Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations
Universalism, Constructivism and Near-Death Experience
Published on 22. December 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
284 pages
978-1-4411-3088-4 (ISBN)
Description
Gregory Shushan challenges post-modern scholarly attitudes concerning cross-cultural comparisons in the study of religions. In an original and innovative piece of comparative research, he analyses afterlife conceptions in five ancient civilisations (Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt, Sumerian and Old Babylonian Mesopotamia, Vedic India, pre-Buddhist China, and pre-Columbian Mesoamerica). These are considered in light of historical and contemporary reports of near-death experiences, and shamanic afterlife 'journeys'. Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations is a significant study, for it presents a comprehensive new comparative framework for the cross-cultural study of myth and religion, while at the same time providing a fascinating exploration of the interface between belief and experience.
Reviews / Votes
"...a very well-written book by a consummate scholar. Each of Gregory S.hushan's sentences is pregnant with facts...Shusharlis book is a major contribution to the field of comparative religion and near-death studies. It is a 'must-read' for students of religious experience." -De Numine, Autumn 2009 'This very interesting book... is a valuable and important addition to several literatures in religious studies, consciousness studies, and the sociology of death and dying.' -Allan Kellehear Journal of Contemporary Religion This book represents a scholarly and well-argued study, and is a landmark in both the anthropological study of afterlife conceptions and in research into NDEs. I recommend it highly, and eagerly await its sequel... it represents a very valuable analysis, and is a fascinating read. -Journal of the Society for Psychical ResearchMore details
Series
Edition
NIPPOD
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
374 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-3088-4 (9781441130884)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Gavin Flood is Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and the author of An Introduction to Hinduism (CUP 2004). Gregory Shushan is Perrott-Warrick Researcher at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford, UK.
Content
Foreword by Gavin Flood; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations of Primary Sources; Introduction; Part I: Theory and Methodology in Concept and Application; 1. Comparison, Universalism, and the Rehabilitation of the Comparative 'Similar'; 2. Early Civilizations, Contact, Diffusion, and Cultural Continuity; 3. Near-Death Experience; Part II: Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations; 4. Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt; 5. Sumerian and Old Babylonian Mesopotamia; 6. Vedic India; 7. Pre-Buddhist China; 8. Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica; Part III: Universalism and Culture-Specificity: An Interdisciplinary Approach; 9. Analysis of Similarities and Differences; 10. The Interface of Conception and Experience; 11. Alternative and Supplementary Theories; 12. Conclusions: Theoretical Eclecticism and A New Comparative Framework; References; Index.