Afterlife
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==Does it actually exist?== | ==Does it actually exist?== | ||
According to [[Neuroscience|neuroscientific]] views, the [[mind]], with the components of memories, creativity, belies and opinions that form a person's identity, | According to [[Neuroscience|neuroscientific]] views, the [[mind]], with the components of memories, creativity, belies and opinions that form a person's identity, | ||
| − | is a component of the functioning brain.<ref name="big brains">Rosenberger, Peter B. MD; Adams, Heather R. PhD. Big Brain/Smart Brain. 18th October, 2011.</ref> During brain death, which is typically bound to occur in as few as 3 minutes after cardiac arrest,<ref>Safar, P. "Cerebral resuscitation after cardiac arrest: a review." (1986). Circulation. '''74''' IV138–153 pmid=3536160</ref> all brain function halts permanently. If the soul is a part of the mind, it would cease to exist at brain death. In the scientific context, there is nothing of one's personality that can exist outside of the biological framework which could float off to some [heaven|happy place]], or live a new life. | + | is a component of the functioning brain.<ref name="big brains">Rosenberger, Peter B. MD; Adams, Heather R. PhD. Big Brain/Smart Brain. 18th October, 2011.</ref> During brain death, which is typically bound to occur in as few as 3 minutes after cardiac arrest,<ref>Safar, P. "Cerebral resuscitation after cardiac arrest: a review." (1986). Circulation. '''74''' IV138–153 pmid=3536160</ref> all brain function halts permanently. If the soul is a part of the mind, it would cease to exist at brain death. In the scientific context, there is nothing of one's personality that can exist outside of the biological framework which could float off to some [[heaven|happy place]], or live a new life, see [[Soul#Scientific evidence against the existence of soul|Scientific evidence against the existence of soul]]. |
Even setting aside what we know about the human mind and personality, logical questions have always existed regarding the afterlife. "Where is it?" If it is, as many ancient religions suggested, a physical place "above us in the sky<ref>Lakota Sioux, Egyptian religion, Christianity as three examples.</ref> or "deep in the earth<ref>Greek and Roman views, Hopi views, Ancient Judaism, and Christianity</ref>" then we would have found such places in human exploration. If it is a place for souls to permanently reside, that's a hell of a lot of space needed for the billions who have come before. And, there is the endless debate over who and what have access to such afterlife. Animals? Bacteria? Human fetuses? | Even setting aside what we know about the human mind and personality, logical questions have always existed regarding the afterlife. "Where is it?" If it is, as many ancient religions suggested, a physical place "above us in the sky<ref>Lakota Sioux, Egyptian religion, Christianity as three examples.</ref> or "deep in the earth<ref>Greek and Roman views, Hopi views, Ancient Judaism, and Christianity</ref>" then we would have found such places in human exploration. If it is a place for souls to permanently reside, that's a hell of a lot of space needed for the billions who have come before. And, there is the endless debate over who and what have access to such afterlife. Animals? Bacteria? Human fetuses? | ||
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“”Let's do some living, after we die...
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| —Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, "Wild Horses" |
Afterlife usually refers to some form of "life after death". This could be "eternal life", "reincarnation", or something more abstract or weird. Common to most versions of an afterlife is the belief in a soul (or similar concept) which, being, the spiritual part of the body will live forever (or at least for a very long time) without the need for a corporeal body. The idea of an afterlife is often offered to believers as a comforting answer to fears of death, and esoteric questions like "Why do bad things happen to me?", and "What is the purpose in life?"
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Does it actually exist?
According to neuroscientific views, the mind, with the components of memories, creativity, belies and opinions that form a person's identity, is a component of the functioning brain.[1] During brain death, which is typically bound to occur in as few as 3 minutes after cardiac arrest,[2] all brain function halts permanently. If the soul is a part of the mind, it would cease to exist at brain death. In the scientific context, there is nothing of one's personality that can exist outside of the biological framework which could float off to some happy place, or live a new life, see Scientific evidence against the existence of soul.
Even setting aside what we know about the human mind and personality, logical questions have always existed regarding the afterlife. "Where is it?" If it is, as many ancient religions suggested, a physical place "above us in the sky[3] or "deep in the earth[4]" then we would have found such places in human exploration. If it is a place for souls to permanently reside, that's a hell of a lot of space needed for the billions who have come before. And, there is the endless debate over who and what have access to such afterlife. Animals? Bacteria? Human fetuses?
Reasons for popularity
The concept of an afterlife iswidespread throughout most human religions. One of the important purpose of religious belief is to give explanations of, and reassurances about the world. Humans and other animals fundamentally fear death, it's what keeps us alive long enough to procreate.The idea of simply not existing any longer is also quite upsetting for most people. Afterlife offers hope of again seeing those that have died and a promise of an escape from death and non-existence. In many religions, the idea of an after life, especially where it is associated with punishment and reward, is a handy explanation for why we have to suffer in this life.
Where you spend it
There are as many ways to spend an after life, as there are religions to talk about it. The stereotypical Christian notion is that there is heaven for the good and righteous and hell for the evil and homosexuals. Heaven is often peaceful and blissful, Hell a place for endless torture and torment. The fear of Hell is probably a stronger motivator than the promise of Heaven at God's side. Fundamentalist Christians generally insist that everybody goes to Hell, except those who have accepted the love of Jesus into their hearts. Alternatively, Christians may believe in annihilationism, where those who would end up in Hell simply cease to exist, or universalism, where everybody gets to go to Heaven regardless of their beliefs.
The traditional Jewish view of the afterlife is that all people remain in a sort of suspended animation until the Messiah comes and raises the dead. Some sects of Christianity also adhere to this view, usually coupling it with a belief in a final Judgement Day.
For Hindus and unremarkable Buddhists, it is an endless cycle of death and rebirth, and not always as a human. You can come back as a god, a demon, or a louse, or be reborn into any number of other realms (generally referred to as "hells"). Buddhists believe that those who achieve true enlightenment escape any kind of afterlife.
Klingons have Sto'Vo'Kor for the honorable and Gre'Thor for the dishonorable.
Paradise for (male) Muslims sounds like one long party with a never-ending string of willing Houris.
Of course, not everyone believes in any kind of afterlife. Atheists largely assume that when you're dead, it's over - so live while you can. Carl Sagan famously stated
“”Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.[5]
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It's so good, you can bet on it
The also afterlife plays a key role in Pascal's Wager, which contrasts the infinite gain of heaven (by believing) and the infinite loss of hell (for not believing) in an effort to show faith in God is favorable.
See also
External links
Eternal links
- Afterlife Telegrams: Have your message delivered to a dearly departed loved one. For $5 per word [6] you can have a terminally ill person memorize your message and "attempt to" deliver it to a dead person's soul when they "meet" them.
- THE SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF SURVIVAL AFTER DEATH This respected website gives no evidence about any afterlife, they refer to "scientific documents" from the nineteenth century, etc., without giving enough evidence so a reader can judge them.
Footnotes
- ↑ Rosenberger, Peter B. MD; Adams, Heather R. PhD. Big Brain/Smart Brain. 18th October, 2011.
- ↑ Safar, P. "Cerebral resuscitation after cardiac arrest: a review." (1986). Circulation. 74 IV138–153 pmid=3536160
- ↑ Lakota Sioux, Egyptian religion, Christianity as three examples.
- ↑ Greek and Roman views, Hopi views, Ancient Judaism, and Christianity
- ↑ Carl Sagan, 1996 in his article In the Valley of the Shadow Parade Magazine Also, Billions and Billions p. 215
- ↑ It's either a donation or a fee, they haven't decided.