Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlifeby Bart D. Ehrman

A New York Times bestselling historian of early Christianity takes on two of the most gripping questions of human existence: where did the ideas of heaven and hell come from and why do they endure?

What happens when we die? A recent Pew Research poll showed that 72% of Americans believe in a literal heaven and 58% believe in a literal hell. Most people who hold these beliefs are Christian and assume they are the age-old teachings of the Bible. But eternal rewards and punishments are found nowhere in the Old Testament and are not what Jesus or his disciples taught.

So where did these ideas come from?

In this “eloquent understanding of how death is viewed through many spiritual traditions” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), Bart Ehrman recounts the long history of the afterlife, ranging from The Epic of Gilgamesh up to the writings of Augustine, focusing especially on the teachings of Jesus and his early followers. He discusses ancient guided tours of heaven and hell, in which a living person observes the sublime blessings of heaven for those who are saved and the horrifying torments of hell for those who are damned. Some of these accounts take the form of near death experiences, the oldest on record, with intriguing similarities to those reported today.

One of Ehrman’s startling conclusions is that there never was a single Greek, Jewish, or Christian understanding of the afterlife, but numerous competing views. Moreover, these views did not come from nowhere; they were intimately connected with the social, cultural, and historical worlds out of which they emerged. Only later, in the early Christian centuries, did they develop into notions of eternal bliss or damnation widely accepted today.

In this “elegant history” (The New Yorker), Ehrman helps us reflect on where our ideas of the afterlife come from. With his “richly layered-narrative” (The Boston Globe) he assures us that even if there may be something to hope for when we die, there certainly is nothing to fear.

BACK PAIN GONE!: The Complete Guide to Getting Rid Of Your Back Pain in 7 Days or Less.by Dr. Carlos Gonzalez

After having read many books on back pain and Inversion Therapy I knew I had to write a better book on Back Pain. Many of the other books on just give you a limited perspective when discussing back pain. The solutions were limited too. There is NOT just one cause of low back pain or back pain in general. There are many causes for back pain, lower back pain and they really did not discuss all the possible complications like if you have a disc herniation, muscle spasms, failed back surgery, scoliosis, chronic back pain etc. The solutions were also quite limited.

After having successfully treated over 10,000 patients with back pain for 30 years I knew it was time to write The Complete Guide To Getting Rid of Back Pain and teach people how to avoid dangerous addicting pain pills, costly and risky spine surgeries that often times left people worse off than before the surgery or be told they would have to learn to live with the pain.

This book has been a labor of Love and Passion which took 15 years to write and re-write but really took 30 years in the making. I Love what I do and I love helping those people that are in pain and suffering. I truly believe this could the the answer you've been praying for.

WHEN COMMUNITIES DISAPPEAR: The Unspoken Truths of Community Revitalization Ideologies and Policies in the United Statesby Veronica Smith

Over the past several decades, it has grown increasingly clear that many of the United States’ policies and practices created for the purpose of improving the economic conditions and environments of the poor and marginalized are no longer working. In some instances, it appears that such policies have never worked. This begets the question: Who is best suited to determine the needs of the poor and who is obligated to support and sustain those needs?

Economic, political, religious, and social policies are complex. They can also be dangerous when abused or misunderstood. When this occurs, the abuse and misunderstandings can have people advocating and fighting for things they don’t really believe or truly desire. What do I mean? Community revitalization ideologies and policies are built around people and the environment. Such policies have historically been shaped around the perceived needs of poor people. What many people do not realize or have never stopped to consider is that these policies that impact the lives of many people have been constructed from a melting pot of individuals, of people with vastly differing agendas, beliefs, experiences, and opinions–ideologies.

Furthermore, when it comes to things such as displacement, eviction, and gentrification, there are typically three common factors, no matter where on the globe the community may be: poverty, politics, and policy. There is always more to the story than what the average observer may think. The backstory is what ultimately set the stage for this book.

Dirty Deedsby Armand Rosamilia

I get paid to erase problems.

Did your extramarital affair produce an unwanted complication? Family problems? Just want to enjoy your midlife crisis by yourself?

That’s where I come in. For a fee I’ll take care of it. A big fee.

Only, I’m not going to do what you think. I’m not going to save you from them, I’m going to save them from you.

Stiger’s Tigersby Marc Alan Edelheit

Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award for Fantasy & Finalist for Best Series 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

The Story begins here!

A nobleman from an infamous family, fighter, imperial legionary officer, hero and a born leader… Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion in the North to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell.

Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father.

In a world where magic is a rarity, a dark power is growing. What awaits Stiger is an incredible journey he could never even hope to imagine.

Stiger’s Tigers is the first book in a new epic fantasy series. If you enjoy an original story, honorable heroes, mind blowing twists and page turning action that puts you right in the middle of the fighting, then you will love Edelheit’s award-winning series.

The battle to save the empire and the world begins here!

The start of an action filled series with more than 90,000 million page reads and 1000s of five-star reviews. Available in eBook, KU, print and audiobook.

Eternal Curseby R.L. Wilson

An eternal contract that could destroy my life, my love, and even a city.

My magic isn’t a gift–it’s a curse, passed down from one generation to the next.

With bills piling up, I signed a contract with a devil in exchange for money. Little did I know the contract is eternal. Whenever I’m summoned, I have to use my magic for illegal operations.

After two years, I want out.

When I meet Kato, a Voodoo priest, he promises to release me from my shackles. I’m desperate enough, I selfishly take that chance. It’s his life, not mine after all. But the closer I get to Kato, the more I think that losing him might be just as hard to take as this life I’m stuck in.

Now I have two options. Freedom from my magic or freedom from this contract. Either one will be nearly impossible to achieve.

Can Kato free me before everything precious to me is destroyed?

Fans of Patricia Briggs will love this blend of urban fantasy and slow-burn paranormal romance wrapped into one magical adventure in the eternal curse.