 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' was published on March 23, 2021.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' contains a total of 352 pages.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: This edition of 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' is available in paperback.
- Q: Is 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' suitable for all readers? A: While 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' is aimed at readers interested in religious studies and history, it may contain complex themes that are best suited for adults and older teens.
- Q: What key themes are discussed in the book? A: The book discusses the history of afterlife beliefs, the teachings of Jesus and his followers, and how social and cultural contexts influenced views on heaven and hell.
- Q: Does the book provide a single interpretation of the afterlife? A: No, Bart Ehrman argues that there is no single interpretation of the afterlife; rather, there are numerous competing views that have evolved over time.
- Q: What insights does Bart Ehrman offer about modern beliefs in heaven and hell? A: Ehrman provides insights into how contemporary beliefs in heaven and hell are rooted in historical and cultural contexts, highlighting that many of these ideas were not present in early biblical texts.
- Q: Is 'Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife' a scholarly work? A: Yes, the book is considered a scholarly work, as it is based on extensive historical research and analysis of ancient texts and traditions related to the afterlife.