Description
Book SynopsisThe concept of heaven has had an enormous impact on popular culture in the west, both religious and secular. This engaging and highly accessible book by one of today's best-known Christian writers explores the history of heaven, from its origins in biblical writings right up to the modern day.
Trade Review‘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
Table of ContentsList 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
