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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven: But Never Dreamed of Asking
Answers common questions about the nature of heaven, examines the existence of hell, and discusses how to experience the joy of heaven on Earth
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
87 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
197 books1,069 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 6, 2017
This book is simply Kreeft. One is reminded again of just how good a writer Kreeft is. While he is not the next Lewis or Chesterton, he is very close. He is witty, ironic, and yet logically thorough. He is not afraid of difficult questions and spends the necessary time fleshing them out, using rigorous Thomistic reasoning at all times.
There really isn't a theme in this book--simply his analysis of a number of issues and questions that people ask about heaven (and it goes to say that children have superior theological intellects than do theologians--children ask far better questions).
The first section of the book contrasts the medieval mindset with the modern mindset, not only about heaven but about all of reality. The medieval win easily. Modernity sucks, if I may speak frankly. For the medievals earth is the icon of heaven, the training ground of heaven. Earth matters (matter matters) because heaven matters. One could thus summarize medieval art as "spirituality" infusing matter. This doesn't mean that the art is "spiritual" (which of course for Evangelicals means "not real"), but that the matter has been energized by heaven! For modernity, Earth is...well...earth. Nothing important.
Kreeft then asks and answers 20 questions about heaven.
Kreeft explores the reality of hell and the nature of hell. Surprisingly, although a Roman Catholic, Kreeft gives very Eastern answers to this question. For a moment I thought I was reading David Bentley Hart, Gregory of Nyssa, or Maximus the Confessor. We will either experience God's energies as light (heaven) or fire (hell).
My qualm with the book. The Bible speaks of the eschaton more as "the renewed creation of new heavens and new earth" than it does as "beautific vision." Of course, both points are true, but Kreeft only focuses on the second one.
There really isn't a theme in this book--simply his analysis of a number of issues and questions that people ask about heaven (and it goes to say that children have superior theological intellects than do theologians--children ask far better questions).
The first section of the book contrasts the medieval mindset with the modern mindset, not only about heaven but about all of reality. The medieval win easily. Modernity sucks, if I may speak frankly. For the medievals earth is the icon of heaven, the training ground of heaven. Earth matters (matter matters) because heaven matters. One could thus summarize medieval art as "spirituality" infusing matter. This doesn't mean that the art is "spiritual" (which of course for Evangelicals means "not real"), but that the matter has been energized by heaven! For modernity, Earth is...well...earth. Nothing important.
Kreeft then asks and answers 20 questions about heaven.
Kreeft explores the reality of hell and the nature of hell. Surprisingly, although a Roman Catholic, Kreeft gives very Eastern answers to this question. For a moment I thought I was reading David Bentley Hart, Gregory of Nyssa, or Maximus the Confessor. We will either experience God's energies as light (heaven) or fire (hell).
My qualm with the book. The Bible speaks of the eschaton more as "the renewed creation of new heavens and new earth" than it does as "beautific vision." Of course, both points are true, but Kreeft only focuses on the second one.
January 15, 2021
This book is incredibly insightful, but I did struggle to get through it at times.
Admittedly, I started reading it last year but couldn't get into it. I contemplated abandoning the book altogether, but since I committed to it I wanted to finish it. I recently started it over and I'm glad I did. The book has three parts, and it was Part II that I found the most difficult. Perhaps that was because the content itself it hard to understand. That is also why I didn't give it a higher rating. I wouldn't consider this a light read, since it speaks heavily on philosophy, theology, and logic. Nonetheless, the book emphasizes that Heaven is a place and it is far from boring. After reading, it renewed my desire and hope for Heaven, and reminded me that Heaven is not a destination in the future, but it is here now! It is rooted in joy, beauty, glory, wonder, awe, magnificence, and triumph.
Admittedly, I started reading it last year but couldn't get into it. I contemplated abandoning the book altogether, but since I committed to it I wanted to finish it. I recently started it over and I'm glad I did. The book has three parts, and it was Part II that I found the most difficult. Perhaps that was because the content itself it hard to understand. That is also why I didn't give it a higher rating. I wouldn't consider this a light read, since it speaks heavily on philosophy, theology, and logic. Nonetheless, the book emphasizes that Heaven is a place and it is far from boring. After reading, it renewed my desire and hope for Heaven, and reminded me that Heaven is not a destination in the future, but it is here now! It is rooted in joy, beauty, glory, wonder, awe, magnificence, and triumph.
February 24, 2025
ENGLISH: A good summary of things we can say about Heaven, with a lot of imagination.
Chapter 2, 14 questions about Heaven asserts a few debatable things. For instance, question 3 (Do the Blessed in Heaven see us now? he twists the meaning of the word "witness" in Hebrews 12:1 to mean "the Blessed in Heaven," when it actually means "the martyrs and prophets of the Old Testament," and we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses actually means that all the martyrs and prophets who preceded us should move us to imitate them and persevere in running the race that lies before us. It is dangerous to take a single verse out of context and out of the Bible to support our hypotheses.
In question 4, Kreeft believes that ghosts are here and we can experience them. In fact, he says that the dead often appear to the living. There is enormous evidence of "ghosts" in all cultures. And he believes that there are ghosts who respond to conjuring at seances, even though he acknowledges our penchant to deceive and be deceived, our credulity and our fakery, but he believes that there remain many trustworthy accounts. This reminds me of those who claim that flying saucers are aliens visiting us, who typically claim that "there are unsolved cases." It also reminds me of Andrew Lang's Preface to "The Yellow Fairy Book" where he says that "as to whether there are fairies... [I know] several people who have seen them... If there are no fairies, why do people believe in them all over the world?"
Kreeft should remember what Joseph Ratzinger wrote in his "Introduction to Christianity" (1983): Whoever believes in the community of saints ultimately overcomes the idea of the "anima separata"... The resurrection: its essential content is not... a restitution of bodies to souls after a long intermediate period. This could also be applied in chapter 5 where Kreeft suggests that in Purgatory we'll be disembodied souls. I know this was the traditional view in the Catholic Church, but Ratzinger was probably the best Catholic theologian of the 20th century, later Pope Benedict XVI, and he tells us to overcome the idea of the "anima separata."
I liked the chapter on Purgatory. The image it gives, as the antechamber or first stage of heaven, is better than that of C.S. Lewis in "The Great Divorce," where it seems to be a non-final antechamber of hell. Kreeft's version is more similar to Tolkien's version in "'Leaf' by Niggle", which I like very much.
ESPAÑOL: Buen resumen de lo que podemos decir sobre el Cielo, con bastante imaginación.
El capítulo 2, 14 preguntas sobre el cielo afirma algunas cosas discutibles. Por ejemplo, en la pregunta 3 (¿Nos ven ahora los bienaventurados del cielo?, Kreeft tuerce el significado de la palabra "testigo" en Hebreos 12:1 para que signifique "los bienaventurados del cielo", cuando significa "los mártires y profetas del Antiguo Testamento", de modo que innumerables son estos testigos y nos envuelven como una nube significa que todos los mártires y profetas que nos precedieron deberían movernos a imitarlos para correr hasta el final la prueba que nos espera. Es peligroso sacar de contexto un solo versículo de la Biblia para apoyar nuestras hipótesis.
En la pregunta 4, Kreeft cree que los fantasmas existen y podemos experimentarlos. De hecho, dice que los muertos a menudo se aparecen a los vivos. Hay una enorme evidencia de "fantasmas" en todas las culturas. Y cree que hay fantasmas que responden en las sesiones espiritistas, aunque reconoce nuestra inclinación a engañar y ser engañados, nuestra credulidad y nuestra falsedad, pero cree que quedan muchos relatos dignos de confianza. Me recuerda a los que sostienen que los platillos volantes son extraterrestres que nos visitan, que siempre suelen aducir que "quedan casos sin resolver". También me recuerda el prólogo de Andrew Lang al "libro amarillo de las hadas", donde dice que "en cuanto a si existen hadas... [conozco] a varias personas que las han visto... Si no hay hadas, ¿por qué la gente cree en ellas en todo el mundo?"
Kreeft debería recordar lo que escribió Joseph Ratzinger en "Introducción al Cristianismo" (1983): Quien cree en la comunidad de los santos, supera a la postre la idea del "anima separata"... La resurrección: su contenido esencial no es... una restitución de los cuerpos a las almas después de un largo período intermedio. Esto también se puede aplicar al capítulo 5, donde Kreeft sugiere que en el Purgatorio seremos almas incorpóreas. Sé que esta era la visión tradicional en la Iglesia Católica, pero Ratzinger fue probablemente el mejor teólogo católico del siglo XX, más tarde Papa Benedicto XVI, y nos dice que superemos la idea del "anima separata".
Me ha gustado el capítulo sobre el Purgatorio. La imagen que da, como antesala o primera etapa del cielo, es mejor que la de C.S. Lewis en "El gran divorcio", donde parece ser una antesala no definitiva del infierno, y más parecida a la de Tolkien en "'Hoja', de Niggle", que a mí me gusta mucho.
Chapter 2, 14 questions about Heaven asserts a few debatable things. For instance, question 3 (Do the Blessed in Heaven see us now? he twists the meaning of the word "witness" in Hebrews 12:1 to mean "the Blessed in Heaven," when it actually means "the martyrs and prophets of the Old Testament," and we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses actually means that all the martyrs and prophets who preceded us should move us to imitate them and persevere in running the race that lies before us. It is dangerous to take a single verse out of context and out of the Bible to support our hypotheses.
In question 4, Kreeft believes that ghosts are here and we can experience them. In fact, he says that the dead often appear to the living. There is enormous evidence of "ghosts" in all cultures. And he believes that there are ghosts who respond to conjuring at seances, even though he acknowledges our penchant to deceive and be deceived, our credulity and our fakery, but he believes that there remain many trustworthy accounts. This reminds me of those who claim that flying saucers are aliens visiting us, who typically claim that "there are unsolved cases." It also reminds me of Andrew Lang's Preface to "The Yellow Fairy Book" where he says that "as to whether there are fairies... [I know] several people who have seen them... If there are no fairies, why do people believe in them all over the world?"
Kreeft should remember what Joseph Ratzinger wrote in his "Introduction to Christianity" (1983): Whoever believes in the community of saints ultimately overcomes the idea of the "anima separata"... The resurrection: its essential content is not... a restitution of bodies to souls after a long intermediate period. This could also be applied in chapter 5 where Kreeft suggests that in Purgatory we'll be disembodied souls. I know this was the traditional view in the Catholic Church, but Ratzinger was probably the best Catholic theologian of the 20th century, later Pope Benedict XVI, and he tells us to overcome the idea of the "anima separata."
I liked the chapter on Purgatory. The image it gives, as the antechamber or first stage of heaven, is better than that of C.S. Lewis in "The Great Divorce," where it seems to be a non-final antechamber of hell. Kreeft's version is more similar to Tolkien's version in "'Leaf' by Niggle", which I like very much.
ESPAÑOL: Buen resumen de lo que podemos decir sobre el Cielo, con bastante imaginación.
El capítulo 2, 14 preguntas sobre el cielo afirma algunas cosas discutibles. Por ejemplo, en la pregunta 3 (¿Nos ven ahora los bienaventurados del cielo?, Kreeft tuerce el significado de la palabra "testigo" en Hebreos 12:1 para que signifique "los bienaventurados del cielo", cuando significa "los mártires y profetas del Antiguo Testamento", de modo que innumerables son estos testigos y nos envuelven como una nube significa que todos los mártires y profetas que nos precedieron deberían movernos a imitarlos para correr hasta el final la prueba que nos espera. Es peligroso sacar de contexto un solo versículo de la Biblia para apoyar nuestras hipótesis.
En la pregunta 4, Kreeft cree que los fantasmas existen y podemos experimentarlos. De hecho, dice que los muertos a menudo se aparecen a los vivos. Hay una enorme evidencia de "fantasmas" en todas las culturas. Y cree que hay fantasmas que responden en las sesiones espiritistas, aunque reconoce nuestra inclinación a engañar y ser engañados, nuestra credulidad y nuestra falsedad, pero cree que quedan muchos relatos dignos de confianza. Me recuerda a los que sostienen que los platillos volantes son extraterrestres que nos visitan, que siempre suelen aducir que "quedan casos sin resolver". También me recuerda el prólogo de Andrew Lang al "libro amarillo de las hadas", donde dice que "en cuanto a si existen hadas... [conozco] a varias personas que las han visto... Si no hay hadas, ¿por qué la gente cree en ellas en todo el mundo?"
Kreeft debería recordar lo que escribió Joseph Ratzinger en "Introducción al Cristianismo" (1983): Quien cree en la comunidad de los santos, supera a la postre la idea del "anima separata"... La resurrección: su contenido esencial no es... una restitución de los cuerpos a las almas después de un largo período intermedio. Esto también se puede aplicar al capítulo 5, donde Kreeft sugiere que en el Purgatorio seremos almas incorpóreas. Sé que esta era la visión tradicional en la Iglesia Católica, pero Ratzinger fue probablemente el mejor teólogo católico del siglo XX, más tarde Papa Benedicto XVI, y nos dice que superemos la idea del "anima separata".
Me ha gustado el capítulo sobre el Purgatorio. La imagen que da, como antesala o primera etapa del cielo, es mejor que la de C.S. Lewis en "El gran divorcio", donde parece ser una antesala no definitiva del infierno, y más parecida a la de Tolkien en "'Hoja', de Niggle", que a mí me gusta mucho.
March 25, 2018
Few books are ones I think should be mandated for every Christian. I can't believe that so much of the deep and rich insights in this book aren't part of a core curriculum for these, the Heavenly Colonies.
We constantly talk about ourselves as Journeying, as Pilgrims, that we live for Heaven, and yet we have no idea what its like, or how to think about it. The best we frequently do is a sanitized version of Valhalla, probably because its influence yet lingers on our Western consciousness.
There's so much to talk about in this book, and Heaven is fast become one of my favorite topics. I loved the fresh insights into Purgatory, as more than just a purging forge, but also a NICU to incubate souls into the glory of Heaven.
I will read, and reread this again. We spend all our lives trying to do good and avoid evil, and never brainstorm the destination. I think the prime reason people fall away is because our marketing, our teleology, has been wiped from the map. What non-Christians reject about Heaven, we probably also reject too.
Heaven starts now, Heaven is here. We go deeper into Heaven, not up into it. The discussions about time and eternity, activity, and the communion of saints, paint a completely new picture.
Heaven is all activity, all creativity, all learning and doing and immersion and excitement. Hell is nothing. Remains. Stiff, and pain, and self-circling cycle.
How did we ever get to a place where Hell is more interesting to the common mind than Heaven?
I think it has to do with the verse in Scripture that says 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard'. As wonderful and exciting as that verse is, I hate how it is used. Usually to shut down discussion. I struggle to understand why.
As far as I can see, that verse is not a shutdown. It's a challenge. It's saying that whatever you can imagine, it will still be better. So imagine hard. You'll still be blown away.
Probably the best book I've ever read, and I can't gather my thoughts to write a review. :D Probably will when I reread it.
We constantly talk about ourselves as Journeying, as Pilgrims, that we live for Heaven, and yet we have no idea what its like, or how to think about it. The best we frequently do is a sanitized version of Valhalla, probably because its influence yet lingers on our Western consciousness.
There's so much to talk about in this book, and Heaven is fast become one of my favorite topics. I loved the fresh insights into Purgatory, as more than just a purging forge, but also a NICU to incubate souls into the glory of Heaven.
I will read, and reread this again. We spend all our lives trying to do good and avoid evil, and never brainstorm the destination. I think the prime reason people fall away is because our marketing, our teleology, has been wiped from the map. What non-Christians reject about Heaven, we probably also reject too.
Heaven starts now, Heaven is here. We go deeper into Heaven, not up into it. The discussions about time and eternity, activity, and the communion of saints, paint a completely new picture.
Heaven is all activity, all creativity, all learning and doing and immersion and excitement. Hell is nothing. Remains. Stiff, and pain, and self-circling cycle.
How did we ever get to a place where Hell is more interesting to the common mind than Heaven?
I think it has to do with the verse in Scripture that says 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard'. As wonderful and exciting as that verse is, I hate how it is used. Usually to shut down discussion. I struggle to understand why.
As far as I can see, that verse is not a shutdown. It's a challenge. It's saying that whatever you can imagine, it will still be better. So imagine hard. You'll still be blown away.
Probably the best book I've ever read, and I can't gather my thoughts to write a review. :D Probably will when I reread it.
January 14, 2009
This book took me a while to get through only because it holds so many profound thoughts I wished to ponder before reading on. The author frequently quotes scripture, C.S. Lewis and St.Augustine, among others. He addresses questions many of us are sure to think from time to time, such as: what will we do in Heaven? What is Eternity? What happens to followers of other religions?
For me, the chapter discussing Heavenly Space and Time and the chapter, Heaven and Earth, stand out the most. His explanation of God and forgiveness is beautiful, and Kreeft reminds us how we all can experience the joy of Heaven now.
For me, the chapter discussing Heavenly Space and Time and the chapter, Heaven and Earth, stand out the most. His explanation of God and forgiveness is beautiful, and Kreeft reminds us how we all can experience the joy of Heaven now.
December 3, 2023
Kreeft does a great deal to dispel common misconceptions of heaven, and speculates deeply into the nature of heaven. He fully acknowledges that much of what he writes is speculative, which is both honest and helpful to keep in mind. I found his discussion of purgatory, sex and hell to be particularly helpful and insightful. Many questions about heaven are essentially "how much will it be similar to earthly life, and how dissimilar?" I felt Kreeft fell a little too far in the dissimilar vein at times, especially when discussing time and our relation to others in heaven, but that my speculation against Kreeft's. I wish Kreeft had looked more explicitly at judgment and our state prior to the resurrection.
Kreeft is an extremely lively writer, and makes it as easy as possible to be pulled along in some deep waters.
Kreeft is an extremely lively writer, and makes it as easy as possible to be pulled along in some deep waters.
April 2, 2015
I was surprised to like this as much as I did. I picked it up hoping to get some questions answered for my son, but expecting it to be kind of dry and obtuse. It was a challenging read, but it was written in such an engaging, lively, vivid way and full of quotes from diverse authors and philosophers. It made me experience philosophy in a new way-- and feel that Dr. Kreeft would be a very interesting person to have lunch with.
July 20, 2011
This book is definitely a cut above the rest! Will be reading more Peter Kreeft books from now on :)
February 1, 2022
I read Randy Alcott's book on heaven a long time ago and now that I've read Peter Kreeft's book, Alcott's seems like a child's board book giving platitudes to make us happy while Kreeft's book digs so much deeper.
December 20, 2023
I read this years and years ago and still remember how good it was.
May 21, 2017
Excellent points. Some parts are really " high brow" reading
April 13, 2024
Peter Kreeft draws on scripture, the great tradition of the Church, philosophical reason, and imagination to develop the most nuanced, thoughtful, thought-provoking portrait of heaven I’ve ever read. The book has the perfect title - “… and never dreamed of asking.” He was answering questions I didn’t even know I had. He develops a portrait of a heaven that you’d actually want to go to.
He builds on CS Lewis’ view in “ The Great Divorce” of heaven as a place more real, more dense, and more substantial than earth. He also builds on the point that everything on earth is already part of heaven or hell.
What a great consolation to know that even as excited as this book makes me for heaven, the true beatific vision will only be greater and more unimaginable than the wildest hopes of our souls. Thank you, Peter Kreeft, for that consolation.
Some of the more philosophical points went over my head, but that was partially due to the audiobook medium. Overall, it is highly accessible.
Poor narration by Kara Shallenberg.
He builds on CS Lewis’ view in “ The Great Divorce” of heaven as a place more real, more dense, and more substantial than earth. He also builds on the point that everything on earth is already part of heaven or hell.
What a great consolation to know that even as excited as this book makes me for heaven, the true beatific vision will only be greater and more unimaginable than the wildest hopes of our souls. Thank you, Peter Kreeft, for that consolation.
Some of the more philosophical points went over my head, but that was partially due to the audiobook medium. Overall, it is highly accessible.
Poor narration by Kara Shallenberg.
January 2, 2016
This text is an excellent philosophical take on some of life's most profound questions: Do our pets live with us in Heaven? Do the blessed in Heaven see us now? Will we all be equal in Heaven? Will we have emotions in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? Is there really a Hell? And so many others. Kreeft takes you on a journey deep in thought and explores the concepts of time and space in contrast to eternity with Christ. Will we time-travel in Heaven? Find out by taking a deeper look into philosophical theology with Peter Kreeft in "Everything you ever wanted to know about Heaven."
February 8, 2010
Much more of a philosophical work than I was expecting. I think the book got better as it went along. My favorite chapters were in the section on Heavenly Space and Time. Overall a good book on Eternal truth and how it affects the now as well as the future. This book does not deal with sentimentatlity, but addresses the fundamental truths of Heaven and Hell.
April 14, 2012
"Standing on the shoulders of C.S. Lewis", Kreeft provides a look at the nature of heaven. A refreshingly clear, theologically sound glimpse of the "undiscovered country". Kreeft speaks to the heart and the mind for an unexcelled look at one of the most popular, yet least understood, subjects in religion.
August 13, 2015
An interesting read...structured somewhat like an FAQ (frequently asked questions) listing, by topic. I'm not sure that the author provides documentation and support for all of the information presented, though, if you're someone that needs to know the evidence. I definitely found some information that has provided food for thought by reading this book.
January 19, 2016
Asking questions about heaven without the pressure to answer them.
The book is a great read for those who are seeking beyond the theological and philosophical answers about heaven because the author invited the readers to employ their imagination without sacrificing faith and reason.
The book is a great read for those who are seeking beyond the theological and philosophical answers about heaven because the author invited the readers to employ their imagination without sacrificing faith and reason.
July 5, 2011
Absolutely thought provoking!
While I definitely do not agree with all Kreeft posits, and while I believe he at times reaches into the realm of the speculative, I am made to think of a heaven distinctly different from the one I imagined as a child and a young believer.
While I definitely do not agree with all Kreeft posits, and while I believe he at times reaches into the realm of the speculative, I am made to think of a heaven distinctly different from the one I imagined as a child and a young believer.
March 2, 2020
A Must read for every Christian! offers new insights and it is theologically accurate and just soul lifting! It seriously brought new inspiration into ma everyday life! Although sometimes can be a bit too philosophical and a bit dragging.
Read
March 13, 2010Just starting this read which includes philosophy, Catholic Theology and modern writers such as C.S. Lewis. Fascinating and hopeful.
could-not-finish
August 27, 2015A little out there for me. I felt like it was written by a politician where you ask a question and you get a lot of words but the question is never really answered
August 30, 2025
Many years ago I listened to a recording of a conference by Kreeft on this very subject. It left me with much to ponder and helped shape my ideas about the afterlife. This book, published in 1990, makes me wonder whether the conference came before or after it. There is a clear sense of development in his thought, but I can't tell in which direction. In the conference, certain ideas appear less rigid, more open to different possibilities.
The author opens by acknowledging his reliance on C.S. Lewis’ thought and his intention to write a book on Heaven in the manner Lewis might have, had he chosen to treat the topic himself. The result is not an exposition of Lewis’ views—though Lewis is frequently quoted, and many echoes of his ideas are perceptible. Rather, it is the approach that follows Lewis’ style most closely.
In works like Mere Christianity or The Problem of Pain, one perceives the mind of a believer who habitually reasons through his faith, seeking to make as much rational sense of it as possible. (His friend Tolkien, by contrast, considered such an approach less fitting for a Christian, preferring to entrust explanations to the authority of the Church.)
At times I found the book a little exasperating, though rich in insight and full of thought-provoking intuitions. I set it aside for a while, but eventually returned to it, recognizing that its strengths compensate for its weaknesses.
What troubled me most was the constant blending of sources. Kreeft brings together Catholic doctrine, his own reflections, Lewis’ writings, other religious traditions, and even research on near-death experiences. In principle, this variety could be enriching, provided the distinctions between sources were kept clear and their relative weight carefully assessed. Without such differentiation, however, the result risks blurring intellectual levels in a way that weakens the overall argument.
The result of Kreeft’s effort is an engaging and detail-rich vision of Heaven, one that contrasts with the overly abstract and simplified depictions we too often encounter. In this he proofs to be a worthy disciple of C.S. Lewis. His attempt to render the invisible more tangible gives the reader something both attractive and thought-provoking, inviting us to imagine eternal life in a way that feels closer and more real.
The author opens by acknowledging his reliance on C.S. Lewis’ thought and his intention to write a book on Heaven in the manner Lewis might have, had he chosen to treat the topic himself. The result is not an exposition of Lewis’ views—though Lewis is frequently quoted, and many echoes of his ideas are perceptible. Rather, it is the approach that follows Lewis’ style most closely.
In works like Mere Christianity or The Problem of Pain, one perceives the mind of a believer who habitually reasons through his faith, seeking to make as much rational sense of it as possible. (His friend Tolkien, by contrast, considered such an approach less fitting for a Christian, preferring to entrust explanations to the authority of the Church.)
At times I found the book a little exasperating, though rich in insight and full of thought-provoking intuitions. I set it aside for a while, but eventually returned to it, recognizing that its strengths compensate for its weaknesses.
What troubled me most was the constant blending of sources. Kreeft brings together Catholic doctrine, his own reflections, Lewis’ writings, other religious traditions, and even research on near-death experiences. In principle, this variety could be enriching, provided the distinctions between sources were kept clear and their relative weight carefully assessed. Without such differentiation, however, the result risks blurring intellectual levels in a way that weakens the overall argument.
The result of Kreeft’s effort is an engaging and detail-rich vision of Heaven, one that contrasts with the overly abstract and simplified depictions we too often encounter. In this he proofs to be a worthy disciple of C.S. Lewis. His attempt to render the invisible more tangible gives the reader something both attractive and thought-provoking, inviting us to imagine eternal life in a way that feels closer and more real.
March 4, 2018
Of all of the books I have read about heaven, this is, thus far, my favorite. It's a deep book that challenged my thinking, expanded my vision of heaven, and had a dual effect on me.
On the one hand, I found myself giggling with delight throughout much of the first half to first 2/3rds of the book. It was like following a guide who was taking you somewhere you hadn't been before, (but thought you had), and suddenly the guide pulls back the thick foliage of the forest and you gaze upon beauties and mysteries you either didn't realize existed or had seen before but never so clearly, in glorious, living color. And before you could say, "Wow! That's amazing! That's right!" you couldn't help but let out a giggle of delight.
On the other hand, this book reminded me of the seriousness of following Christ and that sin is not to be trifled with. As Christians, we must, as Saint Paul said, "work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling..."
I started reading the abridged version but liked it so much, I didn't want to miss a thing so I switched over to the longer, unabridged version. Both were good but I thoroughly enjoyed the extra content the unabridged provided.
Besides heaven, the author also got into the unpopular subject of hell. It was a sobering subject but one most needed in today's postmodern culture.
This book about heaven is a book I would guess most Christian thinkers will definitely enjoy, especially those turned off by the "Halmark-y" types of books on the subject.
Instead of a quote, I'll leave this review with another's recommendation -
"At last! A book which rescues the afterlife from sentimentalism and makes heaven truly desirable - quite an accomplishment." - Karl Keating
I hope to read more of this author in the future.
On the one hand, I found myself giggling with delight throughout much of the first half to first 2/3rds of the book. It was like following a guide who was taking you somewhere you hadn't been before, (but thought you had), and suddenly the guide pulls back the thick foliage of the forest and you gaze upon beauties and mysteries you either didn't realize existed or had seen before but never so clearly, in glorious, living color. And before you could say, "Wow! That's amazing! That's right!" you couldn't help but let out a giggle of delight.
On the other hand, this book reminded me of the seriousness of following Christ and that sin is not to be trifled with. As Christians, we must, as Saint Paul said, "work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling..."
I started reading the abridged version but liked it so much, I didn't want to miss a thing so I switched over to the longer, unabridged version. Both were good but I thoroughly enjoyed the extra content the unabridged provided.
Besides heaven, the author also got into the unpopular subject of hell. It was a sobering subject but one most needed in today's postmodern culture.
This book about heaven is a book I would guess most Christian thinkers will definitely enjoy, especially those turned off by the "Halmark-y" types of books on the subject.
Instead of a quote, I'll leave this review with another's recommendation -
"At last! A book which rescues the afterlife from sentimentalism and makes heaven truly desirable - quite an accomplishment." - Karl Keating
I hope to read more of this author in the future.
October 19, 2020
Thought-provoking look at heaven and what it means to look at heaven. I wish I could replace every copy of Heaven with this one. Not that Kreeft is infallible, but he recognizes heaven as something other than Earth part II. He doesn't claim to have a definitive answer, but he leads our thoughts in profitable directions to try to grasp the majesty and immensity of God and what it will mean to be with him forever.
June 15, 2020
Read it to the end and reread paragraphs several times to gain understanding. There’s hope for all of us. Told with some humour in a playful way I enjoyed the
book. The biggest insight was in the appendix.
book. The biggest insight was in the appendix.
February 25, 2021
Excellent book, but I have to admit there were times I had a hard time keeping up with the author. A lot of very interesting thoughts, and a lot of philosophy. I wasn’t sure if I could finish it and if I did, understand what I read. I will hold on to this book and refer back to it in the future.
December 9, 2022
The chief goodness of this book was to get me to think about Earth in light of Heaven. Which is a very good thing to do in the midst of the mundane, or the drudgery, or the “the world is nuts” feelings.
April 28, 2024
Peter Kreeft is as insightful as ever in this work where he tackles various questions regarding the nature of Heaven (and Hell) providing readers with a better understanding of what they can expect each to be like but without claiming his answers are the definitive way of looking at the topics.
May 15, 2024
Simply magnificent. Kreeft takes Lewisonian thought and expands upon it with just as much imagination. Some of the concepts are beyond me, but I often felt I was "microdosing" a mystical experience throughout. I will definitely return to this book in the future.
June 21, 2018
Another great read from Peter Kreeft
Fantastic book. Answers everything you always wondered and then some. Peter Kreeft truly is the C S Lewis of our day. I highly recommend.
Fantastic book. Answers everything you always wondered and then some. Peter Kreeft truly is the C S Lewis of our day. I highly recommend.
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