The Destiny Of the Soul, A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life
by William Rounseville Alger (1878)
Note that this is simply a secular study on the future life, including the Bible’s point of view of heaven and hell. Although being from a secular point of view, it is of limited value as far as what the Scripture says, because I (the editor David Cox) don’t believe the viewpoint of the author is a believing person’s viewpoint. Nonetheless, the book has a tremendous amount of material from non-biblical sources, from difference religious and cultural groups perspectives about heaven and hell, and in some case this is of some value in comparing with the truth, therefore I include this work. It should be noted that this has been a standard textbook in some circles for 20 years, and has 10 editions of the book which would seem to indicate that some people think it is of great value.
Contents
Part First. Historical and Critical Introductory Views.
Chapter I. Theories of the Soul’s Origin
Chapter II. History of Death
Chapter III. Grounds of the Belief in a Future Life
Chapter IV. Theories of the Soul’s Destination
Part Second. Ethnic Thoughts Concerning a Future Life.
Chapter I. Barbarian Notions of a Future Life
Chapter II. Druidic Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter III. Scandinavian Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter IV. Etruscan Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter V. Egyptian Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter VI. Bramanic and Buddhist Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter VII. Persian Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter VIII. Hebrew Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter IX. Rabbinical Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter X. Greek and Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter XI. Mohammedan Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter XII. Explanatory Survey of the Field and Its Myths
Part Third. New Testament Teachings Concerning a Future Life.
Chapter I. Peter’s Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter II. Doctrine of a Future Life in the Epistle to the Hebrews
Chapter III. Doctrine of a Future Life in the Apocalypse
Chapter IV. Paul’s Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter V. John’s Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter VI. Christ’s Teachings Concerning the Future Life
Chapter VII. Resurrection of Christ
Chapter VIII. Essential Christian Doctrine of Death and Life
Part Fourth. Christian Thoughts Concerning a Future Life.
Chapter I. Patristic Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter II. Mediaval Doctrine of a Future Life
Chapter III. Modern Doctrine of a Future Life
Part Fifth. Historical and Critical Dissertations Concerning a Future Life.
Chapter I. Doctrine of a Future Life in the Ancient Mysteries
Chapter II. Metempsychois; or, Transmigration of Souls
Chapter III. Resurrection of the Flesh
Chapter IV. Doctrine of Future Punishment; or, Critical History of the Idea of a Hell
Chapter V. The Five Theoretic Modes of Salvation
Chapter VI. Recognition of Friends in a Future Life
Chapter VII. Local Fate of Man in the Astronomic Universe
Chapter VIII. Critical History of Disbelief in a Future Life
Chapter IX. Morality of the Doctrine of a Future Life
Part Sixth. Supplementary Chapters.
Chapter I. The End of the World
Chapter II. The Day of Judgment
Chapter III. The Mythological Hell and the True One; or, the Law of Perdition
Chapter IV. The Gates of Heaven; or, the Law of Salvation in All Worlds
Chapter V. Resume of the Subject: How the Question of Immortality Now Stands
Chapter VI. The Transient and the Permanent in the Destiny of the Soul
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