<p> A groundbreaking and accessible history of heaven?from the earliest biblical conceptions of the afterlife to the theologians who frame our understandings to the convictions and perceptions of everyday people. </p> <p> The desire for a celestial afterlife is universal. It is as old as the Bible itself. While there are many notions of what exactly heaven is and how we get there, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all agree that heaven is God's home. Drawing on history and popular culture, biblical research and everyday beliefs, <i>Heaven</i> offers a new understanding of one of the most cherished?and shared?ideals of spiritual life. </p>