Is There Life After Death?
by Norma Sherry
Is
there a Hereafter? Is it a place of perfection and transcendent
peace? Does one float or merely walk, yet never get tired? Is the
Hereafter for only human folk or does it welcome all creatures from
the tiniest ameba to the most gargantuan whale? If so, does the
whale float among the angels or are there pristine waters where
every living organism lives without fear of a predator? Is there a
place in heaven for my puppy dog?
Or
is the Hereafter a clever guise to keep us in line? After all, if we
fear an everlasting life in the fires of Hell and brimstone versus
the glorified everlasting life of splendor and peace: wherein all of
humankind's most desired dreams and wishes are fulfilled, would
this disparity not act as a deterrent for the greater number of us
to be good and lawful human-beings?
Interestingly,
all major religions and their scriptures proscribe to the notion of
an everlasting life of tranquility and beauty known as the
Hereafter. Christianity and Islam believe in the Hereafter. Buddhism
and Hinduism believe in the Hereafter. The Romans, Egyptians,
Greeks, Babylonians, and the Chaldaens of the ancient world had some
belief in an everlasting life.
There
is even indication that the belief in the Hereafter existed for the
Neanderthal man. They buried their dead in an apparent ritualistic
manner, even to placing their tools and implements beside their
dead. One would argue that by doing so they demonstrated a belief in
a life hereafter. In Fiji, the island's people believe that once
one dies on earth they go to an everlasting life where life resumes
in every respect, even to procreating.
Buddhism
differs from Christianity in that in the Buddhist's faith, death
is the transition to another life or life form wherein one must
evolve into a being of love, peacefulness, kindness, and good. For
the Buddhist, Hell is not interminable damnation, but a temporary
place in which one can transcend. In their faith, they are
continually evolving depending upon their individual "karma".
In
Christianity, although there are many faiths under this umbrella all
with differing beliefs, the majority of Christianity believes that
we have but one soul and it does not live on beyond life. Likewise,
the many sects of Christianity have conflicting beliefs regarding
Heaven, Hell, and Judgment. There is evidence, however, that the
early Christian Celtics belief in a continuity of life was very much
akin to the Buddhist belief in reincarnation. So, even in this the
largest faith in the world with 1400 million followers, there is not
a concise belief in the Hereafter or the consequences of life that
would determine one's Hereafter.
The
Jewish faith, on the other-hand, believes that Heaven and Hell are
here on earth. There are many legends in this regard, consider the
story of a good man who upon entering heaven is disappointed that
there are no saints. He is instructed that he is mistaken. "The
saints", he is told, "are not in heaven, heaven is in the
saints." In
a complementary story, a Chasidic rabbi is asked, "Where is
God?" He answers, "Wherever you let Him in."
The
early Hindu's did not believe in Heaven, nor did they ascribe to
such desire. Their early teachings were that they would be reunited
with Mother Nature. There was no yearning to live eternally -
their prayers were for a healthy life. The notion of reincarnation
and Heaven evolved over time. In the Hindu religion, righteousness
and to be without sin is of paramount importance. They are the
determining factors whether one goes to Heaven or Hell. The Hindu's
teach, "As it does and as it acts, so it becomes: The doer of good
becomes good, and the doer of evil becomes evil""
The
Qur'an, the equivalent of the Bible for Muslims, teaches that all
human beings will be judged by God for the conduct of their earthly
lives. Islam teaches that life is a test and that all will be held
accountable for their lives before God. Consequently, for the
Muslim, belief in the Hereafter is considered essential to living a
moral and well-balanced life.
Fascinating
is the picture of Heaven within the different religions. One of my
personal favorites is the Hindu vision. Besides the beautiful
gardens, the lack of hunger, grief, or fatigue, the lovely breezes,
resplendent bodies, captivating sounds, cleanliness, the lack of
need for bodily eliminations, and sensuous fragrances, there are
also celestial cars with which to move about the heavenly
environment. (I can't help pondering what a celestial car looks
like?)
The
Islamic vision of Heaven is also a large heavenly garden with rivers
of milk and honey, with fruits and meats determined by one's
cravings. This Heaven, however, is a man's dream come true because
this Heaven offers female companions of exceeding beauty and
refinement and in copious numbers, as many in fact, as the pious man
can handle. The caveat being, piety is the determining factor. In
this Heaven, one can over-eat and over-drink without fear of
indigestion or intoxication, and do so in a reclining position upon
heavenly cushions of silk and brocade.
Since
I never broached the topic with my little pup before he succumbed to
his deadly demise, I shall never know if he was a Christian at
heart, or a Jew, or a Hindu, or Buddhist. Now, I shall forever
wonder if the bird that sings by my kitchen window is he, or if the
snake I wish to slay, or the flower that blooms underfoot, or the
squirrel that leaps from tree to tree, or the frog that chirps
relentlessly, or if in fact, he will return as my friendly or
miserable new neighbor.
Are
you in a Heaven of forever bliss? Are you whole and well once again
romping with all the other heavenly puppy dogs? Or is this all there
was and dead is dead? So, in the end the answer to my query depends
on whom I question. I'm left to dwell on the hope and the prayer
that there is a life somewhere in the world beyond that goes on
eternally. At least, I hope so"
For
Pookie, March 4, 2000 - March 13, 2004. Your life was short, but
oh so sweet.
©
Norma Sherry 2004
Norma
Sherry is co-founder of TogetherForeverChanging.org, an organization
devoted to educating, stimulating, and igniting personal
responsibility particularly with regards to our diminishing civil
liberties. She is also an award-winning writer/producer and host of
upcoming television program, The
Norma Sherry Show on WQXT TV.
Email
Norma: norma@togetherforeverchanging.org
