Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: HEAVEN: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife by Lisa Miller


"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"
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Breaking the Spine.

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What are you waiting for?



Pub. Date: March 23, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 368pp
ISBN-13: 9780060554750
ISBN: 0060554754

Description (from the publisher):
A groundbreaking and accessible history of heaven—from the earliest biblical conceptions of the afterlife to the theologians who frame our understandings to the convictions and perceptions of everyday people.

Drawing on history and popular culture, biblical research and everyday beliefs, Heaven offers a new understanding of one of the most cherished—and shared—ideals of spiritual life. Lisa Miller raises debates and discussions not just about our visions of the afterlife, but about how our beliefs have influenced the societies we have built and the lifestyles to which we have subscribed, exploring the roots of our beliefs in heaven and how these have evolved throughout the ages to offer comfort and hope.

She also reveals how the notion of heaven has been used for manipulation—to promulgate goodness and evil—as inspiration for selfless behavior, and as justification for mass murder.

As Miller demonstrates in this absorbing and enlightening book, the desire for a celestial afterlife is universal—shared by the faithful around the world and across religions. It is as old as the Bible itself. While there are many notions of what exactly heaven is and how we get there, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all agree that heaven is God's home. From the Revelation to the Left Behind series, Augustine to Osama bin Laden, Muslims in the West Bank to American Mormons baptizing their dead, Heaven is a penetrating look at one of our most cherished religious ideals.

10 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I bet my mother in law would love this one!

Darlene said...

This sounds fascinating. I really like the cover too.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

This sounds like one I might enjoy; thanks Gwen.

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

This one looks really interesting!!

photoquest said...

This sounds like a wonderful book, i'll need to look for this one : )

Cassandra said...

The book sounds intriguing. To be honest, I'm agnostic myself. Nothing against you or anyone else of course, but I just can't quite go along with it. Regardless, I do have a fascination with theories on the afterlife.

You have an award here.

J.T. Oldfield said...

Sounds like a good one!

Yvonne said...

Sounds interesting!

I gave you an award. Check it out at http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/02/another-award.html

Zibilee said...

Oh wow! This looks like a great read, now I am waiting as well!

Unknown said...

I've added this to my TBR pile. It sounds fascinating.