Heaven and Hell

A History of the Afterlife

De: Bart D. Ehrman

Narrado por: John Bedford Lloyd, Bart D. Ehrman - preface

A New York Times best-selling 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 percent of Americans believe in a literal heaven and 58 percent believe in a literal hell. Most people who hold these beliefs are Christian and assume they are the age-old 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 Ehrman’s 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 layered-narrative” (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.

©2020 Bart D. Ehrman (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Best accessible, academic overview on the topic

By "on the topic", I mean from an historical & textual academic perspective on the early biblical Christian views on the afterlife.

Perspectives on the afterlife have been diverse and hotly debated for millennia, and pre-date the Christian biblical texts and traditions.

Even within Christianity, there has been a vast range of perspectives from the very beginning. And that diversity of beliefs and teachings has only increased as time has progressed.

Ehrman does an impressive job of condensing vast swaths of content into a digestible sized book. He provides an excellent primer on the context and development of the various historical and textual trends that highlight the breadth and range of teachings over the millennia.

Readers should be aware that this is not a theological work. And it's not intended to be a theological work. It is merely an accessible, academic overview of the historical record.

Thorough Examination of the Bible and Apocrypha

This is a very thorough examination of the after life. It examines what Jesus taught, old testament insight, the maccabees as their tortured, other apocryphal books and greek philosophies. Professor Ehrman's views are insightful and make us reexamine what the after life meant in ancient times and what it has come to mean post Jesus/The Roman Empire.

Well researched—Easy to follow

A wonderful and thought-provoking consideration of the the generally agreed upon beliefs of heaven and hell. Ehrman challenges that which many modern evangelical Christians believe about the afterlife using historical evidence. I was especially surprised to hear what the historical Jesus himself taught about the afterlife (or perhaps, more importantly, what he DIDN'T teach about the afterlife) and how it differs from what I was taught in my Protestant upbringing.

Should be required listening

Makes it possible to believe that all our fears of Hell are now fully documented, having all sprung from the minds of ordinary mortals, and not at all from any real god, just from imaginary ones.

Familiar information with some additions

There’s some great material here, but as is the case with most Ehrman books, he has an extensive preamble that deals with historical methodology and topics dealing with the authenticity and trustworthiness of the texts. This is a frustrating retread through well-worn territory for fans of his other works. There is some new material and argumentation here, but I wish there had been much more.

well research and well explained.

This writer shares a wealth of knowledge while leaving decisions up to the listener. Well.worth the read.

An excellent study and overview

This book put into simple terms the evolution of the Christian theory of Heaven and Hell. Ehrman does a fantastic job taking the reader on a historical journey that illustrates how Christian ideas on the afterlife have radically changed over the past 2000 years.

Bart is the best

This book is so concise in its presentation and thorough in its research. Ehrman never disappoints.

Eye-opening

One of the things I appreciate most about Bart Erman’s approach to writing is his evenhanded laying out of various opinions without declaring that his own opinion must be the one that is right.

It gave me an opportunity to explore different ideas about heaven, hell, and the afterlife, and everything else from a very measured standpoint so that I can make my own decision on the matter.

And, while his own argument might be persuasive to many, what matters more is that he has laid out a sweeping vista of historical development around the ideas of heaven and hell that demonstrate man to be an inventive, inquisitive, and insatiably curious creature. One who will unendingly craft, tweak, and modify their ideas in order to satisfy their desire to know.

Excellent Read!

This book was great! Very informative, eloquently written, and overall enjoyable. I learned a lot. The narrator was great in his delivery as well. If you're a dedicated Christian listening to this, it may be uncomfortable because of the distinction between what you were taught and what this book presents.