Title: Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations
Description: In an original and innovative piece of comparative research, Gregory Shushan 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 - as well as a challenge to post-modern scholarly attitudes concerning cross-cultural comparisons in the study of religions.  The book was nominated for the 2011 Grawemeyer Award.
Subjects: near-death experience, ancient religions, afterlife, Future life, Universalism, Near-death experiences, Comparative studies
Places: Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Aztec and Maya Mesoamerica, Ancient China, Vedic India