On the Perennial Philosophy

The following entries summarize chapters or sections regarding the ancient belief in the soul's immortality.

That such accounts of future happiness after this life have increased. The testimonies of Plato, Socrates, and Marcus Tullius Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and philosopher.

XX Plato, Socrates, and Marcus Tullius are witnesses that there is an ancient faith concerning the rewards of justice and uprightness. They, along with our own writers Christian authors, preach that bodily allurements must be shunned, and a heavenly life must be lived while still in these bodies. Those who have done this shall be in the council of the Gods.

XXI Plato preaches that the upright are to be declared Gods after this life, just as the Holy Scriptures do. He calls the dwelling place of the wicked, the unjust, and the criminal "the Darkness," which serves as the punishment for the evil.

XXII From Plato, concerning the future fate of the good and the evil. His testimony proves that this is the "Ancient Theology" Prisca Theologia: the doctrine that a single, true theology exists which threads through all ancient religions and philosophies.

XXIII The opinions of Plato regarding rewards and punishments after life, the Most Holy Kingdom of the Blessed, the foulest prison of the wicked, and the infernal executioners. That the good join the good, and the evil join the evil. That this religion and Faith was only revealed to the ancients from heaven.

XXIIII Plato confesses that everyone will render an account of their own deeds: the good with confidence, the evil with the greatest trepidation. There will be no crowds of kinsmen there to defend the accused before the Tribunal of the judge. The labors which the pious have bravely endured in life shall be endowed with earned rewards. A description of the heavenly fatherland, using names of things exposed to the senses.

XXV A description of the blessed region by Plato and Saint John. How earthly beauty and loveliness express to them the heavenly beauty.

XXVI Concerning the punishments in the lower world, from Plutarch. Concerning the demonic executioners. Concerning eternal rewards. That this Theology is ancient.

XXVII From the most ancient Poets, concerning the punishments and rewards of the good and the evil. According to Plutarch, the testimony of the Philosophers and Poets is that the greatest rewards await the good after the course of life.

XXVIII The testimony of Plutarch, Iamblichus, Marcus Tullius, and Pythagoras regarding rewards and punishments after life.
Concerning the destruction of the World.