Book SummaryThe Devil's Atlas, by Edward Brooke-Hitching

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Devil's Atlas

The convictions about the events that transpire post-mortem.

Views on the afterlife from diverse historical and cultural standpoints.

Investigating the diverse conceptions of the afterlife across global cultures, such as those in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India, in addition to the end-of-the-world beliefs found in Islamic, Christian, and ancient Mesoamerican civilizations.

The author investigates various historical and cultural perspectives on what occurs after death. He begins his exploration in ancient Egypt, exploring the complex features of the Duat, a perilous domain through which the dead had to traverse before reaching A'aru, the tranquil Fields of Rushes. The journey through the Duat, depicted in texts like the Egyptian Book of the Dead, involved navigating through domains filled with severe suffering and malevolent beings, ultimately leading to a decisive encounter with the judgment of Anubis in the Hall of Ma'at. Success meant arriving at A'aru, a realm abundant and delightful, mirroring the fertile delta in Egypt, a stark juxtaposition to the nation's arid landscapes.

He delves into the Mesopotamian belief in Kur, an abyss referred to as the "land of no return," a place where souls gathered regardless of their actions or social standing. Kur was unique as it presented a muted and shadowy reflection of the realm inhabited by the living, rather than being a domain centered on judgment or retribution. The Mesopotamian views on the afterlife, shaped by legendary tales like the descent of the goddess Inanna into the netherworld, underscore the significance of earthly burial customs in determining the nature of life beyond death. He explores the afterlife concepts within Zoroastrianism, emphasizing the significance of the Chinvat Bridge, often referred to as the divider's causeway. The bridge functioned as an essential conduit, ushering the virtuous towards the blissful House of Song, while steering the wicked towards a punitive domain known as the House of Lies, offering an opportunity for ultimate redemption via a ritual of purifying flames.

In his journey through India, the author delves into the intricate Hindu convictions regarding the continuity of the soul beyond mortal demise, emphasizing the fundamental concept of samsara, which represents the perpetual cycle of reincarnation. In Hindu belief, the realms of heaven and hell are considered transient phases where souls receive their due rewards or penalties, with the ultimate goal being to achieve moksha, a state of liberation from the cycle of birth and death, culminating in union with the supreme spiritual reality, Brahman. The author highlights that the number of instances has reached at least twenty-one, frequently exceeding that figure. In the Vamana Purana, a detailed cosmological structure is outlined, specifying different realms intricately designed to correspond with specific transgressions within the Hindu underworld. He examines the Buddhist perspective on post-mortem existence, acknowledging the cycle of rebirth and viewing the Naraka hells as stages for the soul's purification. In his investigation, the author examines the eight traditional Narakas, describing the distinct types of torment present in each and cites a specific scripture known as the Sutra on the Eighteen Hells, which specifies the lengthy periods of punishment in these realms.

In his exploration of Islamic beliefs, Edward Brooke-Hitching delves into the notion of Jahannam, an eternal blaze sustained by the sins of the condemned, which one approaches by traversing the perilous bridge of As-Sirãt, narrowing for the wicked and leading them to their perpetual fate. Edward Brooke-Hitching's portrayal of al-Ghazali's perspective presents Jahannam as an expansive notion. He contrasts this with the Muslim vision of a verdant paradise, crisscrossed by streams filled with milk, wine, and honey, where the righteous are joined by perpetually youthful and appealing companions.

The writer explores the frosty domains of the Norse afterlife, examining both the realm of Hel, governed by the deity whose name it shares, and the magnificent Valhalla, where Odin honors the deceased warriors with lavish feasts. Valhalla, distinguished by its roof decorated with shields and tables laden with boundless banquets, is the realm where the einherjar, courageous fighters who have perished, engage in unending combat, indulge in feasts, and revel in joyous festivities. Edward Brooke-Hitching delves into the Norse understanding of death and the subsequent existence, drawing from the Prose Edda, and highlights their unique lack of concern for posthumous moral judgment.

In his exploration, the author delves into the ominous realms of the Americas, with a particular emphasis on the domain of Xibalba, a place governed by twelve death gods and characterized by treachery and agony, as depicted in the Popol Vuh. Xibalba encompasses treacherous paths filled with dangerous water passages and confounding chambers that test and deceive the deceased. He explores the Aztec culture's thirteen-layered heavens, highlighting Tlalocān, a domain where water prevails and which falls under the rule of Tlaloc, the god associated with rain.

Practical Tips

• Create a personal ritual or ceremony that honors loved ones who have passed, drawing inspiration from various cultural practices you've learned about. This could be as simple as lighting a candle, playing a specific song, or preparing a favorite meal of the departed on significant dates. The act of creating and performing a ritual can provide a sense of connection and continuity with those who have gone before.
• You can create a personal journal to reflect on the challenges you face and how you navigate them, drawing a parallel to the journey through the Duat. Just as the Duat was a journey with trials, use your journal to document your own 'trials' and 'monsters,' reflecting on the strategies you used to overcome...

The Devil's Atlas Summary Reflections of society and human experiences find their reflection in the domain that lies beyond mortality.

Human experiences on our planet.

Heavenly domains and utopian communities mirroring the societies and terrains found on Earth.

The author highlights how portrayals of existence after death often amplify or reverse actual life events, reflecting the hopes, fears, and social structures of the cultures that conceive them. He argues that our conceptions of an idyllic afterlife frequently reflect the most idealized versions of the communities, customs, and hopes we know from our life on earth. The author describes the Egyptian A'aru, often referred to as the Fields of Rushes, as a utopian domain that mirrors the abundant and effortless harvests similar to the Nile delta, a region of unending abundance where social hierarchies were perpetually preserved. He explores the Islamic vision of paradise, Jannah, depicted as a place where rivers brim with milk, wine, and honey, presenting a vivid contrast to the arid expanses of the Arabian Peninsula, while the heavenly city of New Jerusalem, as depicted in the Christian Bible, offered hope and the prospect of a more blissful life to those enduring the squalid conditions and difficult lives of medieval European cities.

**Other...

The Devil's Atlas Summary Exploring the enigmas associated with existence beyond death.

Explorations in engineering related to the concept of life after death.

Exploring the concepts of life after death and utopia by examining holy scriptures and viewpoints rooted in scientific understanding.

The author examines the shift in views about the afterlife brought about by the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical evidence and logical reasoning. He scrutinizes the efforts of people like Tobias Swinden, who have employed both scientific data and scriptural analysis to precisely locate hell within the observable universe, suggesting that the sun fulfills all the necessary conditions to be deemed a fiery abyss. He explores the intricate calculations of Renaissance thinkers like Antonio Manetti and Galileo Galilei, who were determined to determine the precise dimensions and structure of Dante's envisioned hellish domain, highlighting the enduring fascination with combining scientific investigation and religious concepts.

Context

• The period saw a rise in secularism, where religious explanations were increasingly seen as insufficient for understanding the natural world, including concepts of life after death.
• During Swinden's time, the Enlightenment...