Religion

The History Of Heaven And Hell

KUER 90.1 | By Doug Fabrizio

Published March 26, 2020 at 6:09 PM MDT

According to a 2015 Pew research poll, a hefty percentage of Americans believe in a traditional Christian afterlife, with 72% of those polled stating they believe in heaven and 58% believing in hell.

But how new are these ideas of eternal bliss and eternal damnation? Biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman walks us through the history of the Christian notion of heaven and hell, showing how these concepts of the afterlife developed over time, from early pre-Christian texts, through the Gospels (no mention of fluffy clouds there) and up through the centuries.

Bart D. Ehrman’s book is Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife. [IndieBound|Amazon|Audible].

Religion

Doug Fabrizio

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

See stories by Doug Fabrizio