This classic work of spiritual inquiry explores the many ways that different cultures and religions have understood the idea of the soul and its fate after death. Alger offers a comprehensive history of the doctrine of a future life, from its earliest expressions to its most modern articulations. This updated edition includes six new chapters and a complete bibliography of works on the subject. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.