Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations : Universalism, Constructivism, and near-death Experience.

By: Shushan, GregoryContributor(s): Flood, GavinMaterial type: TextTextSeries: Continuum Advances in Religious StudiesPublisher: London : Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2009Copyright date: ©2009Edition: 1st edDescription: 1 online resource (255 pages)Content type: text Media type: computer Carrier type: online resourceISBN: 9781441188120Subject(s): Future life | Near-death experiences | UniversalismGenre/Form: Electronic books.Additional physical formats: Print version:: Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations : Universalism, Constructivism, and near-death ExperienceDDC classification: 202 LOC classification: BL535.C65 2009Online resources: Click to View
Contents:
Intro -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations of Primary Sources -- Introduction -- Part One: 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 Two: Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations -- 4. Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt -- Introduction -- The Pyramid Texts -- Teaching for King Merikare -- The Coffin Texts -- The Book of Two Ways -- Summary and Conclusions -- 5. Sumerian and Old Babylonian Mesopotamia -- Introduction -- The Bilgames Texts -- Inana's Descent to the Underworld and Other Dumuzid Texts -- Ningishzida's Journey to the Netherworld -- The Death of Ur-Namma -- Enlil and Ninlil -- Etana and Other 'Ascent' Texts -- Other Miscellaneous Texts -- Summary and Conclusions -- 6. Vedic India -- Introduction -- The Vedas -- The Brahmanas -- The Upanishads -- Summary and Conclusions -- 7. Pre-Buddhist China -- Introduction -- Shang Inscriptions and the Confucian Classics -- Early Daoist Texts -- Chu ci and Other Poems -- Popular Songs -- Shanhaijing -- Funerary Documents -- Summary and Conclusions -- 8. Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica -- Introduction -- The Popol Vuh -- The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel -- Relación de las Cosas de Yucatán -- Legend of the Suns -- Annals of Cuauhtitlan -- History of the Things of New Spain and Other Spanish Documents -- Mexica and Aztec Poetry and Songs -- Summary and Conclusions -- Part Three: Universalism and Culture-Specificity: An Interdisciplinary Approach -- 9. Analysis of Similarities and Differences -- Conclusions -- 10. The Interface of Conception and Experience -- 11. Alternative and Supplementary Theories -- Constructivist -- Conceptual Logic, Cognition, and Neurotheology.
Metaphysical -- 12. Conclusions: Theoretical Eclecticism and a New Comparative Framework -- Notes -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z.
Summary: 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.
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Intro -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations of Primary Sources -- Introduction -- Part One: 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 Two: Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations -- 4. Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt -- Introduction -- The Pyramid Texts -- Teaching for King Merikare -- The Coffin Texts -- The Book of Two Ways -- Summary and Conclusions -- 5. Sumerian and Old Babylonian Mesopotamia -- Introduction -- The Bilgames Texts -- Inana's Descent to the Underworld and Other Dumuzid Texts -- Ningishzida's Journey to the Netherworld -- The Death of Ur-Namma -- Enlil and Ninlil -- Etana and Other 'Ascent' Texts -- Other Miscellaneous Texts -- Summary and Conclusions -- 6. Vedic India -- Introduction -- The Vedas -- The Brahmanas -- The Upanishads -- Summary and Conclusions -- 7. Pre-Buddhist China -- Introduction -- Shang Inscriptions and the Confucian Classics -- Early Daoist Texts -- Chu ci and Other Poems -- Popular Songs -- Shanhaijing -- Funerary Documents -- Summary and Conclusions -- 8. Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica -- Introduction -- The Popol Vuh -- The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel -- Relación de las Cosas de Yucatán -- Legend of the Suns -- Annals of Cuauhtitlan -- History of the Things of New Spain and Other Spanish Documents -- Mexica and Aztec Poetry and Songs -- Summary and Conclusions -- Part Three: Universalism and Culture-Specificity: An Interdisciplinary Approach -- 9. Analysis of Similarities and Differences -- Conclusions -- 10. The Interface of Conception and Experience -- 11. Alternative and Supplementary Theories -- Constructivist -- Conceptual Logic, Cognition, and Neurotheology.

Metaphysical -- 12. Conclusions: Theoretical Eclecticism and a New Comparative Framework -- Notes -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z.

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.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.

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