Afterlife is a word shrouded in mysticism that dives deep into the past through many religions and countless cultures. It means a life, or even an existence, after death. Although it may seem basic initially, the definition barely scratches the surface of what an afterlife can mean. According to Webster, life is the existence of an individual human being or animal. However, another aspect of life or living is that I know who I am because I am alive.
On the contrary, death is the action or fact of dying or being killed, the end of the life of a person or organism.
The idea of an afterlife has been debated and researched extensively, uniting people across various cultures and religions in a common quest for understanding. This widespread and enduring belief among multiple cultures, nations, and societies supports the notion that a life after death exists. This diversity strongly suggests an afterlife, pointing to a shared truth transcending individual cultural and religious interpretations. Knowing why an individual may believe in such an afterlife is critical to breaking down some historical perspectives of the afterlife today. The concept of the afterlife, deeply ingrained in various cultures and religions, provides a profound framework for understanding human existence beyond death. By exploring ancient Egyptian rituals, Greek mythological beliefs, and contemporary religious and scientific perspectives, this essay reveals how the afterlife serves not only as a spiritual and moral guide but also as a source of psychological comfort and ethical motivation, shaping human behavior and societal values across time.
By exploring the beliefs of ancient civilizations, we can gain deeper insights into how these perspectives were formed and how they continue to influence modern views on the afterlife. One of the most fascinating ancient belief systems regarding the afterlife is found in Egyptian culture. The core of the complex afterlife beliefs maintained by the ancient Egyptians was the idea of an endless existence. They believed that humans journeyed to the afterlife after death, where Osiris, the God of the dead, would sit in judgment. Egyptians initiated an elaborate and intricate burial practice to ensure a successful journey into the afterlife. They mummified bodies to preserve them for eternity and blessed them with amulets and charms. These practices reflect the Egyptians’ deep reverence for life and death and their belief in a continuation of life beyond the physical realm. Similarly, the Greek perspective on the afterlife, with its distinct regions for the wicked, the common, and the heroic, provides a unique insight into how different cultures conceptualize life after death.
Considering the Underworld from a Greek perspective, Hades and the In Greek mythology, the Underworld was ruled by Hades. After death, Hermes would guide the soul to the Underworld’s entrance, where the ferryman Charon would assist it in crossing the Styx River. There were three areas in the Underworld: Tartarus, a realm of pain and punishment for the wicked; Asphodel Meadows, for common souls; and Elysium (Elysian Fields), for the good and heroic.
Philosophical Perspectives
As these times passed, religious texts began to appear, especially ones that upheld religions that millions still believe in today. Christianity, among almost three billion, revolves around Heaven and Hell. Heaven is seen to be a place with eternal peace and communion, as Hell holds eternal torment and a separation from God. Christianity also includes believing in bodily resurrection and eternal life for believers, emphasizing the importance of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. This belief in Jesus, the son of God, is not just another enlightened teacher on the one hand nor a divine avatar on the other — God in a human disguise. Instead, in all his words and deeds, Jesus was fully and completely divine and a real, embodied human being. (Gettysburg College)
(The Muslim Unity Center) The religion of Islam, like many others, teaches about life after death, showing that after the death of the physical body, individuals are resurrected and judged by Allah. Jannah (Paradise) is a place of eternal bliss for the righteous, characterized by gardens, rivers, and eternal contentment. Jahannam (Hell) is a place of severe punishment for the wicked, described with imagery of fire and torment. Muslims, believers in the religion of Islam, are “someone who submits himself to the will of Almighty God.”
Scientific Perspectives
After a historical backdrop of the afterlife, the line between spiritual and scientific seems to harden. However, a survey found an aspect relating specifically to the afterlife, known as an OBE or Out of Body Experience. In this timeframe, a person seems to be awake and sees his body and the world from a location outside his physical body (National Institute of Health). The survey found that “About 45% of near-death experiencers report OBEs, which involves them seeing and often hearing ongoing earthly events from a perspective that is apart, and usually above, their physical bodies.” This scientific perspective, while not providing definitive proof of an afterlife, does raise interesting questions about the nature of consciousness and the possibility of existence beyond the physical body. It shows us examples of such an experience that blur the line between reality and what seems to be not, challenging our understanding of life and death. (National Library of Medicine)
Looking into an investigation of Near-Death Experiences, many experiences that further prove the existence of an Afterlife begin to appear. Leita Reichle, who became a worker at the Monroe Institute, shares her story of a surprising yet beautiful NDE. “In 1998, after a health crisis, I began to have lucid dream experiences in meditation and many other experiences of states. One experience resulted from my Christian upbringing and questions about what I had been taught. In a moment of intense desire to know the truth, I said, “I would like to look through the eyes of Christ and see the world the way he sees it.” As I gazed out a large picture window with clouds drifting by, there was a bright flash of light, and I found myself over the Earth. I could focus on individuals as if I had a telescope, and with each person I looked at, there would be such a flood of love that I would sob. I returned to consciousness in the chair in which I was sitting, but for three days, the love flowed through me, and I was unable to speak other than in sobs.”
A patient of Nancey Ryes, author of Awakening from the Light, described a vivid Near-Death Experience after a bike crash and a shattered spine. Before his crash, the patient had been an atheist and felt terrified of death and yet too scared to take chances to live genuinely. “That relatively routine surgery to repair my spine brought my death and, with it, the realization that I had been the delusional one all along. (Monroe Institute)
The first glimmer that something happened in the operating room came when I awoke in the middle of a lovely meadow overlooking a low range of sparkling mountains. Impossibly beautiful mountains rose against a silvery sky. Unlike anything on Earth, colors met my sight, and a sense of peace, love, and beauty that defied human language grabbed my heart.” The patient felt accepted and miraculously whole for the first time in his life. A swelling, profound sense of love permeated everything he knew, including him. With this, he felt that Atheism no longer supported him, and his fear of death had evaporated. He felt significantly more present, centered, joyful, and calm than he could have ever imagined he could be. “Someone answered with a booming voice that I heard not with my ears but rather sensed with the core of my being, “You are my child. This is your home. Welcome home.” With that voice came more love than one human could ever imagine. It held me in an embrace so buoyant I felt as if I floated among the clouds. This was a Divine voice and a Divine love that absolutely and unconditionally welcomed me back to my true home.”
“…Divine love is real. Divine consciousness is real. The afterlife is real. We all exist as integral parts of this ‘field’ of Divine love.” (Monroe Institute)
Psychological Perspectives
Another reason one may follow after an Afterlife is their collective identity. The collective identity can mean so much in a human’s life, and the idea of an Afterlife can relieve those searching for a more substantial personal identity. Beliefs about the afterlife can shape individual and group identity. They impact how people view themselves to the larger human community, the divine, and their position in the universe. Many people find that the afterlife offers a framework for comprehending their journey through life and ultimate destiny, which helps them feel that their lives have meaning and purpose. (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary)
One may believe in an Afterlife because it provides physiological comfort and a great coping mechanism for those needing it. Those who are afraid of dying and live in uncertainty can find psychological solace in the belief in an afterlife. It can be comforting because it provides a sense of continuity beyond physical death. By giving hope of a reunion in a different world, this belief can lessen grief and help people deal with the loss of a loved one. The awareness of mortality can cause existential anxiety, but there is psychological protection from it in the afterlife. (Outgrowing and Out-Learning Religion)
Ethical Considerations
As so many cultures and religions develop a thought of this “Afterlife,” it begins to dawn upon us why the afterlife can be so significant to human beings worldwide. One reason one may believe strongly in an afterlife is that the idea of an Afterlife provides a moral and ethical framework for those aiming for a more explicit and principled life on Earth. Many religions support punishment and reward for just actions. With the idea of a guide towards a righteous life, those who follow after such an afterlife can be encouraged to follow upright conduct. (ReligionFacts) With the concept of following moral conduct through a belief in the afterlife, humans may ponder more profoundly the true meaning of life after death and push into mental stages of thought. This can lead one to psychological perspectives on the afterlife.
Future Directions
Although nothing major has come into human society, the point of an afterlife, through strong belief, will predictably only continue to grow.
Nevertheless, there are still significant developments that humanity could develop regarding technology and methodology for studying the afterlife. Virtual reality, a cutting-edge technology that has been used for years, can be one way to generate further insights about directions toward an Afterlife and can serve as a research point for such a topic. These virtual initiatives can immerse participants and users in their surroundings and stimulate the senses to feel as though they are in real life. With virtual technology proliferating into our modern-day life, this can be one of many solutions to help uncover the truth of such an Afterlife.
Despite many personal testimonials and research, the question of life after death will remain controversial and open to interpretation. Even after centuries of human beings practicing religion, nobody knows. But, looking into the purpose of a religion, a strong belief in a positive afterlife drives it. With the great examples of Near-Death Experiences, the blur of an Afterlife begins to thin.
So, an Afterlife is an aspect that could be life-saving for billions, provides a profound sense of purpose, and provides a sturdy base for those who need comfort. Whether or not there is empirical evidence of an afterlife, the belief in it significantly impacts human behavior and societal values. Ultimately, the concept of an afterlife shapes human culture, offering hope and meaning in life’s uncertainties.
Bibliography
Works Cited
Abrams, Nancy. “Is Believing in an Afterlife a Coping Mechanism?” Outgrowing and Out-learning Religion: A blog by Nancy Abrams, 16 Aug. 2014, nancyabramsblogger.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/is-believing-in-an-afterlife-a-coping-mechanism/.
Carr, Deboline, and Shane Sharp. “Do Afterlife Beliefs Affect Psychological Adjustment to Late-Life Spousal Loss?” National Library of Medicine, 29 June 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3894123/. Accessed Jan. 2014.
Lemke, Steve W. “Personal Identity and The Afterlife.” New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, www.nobts.edu/about/institutional-effectiveness1/LemkeSW-files/afterlife.html.
“What is Christianity?” Gettysburg College, Gettysburg College Editors, www.gettysburg.edu/offices/religious-spiritual-life/world-religions-101/what-is-christianity.
“What is Islam?” Muslim Unity Center, muslimunitycenter.org/what-is-islam/.
