Hell And Its Afterlife
by Isabel Moreira /
2010 / English / PDF
6.8 MB Download
The notion of an infernal place of punishment for 'undesired'
elements in human culture and human nature has a long history both
as religious idea and as cultural metaphor. This book brings
together a wide array of scholars who examine Hell as an idea
within the Christian tradition and its 'afterlife' in historical
and contemporary imagination. Leading scholars grapple with the
construction and meaning of hell in the past and investigate its
modern utility as a means to describe what is perceived as horrific
or undesirable in modern culture. While the idea of an infernal
region of punishment was largely developed in the context of early
Jewish and Christian religious culture, it remains a central belief
for some Christians in the modern world. Hell's reception (its
'afterlife') in the modern world has extended hell's meaning beyond
the religious realm; hell has become a pervasive image and metaphor
in political rhetoric, in popular culture, and in the media.
Bringing together scholars from a variety of fields to contribute
to a wider understanding of this fascinating and important cultural
idea, this book will appeal to readers from historical, religious,
literary and cultural perspectives.
The notion of an infernal place of punishment for 'undesired'
elements in human culture and human nature has a long history both
as religious idea and as cultural metaphor. This book brings
together a wide array of scholars who examine Hell as an idea
within the Christian tradition and its 'afterlife' in historical
and contemporary imagination. Leading scholars grapple with the
construction and meaning of hell in the past and investigate its
modern utility as a means to describe what is perceived as horrific
or undesirable in modern culture. While the idea of an infernal
region of punishment was largely developed in the context of early
Jewish and Christian religious culture, it remains a central belief
for some Christians in the modern world. Hell's reception (its
'afterlife') in the modern world has extended hell's meaning beyond
the religious realm; hell has become a pervasive image and metaphor
in political rhetoric, in popular culture, and in the media.
Bringing together scholars from a variety of fields to contribute
to a wider understanding of this fascinating and important cultural
idea, this book will appeal to readers from historical, religious,
literary and cultural perspectives.