The Confusion of Worlds

Exploring the concept of physical resurrection and eternal life, the author delves into the paradox of this belief against the backdrop of life's transience. He links this idea to otherworld experiences, particularly near-death encounters, where individuals report beautiful forms and paradisiacal landscapes. By analyzing pre-modern cosmologies, he illustrates how these experiences shaped expectations of earthly paradise, drawing parallels with Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity. The text also examines the implications of these beliefs through the lens of the Lakota Ghost Dance movement and its historical consequences.