A favorite author has a lot of expectations to meet, and this one did not disappoint. The author takes us through the evolution of the concepts of heaven and hell in Christian theology, starting with the pagans and the Jews. He spends a large portion of the book on the early ideas, and covers the development within Christianity much more succinctly. I think this is a good decision, but mostly because of a personal preference not everyone will agree with: I think the pagan and Jewish ideas of afterlife are more interesting to read about, and society has not been saturated with those ideas for my entire life. The only thing about the book I found offputting is the constant assumption of what Jesus really said or didn't really say. Without contemporary records, there is simply no way to know if he said anything that is attributed to him. I am aware of the methodology that religious scholars use to determine that; as a scientist, I think it's mostly hogwash. Other than that, I highly recommend the book. ( )

As always, professor Ehrman's research and writing style is impeccable. He has that rare ability to communicate concepts to lay people in a way that is interesting and enlightening.

The book provides excellent historical context, using pagan and Jewish/Christian sources, so that the reader can appreciate the development of the concepts of Heaven and Hell over the centuries. A minor negative- occasionally my attention waned a bit when yet another biblical passage or pagan myth was quoted in detail.

Nonetheless, any reader should come away with a much deeper and more intelligent understanding of the subject. Recommended whether or not you have a religious belief. ( )

Long and hard to follow in places but well researched and comprehensive. Ehrman points out that most people's view of heaven and hell is not supported by the scriptures of the Old or New Testament. Views of heaven and hell developed later. Is there life after death? The author says he agrees with Socrates, no. ( )

interesting book, but i got a little bored by the endless early christian debate over whether the impending resurrection of the dead would include your physical body or not. apparently that was a very important sticking point for a lot of people! ( )

Ehrman goes back to ancient times and examines how our concepts of heaven and hell have developed and evolved. I appreciate how he debunks claims and myths that claim to be religious based.

A recent Pew research poll showed that 72% of all Americans agree that there is a literal heaven where people go when they die; 58% believe in the actual, literal hell.

One of the surprising theses of this book is that these views ( heaven and hell) do not go back to the early stages of Christianity. They cannot be found in the Old Testament and they are not what Jesus himself taught.

Socrates goes on to give his own view of what happens at death: death is one of two things. Either it is annihilation, and the dead have no consciousness of anything, or as we are told, it is really a change – – a migration of the soul from this place to another.

In any event, here is how I myself lineup, at this stage, on the age old question of heaven and hell. Even though I have an instinctual fear of torment after death – – as the view drilled into me from the time I could think about such things – – I simply don't believe it. Is it truly rational to think, as in the age old Christian doctrine, that there is a divine being who created this world, loves all who are in it, and what's the very best for them, yet who has designed reality in such a way that if people make mistakes in life or do not believe the right things, they will die and be subjected to indescribable torments…

As Greek thinkers pointed out, none of us existed for the entire history of this universe before we were born, and none of us was upset or bothered about it at that time… If I didn't exist before I was born, why should I exist after I die?

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