Miller, Lisa. Heaven: Our 2000-Year-Old Fascination With the Afterlife.
Librarian Bob has reviewed this piece.
This historical and present-day survey about a place which a vast majority of polled Americans say exists focuses mainly on the believers, not the beliefs. Miller, the religion editor of Newsweek, points out that the image of heaven changes as do people. Among those interviewed is archaeologist Rachel Hallotte, daughter of novelist Cynthia Ozick, who claims the ancient Israelite practice of building homes over burial caves was a form of ancestor worship. The Mormon view that marriages on earth continue in heaven was borrowed from the 18th century Swedish philosopher/mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. Miller gives more attention to moderate interpretations of Islam's Koran than the radical viewpoint that inspires violence and possible martyrdom all for the promise of attending virgins in the next life. A look into popular culture includes considering the Talking Heads song "Heaven" and Alice Sebold's acclaimed novel "The Lovely Bones."
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