This engaging book by one of today's best-known Christian writers explores the history of heaven, from its origins in biblical writings to its most recent representations.
A short, accessible book on the history of heaven. Draws together representations of heaven by a wide range of writers, theologians, politicians and artists. Covers literary works such as Dante's Divine Comedy, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and the poems of George Herbert. Considers discussions by Marx and Freud of heaven's role in society. Based on serious scholarship but is ideal for the non-specialist who wants to learn more about the idea of heaven. Alister E. McGrath is one of today's best-known Christian writers.
By:
Alister E. McGrath (University of Oxford)
Imprint: Blackwell Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 173mm,
Width: 122mm,
Spine: 17mm
Weight: 191g
ISBN: 9780631233541
ISBN 10: 0631233547
Series: Wiley Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 09 January 2003
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of Illustrations viii Preface ix 1 The City: The New Jerusalem 1 Images and the Christian Faith 2 The City of Jerusalem in the Old Testament 7 The City of Jerusalem in the New Testament 10 Augustine of Hippo on the Two Cities 13 The Heavenly City and Medieval Spirituality 17 Pearl and the New Jerusalem 25 John Bunyan’s Heavenly City 29 The Shape of the Heavenly Body 33 2 The Garden: Heaven as Paradise 39 The Quest for the Garden of Eden 41 Paradise in the Bible 43 Early Christian Views of Paradise 47 The Millennium as Paradise 52 Medieval Visions of Paradise 54 Dante’s Divine Comedy 58 Paradise and the Enclosed Garden 65 Heaven as the Restoration of Eden 70 3 Opening the Gates of Heaven: Atonement and Paradise 75 Christ the Victor 79 Christ the Hero 83 Christ the Harrower of Hell 88 Christ the Redeemer: Atonement as Satisfaction 94 Christ the Lover: Atonement and the Enkindling of Love 96 The Institutionalization of Atonement: The Church as the Gateway to Heaven 101 The Privatization of Atonement: Personal Faith as the Gateway to Heaven 106 4 The Signposting of Heaven: Signals of Transcendence 111 Nature as an Anticipation of Heaven 113 The Ascent of Love and the Intimation of Heaven 117 Experience and the Sense of Heaven: Herbert and Traherne 120 Nature as a Signpost of Heaven: Romanticism and Transcendentalism 124 Longing for Heaven: C. S. Lewis 130 5 The Consolation of Heaven 137 Reunion with Family in Heaven in Early Roman Christianity 139 Heaven as an Encounter with God 141 Heaven as a Dream: Feuerbach, Marx, and Freud 146 Heaven as an Encounter with Loved Ones 150 African American Spirituals 155 6 Journey’s End: Heaven as the Goal of the Christian Life 161 The Concept of Spirituality 162 The Hope of Heaven: Theological Foundations 164 The Appeal to Worship: Heaven on Earth 166 Feasting in the Kingdom 168 Journeying to the Promised Land 171 Returning to the Homeland from Exile 175 Seeing God Face to Face 181 Works Consulted 185 Index 192
Alister E. McGrath is Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University, and Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of numerous best-selling books, including The Future of Christianity, Christian Theology: An Introduction 3rd edition, and In The Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible.
Reviews for A Brief History of Heaven
"‘Alister McGrath invariably combines enormous scholarship with an accessible and engaging style. This book is no exception - a splendid survey of a centrally important subject, covering theology and the arts with equal grace and clarity.’ Dr Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury ""Bringing together literature, theology, politics and the arts, this fascinating book traces the remarkable influence that the idea of heaven has had - and continues to have - on western culture."" Publishing News ""It is delightfully lucid and insightful...Recommended for large public libraries as well as academic libraries offering a variety of Christian religious courses."" Joyce Smothers, Library Journal ""Though clearly a scholar, McGrath transcends the drone of the academic dissertation, offering an accessible and thorough narrative. Using the rich visual imagery of heaven, McGrath has created a fascinating kaleidoscope for viewing the evolution of Christian worship."" Publishers Weekly ""Pick of the week...It's an ambitious, immensely accessible, erudite and entertaining exploration of the way the idea of heaven has been constructed over the centuries."" The Saturday Age"
