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Well known for his historical accounts of Satan and hell, Jeffrey Burton Russell here explores the brighter side of eternity: heaven. Dispensing with the cliche images of goodness that can make even heaven seem unbearable, the author stimulates our imagination with a history of how the joy of paradise has been conceived by writers, philosophers, and artists for whom heaven was an imminent reality.
Russell not only explores concepts found among the ancient Jews, Greeks, and Romans, as well as early and medieval Christians, but also addresses the intellectual problems heaven poses: how does time "pass" in eternity? is heaven a place or a state? who is in and who is not? what happens to the body and soul between death and Judgment Day?
Russell stresses that the best way to approach the logic-defying concept of a place occupying neither space nor time is through poetry and paradox, and through the visions of such mystics as Bernard, Julian of Norwich, and Eckhart.
Using current scholarly insights together with a vast store of knowledge gathered from the past, Russell takes the idea of heaven as valid and important in itself - something to be understood from the point of view of those believing in it. His very use of language immerses us in the thoughts of those who have sought heaven and provides rich material for contemplation.
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Previews available in: English
Showing 3 featured editions. View all 3 editions?
Edition | Availability |
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1
A History of Heaven
December 14, 1998, Princeton University Press
Paperback
in English
- New Ed edition
0691006849 9780691006840
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2
A history of heaven: the singing silence
1997, Princeton University Press
in English
0691011613 9780691011615
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3
A History of Heaven
July 1997, University Press Audiobooks
Audio Cassette
in English
- Abridged edition
1879557479 9781879557475
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-210) and index.
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