Heaven Hell And Purgatory

Will heaven be boring? How can a good and loving God send people to hell? Is there such a place as purgatory? If so, why is it necessary, if we're saved by grace? Questions about the afterlife abound. Given what is at stake, they are the most important questions we will ever consider. Recent years have seen a surge of Christian books written by people claiming to have received a glimpse of the afterlife, and numerous books, films, and TV shows have apocalyptic or postapocalyptic themes. Jerry Walls, a dynamic writer and expert on the afterlife, distills his academic writing on heaven, hell, and purgatory to offer clear biblical, theological, and philosophical grounding for thinking about these issues. He provides an ecumenical account of purgatory that is compatible with Protestant theology and defends the doctrine of eternal hell. Walls shows that the Christian vision of the afterlife illumines the deepest and most important issues of our lives, changing the way we think about happiness, personal identity, morality, and the very meaning of life.

Bob and Penny Lord have gone to Europe to research the lives of eminent saints and blesseds, focusing on visions of heaven, hell, and purgatory and presenting a case for the reality of these teachings of the Catholic Church.

A fascinating exploration of ideas of life after death ranging from ancient times to the present and from religion and philosophy to literature and science.

Companion to: Heaven: The logic of eternal joy (2002).

What happens when we die? Journey from the moment of death to the eternal joy in store for those who follow Christ. Interviews with those who claim near-death experiences, Catholic and scientific literature, and historic accounts of the saints reveal fascinating glimpses of the afterlife.

What is our destiny? The final end of humanity and the universe is a subject of perennial interest, especially for Christians. What are we promised? Will anyone finally be left out of God's intentions to bless humanity? What sort of transformation will be needed to enter the presence of God? These questions have been at the heart of Christian teachings about last things. The 2013 Pro Ecclesia Conference of the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology focused such issues on the theme "Heaven, Hell . . . and Purgatory?" The six essays in this volume cover a range of topics of interest to Catholic, Evangelical, and Orthodox theology.

After a week of hearing ghostly noises, a man is visited in his home by the spirit of his mother, dead for three decades. She reproaches him for his dissolute life and begs him to have Masses said in her name. Then she lays her hand on his sleeve, leaving an indelible burn mark, and departs... A Lutheran minister, no believer in Purgatory, is the puzzled recipient of repeated visitations from "demons" who come to him seeking prayer, consolation, and refuge in his little German church. But pity for the poor spirits overcomes the man's skepticism, and he marvels at what kind of departed souls could belong to Christ and yet suffer still... Hungry Souls recounts these stories and many others trustworthy, Church-verified accounts of earthly visitations from the dead in Purgatory. Accompanying these accounts are images from the "Museum of Purgatory" in Rome, which contains relics of encounters with the Holy Souls, including numerous evidences of hand prints burned into clothing and books; burn marks that cannot be explained by natural means or duplicated by artificial ones. Riveting!

Over half of Americans believe in a literal heaven, in a literal hell. Most people who hold these beliefs are Christian and assume they are the age-old teachings of the Bible. Ehrman shows that eternal rewards and punishments are found nowhere in the Old Testament, and are not what Jesus or his disciples taught. He recounts the long history of the afterlife, ranging from The Epic of Gilgamesh up to the writings of Augustine, focusing especially on the teachings of Jesus and his early followers. Ehrman shows that competing views were intimately connected with the social, cultural, and historical worlds out of which they emerged. -- adapted from jacket

What's the Truth About Eternity? The afterlife seems like the great unknown. Human imagination and Hollywood have come up with many speculations about what lies beyond. How can we set aside the misconceptions and find the truth? What are the straightforward, biblical answers everyone needs to know about heaven, hell, and the afterlife? Mike Fabarez examines 10 faulty beliefs that are surprisingly widespread—and look to God's Word alone for the facts. You will find the truth about common misperceptions like When I die, I'll go to sleep until the resurrection On my way to heaven I'll have to put in some time in purgatory Heaven will be boring with very little to do You don't need to guess about the future—God's Word is ready to inform your mind and settle your heart. Let this book guide you toward a deeper joy, faith, and understanding of eternity.

During the early middle ages, Europe developed complex and varied Christian cultures, and from about 1100 secular rulers, competing factions and inspired individuals continued to engender a diverse and ever-changing mix within Christian society. This volume explores the wide range of institutions, practices and experiences associated with the life of European Christians in the later middle ages. The clergy of this period initiated new approaches to the role of priests, bishops and popes, and developed an ambitious project to instruct the laity. For lay people, the practices of parish religion were central, but many sought additional ways to enrich their lives as Christians. Impulses towards reform and renewal periodically swept across Europe, led by charismatic preachers and supported by secular rulers. This book provides accessible accounts of these complex historical processes and entices the reader towards further enquiry.