A Very Brief History of Eternity

by Carlos Eire

From the author of Waiting for Snow in Havana , a brilliant cultural history of the idea of eternity

What is eternity? Is it anything other than a purely abstract concept, totally unrelated to our lives? A mere hope? A frightfully uncertain horizon? Or is it a certainty, shared by priest and scientist alike, and an essential element in all human relations?

In A Very Brief History of Eternity , Carlos Eire, the historian and National Book Award–winning author of Waiting for Snow in Havana , has written a brilliant history of eternity in Western culture. Tracing the idea from ancient times to the present, Eire examines the rise and fall of five different conceptions of eternity, exploring how they developed and how they have helped shape individual and collective self-understanding.

A book about lived beliefs and their relationship to social and political realities, A Very Brief History of Eternity is also about unbelief, and the tangled and often rancorous relation between faith and reason. Its subject is the largest subject of all, one that has taxed minds great and small for centuries, and will forever be of human interest, intellectually, spiritually, and viscerally.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Author also writes under Carlos M.N. Eire

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brief survey of the evolving concept of eternity and the corresponding influence it has had on historical cultures, highlighting the role it has played in shaping western civilization: from Plato's timeless realm of pure, unchanging ideas; to the medieval everlasting kingdom of god; to the enlightenment's everlasting progress; to its current disappearance in a scientific world where nothing lasts, where even the universe itself will end. The author lucidly draws the real world consequence of each variety of eternity, its incarnation in the social structures, in the civilization of each particular era. Does this in a witty, accessible style, but one that is always wise, sometimes profound.

Nowhere does he, a medieval historian, do this better than in his description of that particular era - in recreating its feeling of proximity to a heaven more real than the temporal realm, accessible through many portals, a time when those on earth and those in heaven interacted, helped each other (masses for the dead, intercession for the living, etc.). The author has masterfully recreated this sensibility - has made this worldview vivid to the reader. And he seems to mourn its passing - to be dissatisfied with the current loss of heaven - equates it to the loss of all permanent value, of all enduring meaning. Is dissatisfied with ineluctable transitoriness of everything human, of the universe itself.

And since this vanishing of 'everlastingness' is recent, the author is worried about the yet unknown consequences its disappearance will have on our current culture, on us. There is no heaven to seek, no better world to create. Only the dying of the sun awaits us. And yet mankind longs for eternity. Eire believes this desire is innate, is built into our genes, is an essential part of our humanity - even if only a desire to live on in our offspring or in our works. But even this hope is doomed to disappointment in a few billion years. Eternity in heaven or on earth is no longer believable - except perhaps as a brief sensation of 'timelessness' in a deep mystical experience, not particularly satisfying since it usually involves the loss of individuality, a becoming Nothing or the All, and is transitory.

Although the subject is profoundly sad one, this book is so well written, so wise, that it is a joy to read. And perhaps 'ends' are not so bad. They are usually the best part of a drama, opera, or movie - they give meaning to what has gone before. And who upon reflection really wants to go on living forever and forever? What thinking person does not long for rest? For an end?

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book. However, it is not an easy beach read. Read it after the kids are in bed so you can focus on the concepts.

The book traces the history of the western concept of eternity.
Eire begins with Judaism and Greek philosophy and continues through early Christianity, the medieval period, the reformation, and post-modern angst. Finally, he ends with a look into the future of scientific theory that, interestingly enough, echoes Greek philosophy.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing! And a wealth of ideas -- I am delighted to report that Eire's books with footnotes are just as much fun to read as his books without them. Snappy prose on a weighty subject -- highly recommended!
 
I could go on about how the structure of the book mirrors its topic, how amazing it is that Eire covers such a wealth of philosophical, religious, and scientific ideas in such a small number of pages -- but I hardly know where to start. Really, it's amazing! Eire covers (seemingly) everything and everybody with any impact on Western civilization -- Gilgamesh, the Zoroastrians, Dante, Charles Dickens, Emily Dickinson, the scholastics, Darwin, Meister Eckhart, Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, Pope John Paul II, Richard Dawkins -- it's absolutely astounding!
 
Of course, Eire writes from a Roman Catholic perspective -- some will find his work unsatisfactory for that reason alone. Which I think is unjust. Professor Eire lays out his premises very clearly, states what he is going to do, and then does it with grace and expertise. I couldn't ask for more from a book -- I loved it!
 
That said, it is not the book to read if you want (for instance) an in depth discussion of Zen Buddhist concepts of time. That would be a fascinating book -- but it is not this one. This book is about the history of the idea of eternity in Western civilization, and if that idea -- or professor Eire's vivid, snappy prose -- holds any attraction for you, you should read it, because you will definitely enjoy it.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than I bargained for, but it certainly highlighted eternity from an earthly point of view. In fact a Christian pt of view , and the monopoly the church had on Eternity. The end result is a greedy church instilling fear of damnation into the general populace if they didnt cough up a tithe or offerings to the church. Luther, Calvin, Locke and Machiavelli are the antidotes to this monopoly. I was really reading this to research various spiritual views of the afterlife, for a book I am writing, instead I gleaned a lot, but it was not an easy read, and although quite well written, I must say I took more naps than usual while reading this book.
Next book of this Genre will be the Tibetan Book of The Dead.

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five views of eternity, all speculative as our time-bound minds can't conceptually conceive of timelessness. A fascinating conclusion is that the universe may be eternally pulsing (forget about our limited cause-and-effect notions of a "creator", but the dilemma is where this leaves us infinitesimally small time-limited creatures. No one knows - "at worst it [the idea of an afterlife] is a cruel hoax encoded in our chromosomes. . . to keep us from killing ourselves and feeding our children to the wolves. At best, eternity is a feeling." In between its possible existence or non-existence is this fascinating "history".

[Lorileinart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes a few good arguments, but mostly I was left with an overall feeling of depression.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As engaging and readable as his memoirs. Very clear in purpose and development. I think he would be a very engaging lecturer.

[Tim Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dense and dry in places but captures interesting trends in human thought about eternity. Thought provoking.

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This scholarly explanation reminds me of the most difficult course I studied in college, Church History. As I read about the various scholars whose works made an impact, it was easier to understand this author's reasoning in his presentation. It's food for thought, but doesn't jive with what I've been taught in evangelical churches since I was ten years old.

Hope Irvin Marston, author of THE WALLS HAVE EARS: A BLACK SPY IN THE CONFEDERATE WHITE HOUSE.

[Milt · Rating 2 out of 5]

DBG for Jan 14