Is There Life After Death?

Yes, yes, I'll go on forever. It's 'me' you're talking about. Me! I can't not exist, don't be so silly.

Okay let's compromise. I've got to admit that nobody I know has lived that long, so when I'm done here on earth I'll pop up to Heaven. It is 'up' isn't it? Yes, that's what I'll do. If I can't be where I am now I'll go somewhere even nicer, that makes sense. So I'll see you there then? I mean there's got to be a Heaven because I can't just not exist, right?

Heaven sounds pretty cool. It's the dwelling place of God and all of the righteous after death. So hopefully I should fit in nicely there. I'm not Roman Catholic so I won't have to bother with any purification in purgatory and I won't end up in limbo. I'll just go straight to Heaven, no messing. It's after all what Judaic, Christian and Islamic thought says will happen.

Oh yes, there is the matter of 'Judgement' and meeting God face to face. I've been quite good at exams, and get on with most people, so I'm sure I'll be able to bluff my way through. He'll want me in Heaven because, well, because it's me.

I've heard not everyone gets in though because there is also a Hell - that's 'down' I think.

Makes me wonder though: Is this Heaven business very fair? Is it right that eternal bliss, or eternal punishment, should be based on one lifetimes activities?

Suppose I'd been born into very poor circumstances and didn't have much of a chance in life. It must all be a bit of a lottery. Born in the right circumstances - most likely Heaven. Born into the wrong circumstances - most likely Hell.

No, if there is a God, I don't see He/She would allow this.

Quite a cunning plan, the art of manipulation to perfection.
You know, I'm not sure that this Heaven and Hell bit can be true.

But this is still 'me' we're talking about so, I'll have to go somewhere else, agreed? As I keep saying, I can't just not exist at some point in the future.

Ding! Good grief, is this why religions exist and feed us this eternal life bit?

Because we, not just me, are frightened of not existing and of death being the end. So they keep us all happy. At the same time they can try to keep us all in line by threatening eternal damnation if we stray on to, what they consider to be, the wrong path.

Quite a cunning plan, the art of manipulation to perfection.

This is all well and good but it doesn't solve my problem. Perhaps I'll become a Jehovah's Witness, they talk a good job. I'd quite like it on earth stroking lions and smiling all the time.

Trouble is it was just some guy, a Charles Russel, who thought all this up in 1878. They've forecast Armageddon at least three times and been wrong, but the signs are there, they keep saying.

144,000 will become the 'elect of Jehovah'. Oh dear there are already millions of Witnesses knocking on doors.

What about the Mormons then? Oh another bloke, Joseph Smith, thought this up in New York state back in 1830. I don't know, somehow it doesn't seem right, all these people puting a different spin on things. How do you pick the right one?

I've got to be truthful there is something I believe in - well sort of.

I can't be sure, but it makes the most sense to me. I've got absolutely no proof that it's right. Sure I've read a few reasonably convincing pieces but there's nothing I've proved for myself and I have no scientific evidence. I'd have to say that it's what I 'feel' is maybe the truth. I may not think so next month, next year or even the next decade.

As you will have gathered I want to live on and I have to admit that I am scared to death of death. So for these reasons I'm hardly likely to believe that my final breath will be the last of me.

I'm sure that many will say these, and similar emotions, are why so many of us believe in life after death. At the end of the day they may be right, but I'll be very cross if they are and I'll ... but I won't be able to ... No, I just can't not exist.

No doubt you've guessed that I think I believe in reincarnation - the doctrine of the rebirth of the spirit/soul in different bodies. I'll pause until the muttering, jokes and so on have subsided.

This idea has been around for yonks. The Greeks called it metempsychosis and the belief is widespread, possibly universal. It can be found among the ancient Egyptians, the Hindus, Native American Indians, Occultists and in the folk lore of Europe and Africa. In the 'Bhagavad Gita' Krishan tells Arjuna, "You and I, Arjuna, have lived many lives. I remember them all; you do not remember". Reincarnation also plays an important part in the Kabbalah.

One of the reasons I am drawn towards reincarnation or rebirth is because it explains many of the injustices of life. By this I am linking reincarnation with karma i.e as we sow, we reep.

The bible talks of an 'eye for an eye', this to me is karma. If you merely think in the terms of one life period there isn't always time for 'wrongs' that we do to be corrected. Or, indeed, for good that we do to be rewarded. Reincarnation provides an answer. Justice can be meted out in full measure in our next life if not in this. If we 'progress' our next life will be in more favourable circumstances.

It would also explain why some young children have natural talents - they are something carried over from a previous life. I know all this sounds very fanciful to many but, at the moment, it makes more and more sense to me.

The soul is reborn until elightenment (moksa in Hinduism, nirvana in Buddhism) occurs. By then we'll have some idea of what this life of ours is all about. I would just mention that there are different outlooks between Buddhism and Hinduism. In the former, for example, they reject the idea of individual souls and nirvana is the cessation of all desires - I've got a way to go before I reach that stage, that's for sure!

Though I say I think I believe in reincarnation, I don't actually fully like the idea. I'd prefer it if I could remember my previous lives, but I can't. Who knows I might have been yet another Cleopatra - there must be hundreds of them already!

It's easy to mock the way I think, but re-enbodiment happens in nature. In the vegetable kingdom, as winter approaches, the life force transfers to the roots. The plant above ground dies and then lies resting and dormant waiting for spring to awaken and arouse it again. As the life force moves slowly from the roots a new form of life takes place. It's the same with bulbs (daffs, gladioli etc.)

In the animal world look how a caterpillar passes into a form of sleep (death) and a little later a butterfly is formed.

That's all pretty remarkable if you think about it.

I know, I know, it's still not reincarnation but it's similar.

I've taken a while to say that I'm not absolutely sure if there is life after death, but I hope and feel that there is. My best bet is reincarnation.
I feel that most of us, whether we admit or not, are afraid of death - even people with faith and answers. Why else would virtually all of us try to hang around as long as possible, and do everything we can to keep our loved ones alive - it's because we have doubts.

There's no getting away from it I desperately want to believe in life after death. But it also makes sense, well it does to me. We learn our lessons, improve and evolve. It's what mankind does.

I've got to be honest and say that if I didn't believe in an after life I wouldn't want children.

Life, after all, sometimes can bring pain and heartbreak. I couldn't wish this on anyone whom I know I would care for deeply. I'm not being critical to anyone who thinks differently - I'm not for one minute saying I'm right. It's just how I personally feel. I'm sure many will disagree.

I've taken a while to say that I'm not absolutely sure if there is life after death, but I hope and feel that there is. My best bet is reincarnation.

You and me, we can't just not exist one day, can we? Agreed?

I know I write light heartedly but I do respect all beliefs. What I've tried to do, in my scatterbrained way, is to mull over the things I've been thinking about recently.

Since my grandfather died it's got me thinking about life in general and what it is all about. I don't have any real answers yet - just more and more questions!

You perhaps may also have read my lens Is There Such A Thing As Time?

I hope I haven't offended anyone with my ramblings, I would never want to do this.

Thanks so much for reading this lens and please leave a comment, even if you think I've got everything completely wrong. Who knows, what you write may help me, and others, to find the right path.

Suzie