Heaven and Hell - Paperback

by Albertus Pretorius (Author)

What happens when we die? Is there an immortal soul that survives death and enters an eternal afterlife - either in heaven, or in hell? What exactly is the soul? How is it possible that a human being can have a soul, a psyche, self-consciousness, a mind, an ego, and memories that define his identity? These questions have kept millions of people busy through the ages. This book is an effort to illuminate the mystery of death and its aftermath from the perspectives of various religious and philosophical traditions, with the focus mostly on the Sacred Scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Some enigmatic and often overlooked biblical passages are given an original analysis and explanation. This mystery is also viewed from a scientific perspective, especially the science of neuropsychology. A clarification is provided of why scientists have failed to identify, pinpoint, and explain the soul, the ego, the seat of consciousness inside the human brain. This book is meant for all people interested in religion, philosophy, and science, whether academics or lay people. Technical terms are kept to a minimum.

Author Biography

Albertus Pretorius is a retired minister of religion of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa who served in three congregations and held two academic positions. He studied ancient languages, theology, philosophy, history, and psychology and received two doctorates. He is interested in all things scientific. His favorite pastime is to read and write non-fiction.