A psychological and historical exploration of belief in a spirit world, imperceptible to the senses, as a pervasive and deeply-rooted characteristic of religionBelief in a spirit world, and a blissful or agonizing afterlife, is one of the most pervasive and deeply-rooted characteristics of religion. This volume offers a wide-ranging exploration of this basic religious theme. Most of the case studies are drawn from Jewish and Christian tradition, providing in-depth coverage of Judaism and Christianity from late Antiquity through the Medieval period. There are also examples from Islamic, Japanese, and Chinese traditions for a comparative perspective with Western traditions.Several chapters deal with the formative period of Jewish and Christian apocalypticism, which is concerned not only with the end of the physical world but also with the eternal heavenly world. These chapters are also important for illustrating the development of mysticism in Western traditions. The most distinctive aspect of this book is that it does not deal with antiquity alone, but juxtaposes the historical essays with a survey of modern day, near-death experiences. It raises issues of fundamental importance for the psychology of religion as well as for its history The most distinctive aspect of this book is that it does not deal with antiquity alone, but juxtaposes the historical essays with a survey of modern day, near-death experiences. It raises issues of fundamental importance for the psychology of religion as well as for its history.
Les mer
Introduction Antiquity Chapter 1 Wisdom's Place Jonathan Z. Smith Chapter 2 Ascent to the Stars in a Mesopotamian Ritual:Social Metaphor and Religious Experience Tzvi Abusch Late Antiquity Chapter 3 A Throne in the Heavens: Apotheosis in Pre-Christian Judaism John J. Collins Chapter 4 The Seven Heavens in Jewish and Christian Apocalypses Adela Y. Collins Chapter 5 Paul and the Beginning of Jewish Mysticism Alan F. Segal Chapter 6 The Practice of Ascent in the Ancient Mediterranean World Martha Himmelfarb Chapter 7 Mystical Descents Guy G. Stroumsa The Crown of Immortality: Toward a Redescription of Christian Martyrdom Arthur J. Droge Chapter 9 Abathur, A New Etymology Nathaniel Deutsch Medieval Chapter 10 The Imagination of Death in Spirituality Jewish Michael Fishbane Chapter 11 Weeping, Death, and Spiritual Ascent in Sixteenth Century Jewish Mysticism Elliot R. Wolfson Chapter 12 Between Authority and Indeterminacy: Some Reflections on Kabbalistic Hermeneutics Moshe Idel Chapter 13 Hekhalot and Mi'raj:Observations on the Heavenly Journey in Judaism and Islam David J. Halperin Chapter 14 The Role of the "Anima Mundi" as Mediator Between the Divine and Created Realms in the Twelfth Century Bernard McGinn Early Modern Chapter 15 Death and the Distribution of Sacral Power in Early Japanese Mythistory Gary L. Ebersole Chapter 16 To Hell and Back: Death, Near-Death and Other Worldly Journeys in Early Medieval China Robert Ford Campany Chapter 17 Sir Henry Vane: Mystical Piety in the Puritan Revolution W. Clark Gilpin Contemporary Chapter 18 Death, and Near-Death Today Carol Zaleski Contributors Biblical References Index Nonbiblical Authors and Works Index Modern Authors Index
Les mer
A psychological and historical exploration of belief in a spirit world, imperceptible to the senses, as a pervasive and deeply-rooted characteristic of religion
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780791423462
Publisert
1995-03-09
Utgiver
Vendor
State University of New York Press
Vekt
590 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Aldersnivå
P, G, 06, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
441
Biographical note
John J. Collins is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Post-biblical Judaism at the University of Chicago. His books include Between Athens and Jerusalem: Jewish Identity in the Hellenistic Diaspora; The Apocalyptic Imagination; and The Scepter and the Star: Messianism in the Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Michael Fishbane is Nathan Cummings Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Chicago, where he is also Chair of the programs in Jewish Studies. He is the author or editor of 10 other books.