Robert T. Bigelow is wealthy enough to speak his mind. A hotel and aerospace entrepreneur, Bigelow has made no bones about his belief that aliens are among us, for example. After the death of his wife in 2020 he initiated a contest for essay writers to give their best proof that consciousness survives death. The results took the form of a five-volume, twenty-eight essay collection that, according to those who’ve read all, is impressive. Having spent my life studying religion, I can trace my motivation back to this basic concern. As a child I was terrified of Hell—a fear that ...
