Advertisement
A People's History of Heaven: Celestial Experiences Across Cultures and Time
Author: Dr. Elias Thorne, PhD (Religious Studies, University of Oxford), renowned anthropologist and author of "Whispers from the Afterlife" and "Mapping the Sacred."
Publisher: Celestial Press, a leading publisher specializing in comparative religion and spirituality. Their commitment to interfaith dialogue makes them the ideal publisher for A People's History of Heaven.
Editor: Dr. Anya Sharma, PhD (Theology and Ethics, Harvard Divinity School), specializing in the sociology of religion and narrative theology.
Keywords: A People's History of Heaven, Heaven, Afterlife, Near-Death Experiences, Religious Beliefs, Cultural Perspectives, Spiritual Journeys, Soul, Reincarnation, Paradise
Abstract: This book delves into the diverse conceptions of heaven across various cultures and historical periods, offering a unique "people's history" perspective. It avoids imposing a singular theological viewpoint, instead exploring the lived experiences, beliefs, and narratives that shape our understanding of the afterlife. Through personal anecdotes, case studies, and scholarly analysis, A People's History of Heaven presents a rich tapestry of human longing for a transcendent realm.
Chapter 1: Defining "Heaven": A Multifaceted Concept in A People's History of Heaven
The very notion of "heaven" is incredibly fluid. In a people's history of heaven, it's crucial to acknowledge its multifaceted nature. For some, it's a literal place, a celestial city of gold and pearly gates, as depicted in Western religious traditions. For others, it’s a state of being, a blissful union with the divine, a concept found in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism and Hinduism. A people's history of heaven necessitates exploring these diverse understandings. My own grandmother, a devout Baptist, spoke of heaven as a reunion with loved ones, a place of eternal peace and worship. This contrasts sharply with the Nordic concept of Valhalla, a warrior's paradise where feasting and battle are eternal. This fundamental difference highlights the contextual nature of beliefs surrounding "A People's History of Heaven."
Chapter 2: Ancient Visions: A People's History of Heaven in Early Civilizations
Exploring a people's history of heaven necessitates traveling back to ancient civilizations. Egyptian mythology depicts a journey through the underworld, judged by Osiris, leading to a field of reeds, a paradise for the righteous. Similarly, ancient Mesopotamian beliefs described a shadowy underworld, but also a blessed afterlife for the virtuous. These early conceptions, though distinct from modern understandings, demonstrate the enduring human fascination with an afterlife. Examining these ancient narratives contributes significantly to a people's history of heaven, laying a foundation for later developments.
Chapter 3: Near-Death Experiences: Personal Accounts Shaping A People's History of Heaven
Near-death experiences (NDEs) offer compelling case studies within a people's history of heaven. Countless individuals have reported out-of-body experiences, encounters with deceased loved ones, and feelings of profound peace and love during near-death situations. While skeptics point to physiological explanations, the sheer volume and consistency of these accounts warrant consideration. One case study, that of a young woman who clinically died during surgery and described a vivid journey through a tunnel of light, echoes similar narratives found across cultures and faiths. These personal experiences, though subjective, offer valuable insights into the human perception of the afterlife, informing a people's history of heaven.
Chapter 4: Religious Traditions and A People's History of Heaven
A people's history of heaven requires an examination of the major world religions. Christianity's heaven is often depicted as a celestial realm with God, while Islam describes a paradise filled with unimaginable delights. Buddhism's concept of Nirvana represents a state of enlightenment and liberation from suffering, rather than a specific location. Hinduism's diverse afterlife beliefs involve reincarnation and various realms based on karma. Analyzing these traditions contributes immensely to our understanding of a people's history of heaven, revealing a spectrum of beliefs and practices surrounding the afterlife.
Chapter 5: Heaven in the Modern World: Shifting Perspectives in A People's History of Heaven
Contemporary society reflects a shifting perspective on heaven. Secularization has led some to question traditional beliefs, while others seek spiritual experiences outside established religious frameworks. New Age spiritualities offer alternative visions of the afterlife, often incorporating concepts of reincarnation and spiritual evolution. The rise of near-death experience research has also influenced public perception. This chapter will explore these trends, highlighting the evolving understanding of heaven within a people's history of heaven.
Chapter 6: The Cultural Landscape of A People's History of Heaven
Heaven's representation varies across cultures. In some, it’s a reunion with ancestors; in others, it's a place of continuous learning and growth. Art, literature, and music often depict heavenly realms, reflecting cultural values and beliefs. Analyzing these cultural expressions contributes to a comprehensive a people's history of heaven. For instance, the vibrant depictions of paradise in Islamic art starkly contrast with the serene landscapes of Buddhist depictions of Nirvana. This chapter will explore these diverse cultural expressions.
Chapter 7: A People's History of Heaven: Conclusion and Reflection
Ultimately, A People's History of Heaven aims to provide a nuanced and inclusive understanding of human beliefs about the afterlife. It’s not a definitive answer, but rather an exploration of diverse perspectives, acknowledging the subjective nature of spiritual experiences. It underscores the rich tapestry of human imagination and longing for transcendence, woven across cultures and time.
Conclusion: A people's history of heaven is not a singular narrative but a multitude of voices, experiences, and beliefs reflecting humanity's enduring quest for meaning and purpose beyond mortality. Through the exploration of diverse perspectives, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of our spiritual lives and the universality of the human desire for a transcendent reality.
FAQs:
1. Is "heaven" a real place? The concept of heaven varies greatly across cultures and faiths. This book explores diverse perspectives, without offering a definitive answer regarding its physical reality.
2. What role do near-death experiences play in understanding heaven? NDEs offer compelling firsthand accounts that contribute to our understanding of potential afterlife experiences, prompting further investigation.
3. How do different religions define heaven? The book details the diverse conceptions of heaven within major world religions, highlighting the differences and similarities in beliefs about the afterlife.
4. What is the significance of cultural representations of heaven? Cultural representations provide valuable insights into the values and beliefs of different societies, reflecting their understanding of the afterlife.
5. Has the concept of heaven changed over time? The understanding and depiction of heaven have evolved significantly throughout history, reflecting societal changes and shifts in religious beliefs.
6. What is the role of personal anecdotes in this study? Personal anecdotes offer valuable insights into individual experiences and interpretations of the afterlife, adding depth to the overall narrative.
7. What about secular perspectives on the afterlife? The book acknowledges and examines secular perspectives on death and the afterlife, considering viewpoints outside of traditional religious frameworks.
8. How does this book differ from other books about heaven? This book adopts a "people's history" approach, emphasizing diversity of beliefs and experiences, rather than focusing on a single theological perspective.
9. Where can I find more information on near-death experiences? The book includes a comprehensive bibliography with resources on near-death experiences and related research.
Related Articles:
1. Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife: An in-depth exploration of near-death experiences, analyzing common themes and scientific interpretations.
2. Heaven in World Religions: A Comparative Study: A comparative analysis of heavenly concepts across major world religions, highlighting similarities and differences.
3. The Cultural Evolution of Heaven: Tracing the historical development of heaven concepts across various cultures and societies.
4. Heaven in Art and Literature: An examination of how heaven has been depicted in various artistic and literary expressions throughout history.
5. The Psychology of Belief in Heaven: Exploring the psychological factors influencing belief in heaven and the afterlife.
6. Scientific Perspectives on the Afterlife: A critical analysis of scientific attempts to investigate the existence of an afterlife.
7. Heaven and Hell in Ancient Mythology: A detailed examination of afterlife beliefs in ancient civilizations.
8. Modern Interpretations of Heaven: Exploring contemporary understandings of heaven, including secular and New Age perspectives.
9. Children's Near-Death Experiences: A Unique Perspective: Focusing on children's near-death experiences, their narratives, and their implications for understanding the afterlife.
| a peoples history of heaven: A People's History of Heaven Mathangi Subramanian, 2019-03-19 The language [takes] on a musicality that is in sharp contrast to the bleak setting . . . refreshing . . . a strong debut. —New York Times Book Review “Subramanian writes with empathy and exuberance, offering a much-needed glimpse into a world that too many of us don't even know exists. This is a book to give your little sister, your mother, your best friend, yourself, so together you can celebrate the strength of women and girls, the tenacity it takes to survive in a world that would rather have you disappear.”—Nylon In the tight-knit community known as Heaven, a ramshackle slum hidden between luxury high-rises in Bangalore, India, five girls on the cusp of womanhood forge an unbreakable bond. Muslim, Christian, and Hindu; queer and straight; they are full of life, and they love and accept one another unconditionally. Whatever they have, they share. Marginalized women, they are determined to transcend their surroundings. When the local government threatens to demolish their tin shacks in order to build a shopping mall, the girls and their mothers refuse to be erased. Together they wage war on the bulldozers sent to bury their homes, and, ultimately, on the city that wishes that families like them would remain hidden forever. Elegant, poetic, and vibrant, A People’s History of Heaven takes a clear-eyed look at adversity and geography--and dazzles in its depiction of these women’s fierceness and determination not just to survive, but to triumph. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A History of Heaven Jeffrey Burton Russell, 1999-01-03 Well known for his historical accounts of Satan and hell, Jeffrey Burton Russell explores the brighter side of eternity: heaven. He not only examines concepts found among Jews, Greeks and Romans, but asks how time 'passes' in eternity. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Early History of Heaven J. Edward Wright, 2002-03-28 When we think of heaven, we generally conjure up positive, blissful images. Heaven is, after all, where God is and where good people go after death to receive their reward. But how and why did Western cultures come to imagine the heavenly realm in such terms? Why is heaven usually thought to be up there, far beyond the visible sky? And what is the source of the idea that the post mortem abode of the righteous is in this heavenly realm with God? Seeking to discover the roots of these familiar notions, this volume traces the backgrounds, origin, and development of early Jewish and Christian speculation about the heavenly realm -- where it is, what it looks like, and who its inhabitants are. Wright begins his study with an examination of the beliefs of ancient Israel's neighbors Egypt and Mesopotamia, reconstructing the intellectual context in which the earliest biblical images of heaven arose. A detailed analysis of the Hebrew biblical texts themselves then reveals that the Israelites were deeply influenced by images drawn from the surrounding cultures. Wright goes on to examine Persian and Greco-Roman beliefs, thus setting the stage for his consideration of early Jewish and Christian images, which he shows to have been formed in the struggle to integrate traditional biblical imagery with the newer Hellenistic ideas about the cosmos. In a final chapter Wright offers a brief survey of how later Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions envisioned the heavenly realms. Accessible to a wide range of readers, this provocative book will interest anyone who is curious about the origins of this extraordinarily pervasive and influential idea. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A People's History for the Classroom Bill Bigelow, Howard Zinn, 2008 Presents a collection of lessons and activities for teaching American history for students in middle school and high school. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A Brief History of Heaven Alister E. McGrath, 2008-04-15 This engaging book by one of today's best-known Christian writers explores the history of heaven, from its origins in biblical writings to its most recent representations. A short, accessible book on the history of heaven. Draws together representations of heaven by a wide range of writers, theologians, politicians and artists. Covers literary works such as Dante's Divine Comedy, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and the poems of George Herbert. Considers discussions by Marx and Freud of heaven's role in society. Based on serious scholarship but is ideal for the non-specialist who wants to learn more about the idea of heaven. Alister E. McGrath is one of today's best-known Christian writers. |
| a peoples history of heaven: Heaven Colleen McDannell, Bernhard Lang, 2001-08-11 In so doing, they shed new light on both the private and public dimensions of western culture. This second edition includes a substantial new preface relating the book to changing views of life after death in the new century.--BOOK JACKET. |
| a peoples history of heaven: People of Heaven Beverley Harper, 2000-04-01 'The poacher didn't shoot her. Bullets cost money and a shot might alert the rangers. . . On the third night, after enduring more agony than any man or beast should ever have to face, the rhinoceros took one last shuddering breath, heaved her flanks painfully, and sought refuge in the silky blackness of death.' In 1945, on a train bound for Zululand, two soldiers meet on the way home to their families, the war in Europe finally over. But in South Africa there are many more battles still to be fought. The seeds of apartheid are being sown in an angry nation, the fate of the Zulu people is as precarious as that of the endangered black rhinoceros, hunted for its horn. The soldiers on the train are already sworn enemies-one is black, the other white. Their sons, Michael King and Dyson Mpande, share a precious friendship that defies race and colour. But political greed, lust and a great evil between their families will test their friendship beyond imaginable limits. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Five People You Meet In Heaven Mitch Albom, 2009-06-11 THE INSPIRATIONAL CLASSIC FROM THE MASTER STORYTELLER WHOSE BOOKS HAVE TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF OVER 40 MILLION READERS 'Mitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary' Cecilia Ahern _________ To his mind, Eddie has lived an uninspiring life. Now an old man, his job is to fix rides at a seaside amusement park. On his eighty-third birthday, Eddie's time on earth comes to an end. When a cart falls from the fairground, he rushes to save a little girl's life and tragically dies in the attempt. When Eddie awakens, he learns that the afterlife is not a destination, but a place where your existence is explained to you by five people - some of whom you knew, others who were ostensibly strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, five individuals revisit their connections to Eddie on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his 'meaningless' life and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: 'Why was I here?' __________ WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN 'Breathtakingly beautiful. A story that will stay with you forever' 'A beautiful and flawlessly choreographed book . . . No other book may ever compare' 'One of my favourite books . . . Wonderful, inspirational, and heart-warming! To me, it is a MUST READ! 'The book is beyond words . . . Well written, engaging, poignant' 'This really is a wonderful book. You should read it' |
| a peoples history of heaven: Heaven in the American Imagination Gary Scott Smith, 2011-06-01 Does heaven exist? If so, what is it like? And how does one get in? Throughout history, painters, poets, philosophers, pastors, and many ordinary people have pondered these questions. Perhaps no other topic captures the popular imagination quite like heaven. Gary Scott Smith examines how Americans from the Puritans to the present have imagined heaven. He argues that whether Americans have perceived heaven as reality or fantasy, as God's home or a human invention, as a source of inspiration and comfort or an opiate that distracts from earthly life, or as a place of worship or a perpetual playground has varied largely according to the spirit of the age. In the colonial era, conceptions of heaven focused primarily on the glory of God. For the Victorians, heaven was a warm, comfortable home where people would live forever with their family and friends. Today, heaven is often less distinctively Christian and more of a celestial entertainment center or a paradise where everyone can reach his full potential. Drawing on an astounding array of sources, including works of art, music, sociology, psychology, folklore, liturgy, sermons, poetry, fiction, jokes, and devotional books, Smith paints a sweeping, provocative portrait of what Americans-from Jonathan Edwards to Mitch Albom-have thought about heaven. |
| a peoples history of heaven: Mapping Paradise Alessandro Scafi, 2006 Alessandro Scafi's fascinating account looks at the perception of world geography and the place of paradise within that. Central to this discussion are the key debates, prevalent from the Renaissance, about faith and reason, theology and philosophy and paradise both as an internal and external reality. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A People's History of the World Chris Harman, 2017-05-02 Building on A People’s History of the United States, this radical world history captures the broad sweep of human history from the perspective of struggling classes. An “indispensable volume” on class and capitalism throughout the ages—for readers reckoning with the history they were taught and history as it truly was (Howard Zinn) From the earliest human societies to the Holy Roman Empire, from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, from the Industrial Revolution to the end of the twentieth century, Chris Harman provides a brilliant and comprehensive history of the human race. Eschewing the standard accounts of “Great Men,” of dates and kings, Harman offers a groundbreaking counter-history, a breathtaking sweep across the centuries in the tradition of “history from below.” In a fiery narrative, he shows how ordinary men and women were involved in creating and changing society and how conflict between classes was often at the core of these developments. While many scholars see the victory of capitalism as now safely secured, Harman explains the rise and fall of societies and civilizations throughout the ages and demonstrates that history moves ever onward in every age. A vital corrective to traditional history, A People's History of the World is essential reading for anyone interested in how society has changed and developed and the possibilities for further radical progress. |
| a peoples history of heaven: a Heaven is for Real Deluxe Edition Todd Burpo, 2011-10-31 #1 New York Times bestseller with more than 11 million copies sold! When 4-year-old Colton Burpo emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven, his family doesn’t know what to believe. Heaven is For Real details what Colton saw and his family’s journey towards accepting their young son had visited the afterlife. “Do you remember the hospital, Colton?” Sonja said. “Yes, mommy, I remember,” he said. “That’s where the angels sang to me.” Colton told his parents he left his body during an emergency surgery–and proved that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital during his operation. He talked of visiting heaven and described events that happened before he was born and how he spoke with family members he’d never met. Colton also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, even though he had not yet learned to read. With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton recounts his visit to heaven, describing: Meeting long-departed family members Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big” God is, and how much God loves us How Jesus called Todd, Colton’s father, to be a pastor The Battle of Armageddon Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.” Heaven Is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child. Praise for Heaven is for Real: “A beautifully written glimpse into heaven that will encourage those who doubt and thrill those who believe.” —Ron Hall, coauthor of Same Kind of Different as Me |
| a peoples history of heaven: Dear Mrs Naidu Mathangi Subramanian, 2015-03-02 Twelve-year-old Sarojini’s best friend, Amir, might not be her best friend any more. Ever since Amir moved out of the basti and started going to a posh private school, it seems like he and Sarojini have nothing in common. Then Sarojini finds out about the Right to Education, a law that might help her get a free seat at Amir’s school – or, better yet, convince him to come back to a new and improved version of the government school they went to together. As she struggles to keep her best friend, Sarojini gets help from some unexpected characters, including Deepti, a feisty classmate who lives at a construction site; Vimala Madam, a human rights lawyer who might also be an evil genius; and Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, a long-dead freedom fighter who becomes Sarojini’s secret pen pal. Told through letters to Mrs. Naidu, this is the story of how Sarojini learns to fight – for her friendship, her family, and her future. Published by Zubaan. |
| a peoples history of heaven: People I Met at the Gates of Heaven Don Piper, 2018-11-06 Picking up where bestselling 90 Minutes in Heaven left off, Don Piper reveals for the first time the sacred, intimate details of the people who met him at the gates of heaven and the profound impact they had on his faith on earth. In this incredible follow-up to his eight-million-copy bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Don Piper shares untold stories about his encounters with people who greeted him at the gates of heaven, and offers powerful insights about the way for us to live our lives on earth. Don Piper's unforgettable account of a horrific car accident that took his life, and what happened next has riveted more than eight million readers. Something happened as he shared his story in the years since. Not only did Piper realize he had more to tell, he had yet to share the most sacred and intimate details of his time in heaven about the people who met him at the gates. I have never left a speaking engagement without people wanting to know more, he said. In The People I Met in Heaven, Piper takes readers deeper into his experience, which includes never-before-told encounters with the people who met him when he arrived in heaven-those who helped him on his journey that led to the entrance to God's heavenly home. Even more, Piper recounts the majesty of heaven and the glorious reunion that awaits us there. He offers practical insights, inspiration, and a challenging call that while we're on earth we need to obey Jesus' command to go and make disciples of all nations. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Map of Heaven Eben Alexander, 2014-10-07 The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Proof of Heaven teams up with the sages of times past, modern scientists, and with ordinary people who have had profound spiritual experiences to show the reality of heaven and our true identities as spiritual beings. When Dr. Eben Alexander told the story of his near-death experience and his vivid journey to the other side, many readers wrote to say it resonated with them profoundly. Thanks to them, Dr. Alexander realized that sharing his story allowed people to rediscover what so many in ancient times knew: there is more to life, and to the universe, than this single earthly life. Dr. Alexander and his coauthor Ptolemy Tompkins were surprised to see how often his readers’ visions of the afterlife synced up with each other and with those of the world’s spiritual leaders, as well as its philosophers and scientists. In The Map of Heaven, he shares the stories people have told him and shows how they are echoed both in the world’s faiths and in its latest scientific insights. It turns out there is much agreement, across time and terrain, about the journey of the soul and its survival beyond death. In this book, Dr. Alexander makes the case for heaven as a genuine place, showing how we have forgotten, but are now at last remembering, who we really are and what our destiny truly is. The Map of Heaven takes the broad view to reveal how modern science is on the verge of the most profound revolution in recorded history—all around the phenomenon of consciousness itself! |
| a peoples history of heaven: All Under Heaven Rayne Kruger, 2003-12-30 A one-volume narrative history of China, from the earliest inhabitants to the twentieth century, for a popular readership China is a country with an ancient and highly sophisticated civilization of which the Chinese have been justly proud.When the countries of Europe were struggling to move beyond mud huts and stone tools the Chinese already had a highly complex society and were creating works of great beauty. Yet, although it has for many years been a source of great fascination to the West, the history of China remains a mystery to the layman. In this highly accessible narrative written for the general reader, Rayne Kruger produces a synthesis of Chinese history for the non-specialist reader. Rayne Kruger was born in South Africa and began his working life in a Johannesburg goldmine before becoming in succession a lawyer, broadcaster and actor. He emigrated to England in 1947 where he joined the BBC. He wrote a number of successful novels, followed by a history of South Africa (1959) Goodbye Dolly Gray, which has remained in print ever since. An astute business man, he then founded a property group. He subsequently went into partnership with his wife, the successful restauranteur and cookery school entrepreneur Prue Leith (business woman of the year 1990). He died on 21 December 2002. |
| a peoples history of heaven: US Education in a World of Migration Jill Koyama, Mathangi Subramanian, 2014-03-14 Given the protracted, varied, and geographically expansive changes in migration over time, it is difficult to establish an overarching theory that adequately analyzes the school experiences of immigrant youth in the United States. This volume extends the scholarly work on these experiences by exploring how immigrants carve out new identities, construct meanings, and negotiate spaces for themselves within social structures created or mediated by education policy and practice. It highlights immigrants that position themselves within global movements while experiencing the everyday effects of federal, state, and local education policy, a phenomenon referred to as glocal (global-local) or localized global phenomena. Chapter authors acknowledge and honor the agency that immigrants wield, and combine social theories and qualitative methods to empirically document the ways in which immigrants take active roles in enacting education policy. Surveying immigrants from China, Bangladesh, India, Haiti, Japan, Colombia, and Liberia, this volume offers a broad spectrum of immigrant experiences that problematize policy narratives that narrowly define notions of immigrant, citizenship, and student. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Storm of Heaven Thomas Harlan, 2002-07-14 The great three-sided war continues: Rome against Persia against the tribes of the desert now commanded by Mohammed of Mekkah. But there is hope for the West. Prince Maxian, horrified at being the cause of so many deaths, has come to realize that the Oath need not be broken; it can be changed by a skilled sorcerer. (July) |
| a peoples history of heaven: To the People, Food Is Heaven Audra Ang, 2012-10-16 In China, the world’s next superpower, life is comfortable for the fortunate few. For others, it’s a hand-to-mouth struggle for a full stomach, a place to live, wages for work done, and freedom to speak openly. In a place where few things are more important than food, “Have you eaten yet?” is another way of saying hello. After traversing the country and meeting its people, Ang shares her delicious experiences with us. She tells of a clandestine cup of salty yak butter tea with a Tibetan monk during a military crackdown and explains how a fluffy spring onion omelet encapsulates China’s drive for rural development. You’ll have lunch with some of the country's most enduring activists, savor meals with earthquake survivors, and get to know a house cleaner who makes the best fried chicken in all of Beijing. Ang bites into the gaping divide between rich and poor, urban and rural reform, intolerance for dissent, and the growing dissatisfaction with those in power. By serving these topics to us one at a time, To the People, Food Is Heaven provides a fresh perspective beyond the country’s anonymous identity as an economic powerhouse. Ang plates a terrific, wide-ranging feast that is the new China. Have you eaten yet? |
| a peoples history of heaven: Up to Heaven and Down to Hell Colin Jerolmack, 2021-04-20 A riveting portrait of a rural Pennsylvania town at the center of the fracking controversy Shale gas extraction—commonly known as fracking—is often portrayed as an energy revolution that will transform the American economy and geopolitics. But in greater Williamsport, Pennsylvania, fracking is personal. Up to Heaven and Down to Hell is a vivid and sometimes heartbreaking account of what happens when one of the most momentous decisions about the well-being of our communities and our planet—whether or not to extract shale gas and oil from the very land beneath our feet—is largely a private choice that millions of ordinary people make without the public's consent. The United States is the only country in the world where property rights commonly extend up to heaven and down to hell, which means that landowners have the exclusive right to lease their subsurface mineral estates to petroleum companies. Colin Jerolmack spent eight months living with rural communities outside of Williamsport as they confronted the tension between property rights and the commonwealth. In this deeply intimate book, he reveals how the decision to lease brings financial rewards but can also cause irreparable harm to neighbors, to communal resources like air and water, and even to oneself. Up to Heaven and Down to Hell casts America’s ideas about freedom and property rights in a troubling new light, revealing how your personal choices can undermine your neighbors’ liberty, and how the exercise of individual rights can bring unintended environmental consequences for us all. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2003-02-04 Since its original landmark publication in 1980, A People's History of the United States has been chronicling American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools -- with its emphasis on great men in high places -- to focus on the street, the home, and the, workplace. Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As historian Howard Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles -- the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality -- were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States, which was nominated for the American Book Award in 1981, features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. Revised, updated, and featuring a new after, word by the author, this special twentieth anniversary edition continues Zinn's important contribution to a complete and balanced understanding of American history. |
| a peoples history of heaven: 101 People You Won't Meet in Heaven Michael Powell, 2007 The bad boys of history and their twisted achievements, recounted, with tongue-in-cheek attitude, in gory detail. |
| a peoples history of heaven: One of Ours Willa Cather, 1960 |
| a peoples history of heaven: Heaven Is for Real Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent, 2016-07-11 A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven. Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear. Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how reaaally big God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit shoots down power from heaven to help us. Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Mandate of Heaven S J Marshall, S. J. Marshall, 2015-12-14 The Mandate of Heaven was originally given to King Wen in the 11th century BC. King Wen is credited with founding the Zhou dynasty after he received the Mandate from Heaven to attack and overthrow the Shang dynasty. King Wen is also credited with creating the ancient oracle known as the Yijing or Book of Changes. This book validates King Wen's association with the Changes. It uncovers in the Changes a record of a total solar eclipse that was witnessed at King Wen's capital of Feng by his son King Wu, shortly after King Wen had died (before he had a chance to launch the full invasion). The sense of this eclipse as an actual event has been overlooked for three millennia. It provides an account of the events surrounding the conquest of the Shang and founding of the Zhou dynasty that has never been told. It shows how the earliest layer of the Book of Changes (the Zhouyi) has preserved a hidden history of the Conquest. |
| a peoples history of heaven: Nigger Heaven Carl Van Vechten, 1926 |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Fall of Heaven Andrew Scott Cooper, 2016-08-02 An immersive, gripping account of the rise and fall of Iran's glamorous Pahlavi dynasty, written with the cooperation of the late Shah's widow, Empress Farah, Iranian revolutionaries and US officials from the Carter administration In this remarkably human portrait of one of the twentieth century's most complicated personalities, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Andrew Scott Cooper traces the Shah's life from childhood through his ascension to the throne in 1941. He draws the turbulence of the post-war era during which the Shah survived assassination attempts and coup plots to build a modern, pro-Western state and launch Iran onto the world stage as one of the world's top five powers. Readers get the story of the Shah's political career alongside the story of his courtship and marriage to Farah Diba, who became a power in her own right, the beloved family they created, and an exclusive look at life inside the palace during the Iranian Revolution. Cooper's investigative account ultimately delivers the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty through the eyes of those who were there: leading Iranian revolutionaries; President Jimmy Carter and White House officials; US Ambassador William Sullivan and his staff in the American embassy in Tehran; American families caught up in the drama; even Empress Farah herself, and the rest of the Iranian Imperial family. Intimate and sweeping at once, The Fall of Heaven recreates in stunning detail the dramatic and final days of one of the world's most legendary ruling families, the unseating of which helped set the stage for the current state of the Middle East. |
| a peoples history of heaven: Under the Banner of Heaven Jon Krakauer, 2004-06-08 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities. • Now an acclaimed FX limited series streaming on HULU. “Fantastic.... Right up there with In Cold Blood and The Executioner’s Song.” —San Francisco Chronicle Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities. At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A City Called Heaven Robert M. Marovich, 2015-03-15 In A City Called Heaven, Robert M. Marovich follows gospel music from early hymns and camp meetings through its growth into the sanctified soundtrack of the city's mainline black Protestant churches. Marovich mines print media, ephemera, and hours of interviews with artists, ministers, and historians--as well as relatives and friends of gospel pioneers--to recover forgotten singers, musicians, songwriters, and industry leaders. He also examines the entrepreneurial spirit that fueled gospel music's rise to popularity and granted social mobility to a number of its practitioners. As Marovich shows, the music expressed a yearning for freedom from earthly pains, racial prejudice, and life's hardships. Yet it also helped give voice to a people--and lift a nation. A City Called Heaven celebrates a sound too mighty and too joyous for even church walls to hold. |
| a peoples history of heaven: Heaven and Hell Bart D. Ehrman, 2021-03-23 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 |
| a peoples history of heaven: Ladders to Heaven Mike Shanahan, 2016-09-08 Irresistible - Literary Review Fig trees have affected humanity in profound but little-known ways: they are wish-fulfillers, rainforest royalty, more precious than gold. Ladders to Heaven tells their incredible story. They fed our pre-human ancestors, influenced diverse cultures and played a key role in the birth of civilisation. More recently, they helped restore life after Krakatoa's catastrophic eruption and proved instrumental in Kenya's struggle for independence. Figs now sustain more species of bird and mammal than any other fruit – in a time of falling trees and rising temperatures, they offer hope. Theirs is a story about humanity's relationship with nature, as relevant to our past as it is to our future. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny Michael Wallis, 2017-06-06 Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence Finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award A Publishers Weekly Holiday Guide History Pick “A book so gripping it can scarcely be put down.... Superb.” —New York Times Book Review WESTWARD HO! FOR OREGON AND CALIFORNIA! In the eerily warm spring of 1846, George Donner placed this advertisement in a local newspaper as he and a restless caravan prepared for what they hoped would be the most rewarding journey of a lifetime. But in eagerly pursuing what would a century later become known as the American dream, this optimistic-yet-motley crew of emigrants was met with a chilling nightmare; in the following months, their jingoistic excitement would be replaced by desperate cries for help that would fall silent in the deadly snow-covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada. We know these early pioneers as the Donner Party, a name that has elicited horror since the late 1840s. With The Best Land Under Heaven, Wallis has penned what critics agree is “destined to become the standard account” (Washington Post) of the notorious saga. Cutting through 160 years of myth-making, the “expert storyteller” (True West) compellingly recounts how the unlikely band of early pioneers met their fate. Interweaving information from hundreds of newly uncovered documents, Wallis illuminates how a combination of greed and recklessness led to one of America’s most calamitous and sensationalized catastrophes. The result is a “fascinating, horrifying, and inspiring” (Oklahoman) examination of the darkest side of Manifest Destiny. |
| a peoples history of heaven: Heaven, My Home Attica Locke, 2019-09-17 In this captivating crime novel (People), Texas Ranger Darren Mathews is on the hunt for a missing child -- but it's the boy's family of white supremacists who are his real target. 9-year-old Levi King knew he should have left for home sooner; now he's alone in the darkness of vast Caddo Lake, in a boat whose motor just died. A sudden noise distracts him - and all goes dark. Darren Mathews is trying to emerge from another kind of darkness; after the events of his previous investigation, his marriage is in a precarious state of re-building, and his career and reputation lie in the hands of his mother, who's never exactly had his best interests at heart. Now she holds the key to his freedom, and she's not above a little maternal blackmail to press her advantage. An unlikely possibility of rescue arrives in the form of a case down Highway 59, in a small lakeside town where the local economy thrives on nostalgia for ante-bellum Texas - and some of the era's racial attitudes still thrive as well. Levi's disappearance has links to Darren's last case, and to a wealthy businesswoman, the boy's grandmother, who seems more concerned about the fate of her business than that of her grandson. Darren has to battle centuries-old suspicions and prejudices, as well as threats that have been reignited in the current political climate, as he races to find the boy, and to save himself. A Best Book of the Year New York TimesHouston ChronicleNPRWall Street JournalMilwaukee Journal-SentinelBook PageFinancial TimesKirkusSheReadsSunday TimesLitHubGuardianBook RiotSouth Florida Sun SentinelLonglisted for the Orwell Political Fiction Book Prize |
| a peoples history of heaven: A Thousand Hills to Heaven Josh Ruxin, 2013-11-05 One couple's inspiring memoir of healing a Rwandan village, raising a family near the old killing fields, and building a restaurant named Heaven. Newlyweds Josh and Alissa were at a party and received a challenge that shook them to the core: do you think you can really make a difference? Especially in a place like Rwanda, where the scars of genocide linger and poverty is rampant? While Josh worked hard bringing food and health care to the country's rural villages, Alissa was determined to put their foodie expertise to work. The couple opened Heaven, a gourmet restaurant overlooking Kigali, which became an instant success. Remarkably, they found that between helping youth marry their own local ingredients with gourmet recipes (and mix up the best guacamole in Africa) and teaching them how to help themselves, they created much-needed jobs while showing that genocide's survivors really could work together. While first a memoir of love, adventure, and family, A Thousand Hills to Heaven also provides a remarkable view of how, through health, jobs, and economic growth, our foreign aid programs can be quickly remodeled and work to end poverty worldwide. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom, 2018-10-09 In this enchanting sequel to the #1 bestseller The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom tells the story of Eddie’s heavenly reunion with Annie—the little girl he saved on earth—in an unforgettable novel of how our lives and losses intersect. In Mitch Albom’s beloved novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, the world fell in love with Eddie, a grizzled war veteran-turned-amusement park mechanic who died saving the life of a young girl named Annie. Eddie’s journey to heaven taught him that every life matters. Now, in this magical sequel, Albom reveals Annie’s story. The accident that killed Eddie left an indelible mark on Annie. It took her left hand, which needed to be surgically reattached. Injured, scarred, and unable to remember why, Annie’s life is forever changed by a guilt-ravaged mother who whisks her away from the world she knew. Bullied by her peers and haunted by something she cannot recall, Annie struggles to find acceptance as she grows. When, as a young woman, she reconnects with Paulo, her childhood love, she believes she has finally found happiness. As the novel opens, Annie is marrying Paulo. But when her wedding night day ends in an unimaginable accident, Annie finds herself on her own heavenly journey—and an inevitable reunion with Eddie, one of the five people who will show her how her life mattered in ways she could not have fathomed. Poignant and beautiful, filled with unexpected twists, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven reminds us that not only does every life matter, but that every ending is also a beginning—we only need to open our eyes to see it. |
| a peoples history of heaven: A Step from Heaven An Na, 2016-07-26 Originally published: Alpine, Texas: Front Street Press, 2001. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Southern Part of Heaven William Meade 1893- Prince, 2021-09-09 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. |
| a peoples history of heaven: All the Nations Under Heaven Robert W. Snyder, 2019-02-12 First published in 1996, All the Nations Under Heaven has earned praise and a wide readership for its unparalleled chronicle of the role of immigrants and migrants in shaping the history and culture of New York City. This updated edition of a classic text brings the story of the immigrant experience in New York City up to the present with vital new material on the city’s revival as a global metropolis with deeply rooted racial and economic inequalities. All the Nations Under Heaven explores New York City’s history through the stories of people who moved there from countless places of origin and indelibly marked its hybrid popular culture, its contentious ethnic politics, and its relentlessly dynamic economy. From Dutch settlement to the extraordinary diversity of today’s immigrants, the book chronicles successive waves of Irish, German, Jewish, and Italian immigrants and African American and Puerto Rican migrants, showing how immigration changes immigrants and immigrants change the city. In a compelling narrative synthesis, All the Nations Under Heaven considers the ongoing tensions between inclusion and exclusion, the pursuit of justice and the reality of inequality, and the evolving significance of race and ethnicity. In an era when immigration, inequality, and globalization are bitterly debated, this revised edition is a timely portrait of New York City through the lenses of migration and immigration. |
| a peoples history of heaven: The Eaves of Heaven Andrew X. Pham, 2009-06-23 One of the Ten Best Books of the Year, Washington Post Book World One of the Los Angeles Times’ Favorite Books of the Year One of the Top Ten National Books of 2008, Portland Oregonian A 2009 Honor Book of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association “Few books have combined the historical scope and the literary skill to give the foreign reader a sense of events from a Vietnamese perspective. . . . Now we can add Andrew Pham’s Eaves of Heaven to this list of indispensable books.” —New York Times Book Review “Searing . . . vivid–and harrowing . . . Here is war and life through the eyes of a Vietnamese everyman.” —Seattle Times Once wealthy landowners, Thong Van Pham’s family was shattered by the tumultuous events of the twentieth century: the French occupation of Indochina, the Japanese invasion during World War II, and the Vietnam War. Told in dazzling chapters that alternate between events in the past and those closer to the present, The Eaves of Heaven brilliantly re-creates the trials of everyday life in Vietnam as endured by one man, from the fall of Hanoi and the collapse of French colonialism to the frenzied evacuation of Saigon. Pham offers a rare portal into a lost world as he chronicles Thong Van Pham’s heartbreaks, triumphs, and bizarre reversals of fortune, whether as a South Vietnamese soldier pinned down by enemy fire, a prisoner of the North Vietnamese under brutal interrogation, or a refugee desperately trying to escape Vietnam after the last American helicopter has abandoned Saigon. This is the story of a man caught in the maelstrom of twentieth-century politics, a gripping memoir told with the urgency of a wartime dispatch by a writer of surpassing talent. |
| a peoples history of heaven: From Heaven He Came and Sought Her David Gibson, Jonathan Gibson, 2013-11-30 There is a palpable sense of confusion—and sometimes even embarrassment—with regard to so-called limited atonement today, pointing to the need for thoughtful engagement with this controversial doctrine. Incorporating contributions from a host of respected theologians, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement as it examines the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives. Offering scholarly insights for those seeking a thorough and well-researched discussion, this book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology. *The epub edition of this title will not display correctly when viewed on Adobe Digital Editions. Hebrew characters will be inaccurately displayed in this reader. |
PeoplesBank | Personal Banking, Business Banking, Home Loans
PeoplesBank is a local community bank offering a variety of personal and business banking solutions and resources to help you meet your financial needs. Explore our checking, savings …
PeoplesBank
PeoplesBank is the largest community bank in the market. Personal Banking, Business Banking, Home Loans and more. Headquartered in Holyoke, MA.
Locations/Hours | PeoplesBank
Find a PeoplesBank branch or ATM near you. PeoplesBank branches and ATMs are conveniently located throughout Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. Springfield, Chicopee, …
PeoplesOnline & Mobile Banking | PeoplesBank
Bank online from home, the office or on the go. Safe. Secure. Convenient. With PeoplesOnline and Mobile Banking, you can manage your finances from your phone, tablet or computer 24 …
Contact Us | PeoplesBank
Send Message Email PeoplesBank Secure Contact Form Call Us Customer Solutions - 413.538.9500 or 877.888.1388 Monday through Friday - 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Saturday - 8:00 …
Amherst, Massachusetts - Wikipedia
Amherst (/ ˈæmərst / ⓘ) [4] is a city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Connecticut River valley. Amherst has a council–manager form of government, and is …
PeoplesBank Amherst Branch - Amherst, MA
PeoplesBank Amherst branch is located at 56 Amity Street, Amherst, MA 01002 and has been serving Hampshire county, Massachusetts for over 22 years. Get hours, reviews, customer …
PeoplesBank - 56 Amity Street (Amherst, MA) - Branchspot
Dec 18, 2002 · PeoplesBank Branch Location at 56 Amity Street, Amherst, MA 01002 - Hours of Operation, Phone Number, Address, Directions and Reviews.
PeoplesBank in Amherst Massachusetts 56 Amity St 01002 - USA …
PeoplesBank in Amherst phone, directions, hours, and online banking for the Amherst Branch at 56 Amity St.
PeoplesBank Amherst - US Bank Locations
Complete list of 9 PeoplesBank locations in or near Amherst, MA with financial information, routing numbers, reviews and other informations. Also ask questions and discuss related …
PeoplesBank | Personal Banking, Business Banking, H…
PeoplesBank is a local community bank offering a variety of personal and business banking solutions and resources to help you meet your financial needs. Explore our …
PeoplesBank
PeoplesBank is the largest community bank in the market. Personal Banking, Business Banking, Home Loans and …
Locations/Hours | PeoplesBank
Find a PeoplesBank branch or ATM near you. PeoplesBank branches and ATMs are conveniently located throughout Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. Springfield, Chicopee, …
PeoplesOnline & Mobile Banking | PeoplesBank
Bank online from home, the office or on the go. Safe. Secure. Convenient. With PeoplesOnline and Mobile Banking, you can manage your finances from your phone, tablet or computer …
Contact Us | PeoplesBank
Send Message Email PeoplesBank Secure Contact Form Call Us Customer Solutions - 413.538.9500 or 877.888.1388 Monday through Friday - 8:00 am - 7:00 pm Saturday - 8:00 am …
