In this book Jeffrey Burton Russell explores the many and complex reasons for the gradual erosion of the idea of heaven in the modern era. Although the seeds of skepticism were planted in the Enlightenment, he shows, the real decline dates to the nineteenth century. This is a fascinating tale that sheds light not only on the history of Christian thought, but on the process of secularization in the West; Russell shows us the grubby soul of our materialistic and uncritically scientific society. Finally he argues that we can and should make room for paradise for the spiritual health of our culture and points the way towards metaphors of perfection and transcendence that resonate in our time. A marvelous overview of the many philosophical, literary, social, and even religious forces that have challenged the concept of heaven.... Russell's elegant and richly textured survey of heaven offers a first-rate history of a much-debated subject.