The Afterlife Book: Heaven, Hell, and Life After Death

Jones and Flaxman, coauthors of Demons, the Devil, and Fallen Angels, conduct a solid, comprehensive survey of what is known, surmised, or purported about the afterlife. The book offers a thorough, scientific explanation of how bodies decompose after death, and it examines funeral rites and other death customs of various religions and cultures worldwide. The authors also look at what the soul is (or isn’t), according to philosophers such as Socrates and Aquinas. The book notes that various religions and cultures believe that heaven, hell, limbo, purgatory, and the Bardos exist, and it investigates what scientists have done to prove or disprove this; the theoretical work of Einstein, British mathematician Roger Penrose, and others have explored the meaning and substance of consciousness. Near-death experiences, past-lives reports, paranormal apparitions, and the work of legitimate mediums have all spawned scientific investigations; entire societies, including skeptics, are dedicated to studying these reports. Blue Zones, areas of the world in which people live longer, are covered here, along with concepts and movements such as telomere research, transhumanism, and a digital afterlife.