Reflections on Afterlife: Keeping the Faith / Rethinking the Myths

By John J. Kula

Humanity has always wished for something beyond this lifesomething greater and uplifting beyond mere mortal existence.

This feeling of longing is often seen as a religiously inspired conviction, and many people see their place in the afterlife as something divinely ordained.

John J. Kula examines the myths as well as the far-fetched notions surrounding the afterlife in this expansive study that combines philosophy, science, religion and faith. He explores areas such as:

science and religion and how they overlap;

modern-day myths about the afterlife;

psychic phenomena, channeling, and out-of-body experiences; and

heaven, purgatory, limbo, and hell.

By clearing away the misgivings and confusion that surround the notion of afterlife, youll realize that it is not like any place on earth. That is part of its incredible mystery.

Take a positive, contemporary view of the afterlife, and look to the theological teachings of today to demystify ancient mythology with Reflections on Afterlife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Sep 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781489709349

John J. Kula

John Kula brings a timely perspective to the many ideas surrounding the subject of afterlife. As a former seminarian, he brings insights from theological and philosophical viewpoints into play. As a knowledgeable science enthusiast, John addresses the ongoing debates between religion and science that began long ago with Galileo and continue today. John has been actively involved as a music minister, choir director, and organist for many years with the Catholic Church.

Book preview

1. One Heartbeat Away

Hope springs eternal in the hearts and minds of millions of Christians and members of major religious groups throughout the world who hold cherished beliefs in some form of eternal life. That belief is securely anchored in the virtue of faith, a faith fostered and nurtured through the many cultural diversities and traditions. The promise of afterlife may not mean much to people too busy with their lives to even consider spending time dwelling on the subject.

Afterlife may not motivate a person to make changes in their moral behavior or conversely, their comfortable lifestyle. Sadly, a future heavenly membership carries no significant monetary value, deemed the gold standard of life’s meaning for far too many individuals. Conversely, the anticipated reward of an afterlife is too often misconstrued as the redemption center for good behavior on earth.

The concept of afterlife concerns philosophers as much as it does theologians, though their perspectives differ according to their respective disciplines. For the rest of humanity, there are many individuals who may or may not be interested in learning about the history of afterlife and Christian beliefs, preferring to wait until the movie comes out.

What are we to make of this earthly existence, where all humans are not treated equally and are dealt cards that can limit their possibilities for achieving a meaningful life, given the conditions of poverty, failing health, and limited financial options. How does one’s moral compass become sensitized to value and incorporate those high moral values for the sake of improving mankind. Afterlife is not a reward, but a final destination - not one we choose, but are destined for by reason of our united humanity and our relationship with a loving God who created us.

Regardless of the final outcome, the human race may eventually die out or become victim to devastating life-erasing global warfare and enormous natural disasters. Perhaps in the distant geological future, mankind may not survive insurmountable natural disasters. Planet earth may be reduced to a cosmically insignificant tombstone.

The book of life would then quietly close on life’s inconclusive final chapter, citing mankind’s demise as just another chapter in the Book of Eternity. Existentially speaking, it would seem rather pointless thinking that everything that now exists would eventually become obliterated or destroyed and disappear into some meaningless void. The immense expanse of universe - the starry backdrop to mankind’s exploits would remain behind as a continuing chapter in the great cosmic mystery.

This book, thankfully, is more concerned with exploring the state of afterlife - mankind’s joyfully anticipated eternal destination. The afterlife is largely understood as a place of peace, contentment, and the avenue for joyful reunions with those we have known and loved in this life.

During the course of this book, many opinions on afterlife, both pro and con, will be presented as objectively as possible, supported by documentation and quotes from well-known authorities and experts in wide-ranging fields of religion, theology, science, philosophy, and cosmology. Quotations by famous and not-so famous personages dot the pages, providing a ‘world-view’ perspective to afterlife. You, of course, may come away believing in what you have always believed.

This book’s tone is one of an open-minded approach, immersed in a sense of optimism stemming from a strongly held belief in afterlife - and whatever that new life may encompass. Believing that there is nothing more to life than impending death is an especially depressing thought for one who has lived a full, happy, rewarding life in the company of family and friends. For those individuals enduring life-long hardships or struggles, the afterlife may be a welcome source of relief and comfort.

To be once again joined after death with those whom we once loved is a powerful motivational force that energizes one’s hopes and deepens our faith in God and the hereafter. There is nothing to be lost by holding on to the belief that there is an afterlife state awaiting us. And in the words of St. Augustine, it is but one heartbeat away.

Shakespeare wrote of mankind’s mortal coil being released at death. Yet, we still wonder. What will happen to our amassed collection of acquired knowledge and thousands of meaningful experiences? Will the mind be recast to its former state or will it enjoy newly restored capabilities in a kind of cosmically-inspired theme park showcasing new body/new mind reconstructive shops?

Will the mind’s hard-drive be uploaded to accompany the soul? Will we be able to recognize ourselves or anyone else without an identifying physical body in afterlife? Will the philosopher’s tabula rasa condition start the game all over again in another time and place in another galaxy?

How does one begin a logical, rational discussion of afterlife without referring to the Bible or other sacred scriptural sources? Where does Catholicism stand, and, in the broader sense, all of Christianity, all world religions, and religions that are present in other worlds? The earth represents one small piece of the cosmic religious puzzle.

If one were to look back in time and systematically trace the developmental history of religions, one could make the case that virtually everything we think we know about God and afterlife is the product of what we have been taught, whether that instruction took place in a private school, a theology class, a religious education class, or sacred writings such as biblical texts, along with Sunday morning sermons.

The sudden onslaught of afterlife books appearing on bookstore shelves and on the Internet (where anyone can claim truth about anyone or anything regardless if it is true or not) is suspect. If there is money to be made for staking such a claim, that potential avenue of entertainment will be fully exploited.

The whole notion of the individual’s ‘soul’ as a separate entity from the mind/body union will be discussed carefully through the wisdom and thoughtful writings of notable theologians, philosophers, and spiritual leaders from around the world, and from many faith communities. Understanding the nature of the human soul will be reviewed through many avenues of thought - considering when the soul enters the body; how the soul animates the life of the mind; and how the soul abandons cerebral matter once the body succumbs in death. If and how the soul continues on seamlessly into the next life will always remain a mystery from this side of eternity.

The reality of afterlife will have no relevance to those who do not believe in it, or perhaps never believed in it. Some atheistic writers have gone to great lengths proclaiming that afterlife is nothing more than a Freudian illusion based on a primitive reward and punishment scheme. Obviously, there is some truth in Freud’s assessment about the evil and good motives that often drive human behavior. For atheists, it’s a simple no-brainer. Afterlife’s non-existence is self-evident in their world view.

A practical, yet compelling reason for people to live in hopeful anticipation of eternal life is that there must be more to life than just paying bills, working 9 to 5, dealing with health issues, caring for one’s children (and parents), and getting stuck for hours in rush-hour traffic. We don’t want to live just to eventually die.

Dynamic, practical-minded preachers like Joel Osteen continually reinforce the idea that we were put here on earth with a divine purpose in God’s mind. God has a plan for us, wanting us to be the best we can at whatever mission we undertake in life. Osteen’s boundless optimism provides a much needed refuse for traditionally-raised church members who have grown tired of the endless sermons doling out reminders of man’s corrupt and sinful nature. For true believers of faith, there exists a feeling that someday they will become joyfully reunited with their dearly departed family and friends. What constitutes our greatest joys in this world may well accompany us to the next.

2. The Religious Imagination

The Catholic priest and sociologist, Andrew Greeley, now deceased, was known, not only as a prolific fiction writer, but as a well-respected priest sociologist. Greeley compiled numerous sociological reports based on surveys dealing with Catholics’ current thinking on God, heaven, and the afterlife. Greeley coined the expression: "the divinely inspired religious imagination." Greeley admitted to experiencing an overwhelming sense of the sacramentality of the created world. That abiding spiritual sentiment became the basis for his deeply felt sense of the world’s divine authorship.

If religion presents a living framework for a person’s ultimate worldview, then the goal of religious sociology and philosophy becomes an effort to engage in those studies that describe in detail how those religious beliefs influence human behavior. Greeley pointed out: This is far more useful sociologically than to know what he/she thinks about doctrinal propositions or what denomination he/she is affiliated with, or how often he/she goes to church.

For some true believers, the afterlife may be viewed as strictly a reward for a life well-lived - a final resting place , away from life’s continuous hardships and suffering. That motivational reward presented when one leaves this world for the next has been popularized on television where the process of dying has been portrayed as a seamless movement on a journey, passing through a spiritual curtain or perhaps an intensely bright light to the world beyond.

One imaginative television program proposed the idea of dying as a kind of drifting, a floating away from life on earth and a ‘going into the light.’

The television series, The Ghost Whisperer, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, made that possibility seem even more luminously attractive. The show’s premise was to illustrate how, when people die, they may not always go directly to heaven when there is some lingering unfinished business left on earth. Perhaps a kind deed lacking or a virtuous opportunity that was not taken advantage of that may have affected someone still living. The show’s premise is that these moments of special import must be ‘re-enacted or addressed in order for the ‘ghost’ of that person to achieve closure and thereby move with a sense of peaceful fulfillment for ‘entering into the light.’ The episodes were always tied into a character’s lost or unfulfilled sense of purpose (mission) in life, or perhaps a wrong that was never righted - now given the right opportunity to amend lives. For a social medium to bring serious ‘spiritually tinged’ drama was truly an historically brave act for a television to risk a series’ success on.

How often do we think of life as a preparation for or testing ground for divine approval to the afterlife? Perhaps the setting and the calm mind set becomes a catalyst for such thoughts. In fact, the serenely quiet setting in a funeral parlor helps promote moments of happier thoughts that awaken one’s sense of cherishing life’s happier moments with family and friends.

Christian Wiman, the editor of Poetry magazine, observed that the speed of life itself has accelerated greatly since James Joyce’s writing of Ulysses …as our selves scatter into bits and bytes; and our souls, if we are conscious of them at all, diminish to little more than a vague wish for quiet.

The insightful answer to that question was brought to trial during The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes trial. Clarence Darrow, acting in defense of the teaching of evolution in schools, attempted to trip up the windbag prosecuting attorney, William Jennings Bryan.

Darrow asked Bryan why he was so adamantly opposed to the idea of evolution. Bryan replied simplistically: I do not think about things I don’t think about. Maybe it’s time to think more about the afterlife and how it might enable us to better frame our lives in the here-and-now, with a more focused attitude towards life’s ultimate meaning.

From the almighty pulpit, afterlife has sometimes been described as a physical place somewhere out there, or as an abstract state of being where one will finally experience eternal ‘bliss.’ I must digress for a moment. The word ‘bliss’ is rather weak - a weak term denoting a highly momentous event. It does nothing to advance our appreciation for or understanding of the wonders that await one in an afterlife existence. Yet, one readily accepts the notion of bliss as representing unbridled happiness. But bliss has other less profound meanings in life that dilute its special connotation and life-affirming importance.

One afternoon, while driving downtown, I passed by a storefront, a small, unpretentious, Japanese restaurant. I happened to notice a large menu sign duct-taped to the front window and decided to check it out. The sign was highlighting a featured menu item described simply as ‘sushi bliss.’ Not being a raw fish connoisseur, the earthy dish offering deflated my spiritual appetite and appreciation for any state of bliss that might be even remotely associated with sushi.

Since the word ‘bliss’ is often used in sermons, but is noticeably absent from any biblical texts, one is forced into relying on the dictionary for spiritual enlightenment or perhaps just clarification. Bliss, the noun, is defined as a state of supreme happiness, utter joy and contentment - something not often experienced on earth. One example of such bliss is the blissful feeling that a happy newlywed couple shares - wedded bliss. On the other hand, "Ignorance is bliss."

If eternal bliss is another name for afterlife; and, if ignorance is bliss, then, we are blissfully ignorant of what eternal bliss even means. Or, as the title of a popular book states, If Ignorance is Bliss, Then Why Aren’t There More Happy People?

If one can happen upon an actual bookstore today, notice that there is a bookshelf section that includes two categories of religious books - books on Religion and books on Christian Fiction. I could not help but wonder how closely the two types of literature dovetailed in their approach to spirituality. They both cover the same subject matter pertaining to religion, but whether they both serve to inspire or to entertain the reader is open to debate.

Both book sections contained some things in common - a curious mix of fact and fiction, good and evil, truth and myth, mystery and suspense. I couldn’t help but compare books on religious topics to the close relationship between books on science and science fiction. Inevitably, the two sciences do happily merge with technological breakthroughs. What was once considered fantasy in the world of science eventually becomes everyday science. The same may be said for religious myths that persist to this day. Once the Medieval notion of mythology become divested of its religious baggage, believers may more readily focus on what is important in life for their spiritual development. Too often, ancient beliefs get in the way of spiritual progress by fossilized remains of church dogmas that have long ago died away.

One of the more validating books available on afterlife tells of an actual physician who claims to have had a near-death encounter, which enabled him to unconsciously delve into the elusive boundary between life and death. After a few lucid moments, his body returned to life, restored, and bewildered. His personal encounters with the hereafter state were genuinely revealed in a published book that recounts his experience. The author admits to being newly imbued with a sense of purpose and conviction there is a life beyond, and that a heaven does exist. The author’s credibility, aided by the fact that he is a registered physician carried the sense of authenticity and urgency relating to his revelatory, but momentary state of bliss.

The book you are holding in your hands, or viewing as an e-book, is not a stone tablet personally inscribed by God. The book does not presume to offer answers, guarantees, or presumptuous arguments regarding the truth of afterlife or what popular literature refers to as The Great Beyond.

It is important to distinguish between events having historical authenticity and those that are myth-based teachings whose deliberately aim is to teach a lesson - a moral lesson as opposed to historical truth. Most people realize and accept that the story of Adam and Eve belongs to the mythological world, as does the Great Flood narrative of Noah. But few take the time to consider the significance of these myths and the reasons why they were widespread among many world religions. They were considered foundational beliefs on which Christian, Islamic, and Judaism theologies were founded on and anchored on from earliest times.

To question everything one reads, hears, or sees would require a life-long commitment in an age otherwise known for its overwhelming, staggering output of information and data from thousands of internet, and social media sites worldwide. Knowledge may be increasing one-hundred fold each year, but the number of questions still without answers is much greater and staggering in its implications for how little we know. If nothing more, an intellectual journey may serve to open our minds to accepting challenges in our faith that lead to an appreciation for the sacred texts and the ability to discern the valuable lessons contained therein.

An interesting postcard appeared in my mailbox one day. The photo postcard had a lovely view of the wide sky - soft, billowy clouds drifting over the blue of a calm sea. A large text field inserted in the sky asked the question: Heaven - What’s It Really Like? Does it even exist? Can I know if I’m going there? A resort or island vacation was what I initially had in mind based on the photo. Then, I noticed that the front of the card, contained no postmark from heaven, just a local address, precluding any joyful anticipation for what might have been an exciting vacation trip to the afterlife. Obviously, I was misled. The intriguing glossy postcard was nothing more than an ad - an invitation to step out and join a small, but devoted, religious group that meets regularly to discuss afterlife existence - a virtual travel guide to a place unknown.

The invitation arrived as if to declare me the winner, that I was one of the chosen few invited to attend this spiritually-inspired event. I respectfully declined the invitation. I am content in waiting until much later to discover what afterlife might entail.

Everyone who has ever lived, or living now, or not yet born will follow along the same road on the same pilgrimage that inevitably ends at death’s door. This human parade represents thousands of souls every day who pass from life to death. When one is possessed of a strong faith and belief in afterlife, one understands that Faith is the key that opens the door of Hope. Belief in an eternal being makes the possibility of an afterlife a more dynamic association (with the Divine). When someone affirms their belief in God, they are simultaneously affirming their belief in a divinely-inspired afterlife. If one denies God’s existence, there would be no reason for an afterlife to exist.

Many religions share a commonality based on beliefs in death and afterlife (and reincarnation). These are the foundational themes that sacred scriptures weave into a blanket of religious piety and hope. Death is not the cold, impersonal drop-off to an abyss, but merely, a solid stepping stone on the way to achieving immortality.

When a person dies, there is an expression used that typically affirms one’s belief in the great beyond: We customarily say: "The deceased has passed away or has passed on." The notion of a passage event is clearly ingrained in the hearts and minds of Christians everywhere.

During the Middle Ages, and then centuries later in Scotland and northern England, the enormous brass bell hanging in a bell tower became associated with death announcements. The ‘passing’ bell (or death knell, as it was commonly referred to as) was ceremoniously rung in acknowledgment of the passing on of a town member, a neighbor or a friend. The religiously-inspired custom of the ringing of bells was believed to have elicited a mystical, protective power intended to ward off any evil spirits that might lurk near the lifeless body of the deceased.

In actual practice, the passing bell was rung for two reasons. First, it reminded fellow Christians that they should pray - stop whatever they were doing and spend a few moments in silent prayer for the safe passage (repose) of their departed brethren. Secondly, the pealing of the bells was intended to drive away evil spirits still lingering near the deceased’s lifeless body.

In English Literature, the bell chime was later resurrected to signify a warning for an impending death. Through the poetic metaphor of John Donne, the bell attained a famous literary status.

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

The elaborate burial preparations and sacred rituals performed in ancient Egypt for the pharaohs are well documented. They were laid to rest in luxurious silk and gold-threaded robes. The interior chambers surrounding the tomb were filled with piles of precious gems, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Sufficient food supplies and a room filled with domestic pottery and utensils accompanied the body of the fallen pharaoh. This was all part of the sacred ritual (fit for a king) of preparing the body/soul for its long journey to afterlife.

The Egyptian mindset focused on the materialistic concept of Taking it all with you. The ritual was carried to an existential extreme when it involved the pharaoh’s loyal servants who were sometimes buried alive with him to keep him company in his hour of death. In today’s world, not surprisingly, an increasingly large number of super-wealthy members of society continue to hold on to their earthly treasures right up to the end - as if they viewed themselves as modern-day Egyptian pharaohs garnishing their wealth to insure maximum pleasure in the next life.

The absence of pure, authenticated information on the hereafter (outside of theology seminars and sacred literature) leaves the field of inquiry open to endless speculation and debate from every self-proclaimed authority on the subject. Theologians, by their professional expertise, are amazingly adept at filling in the details of what the afterlife existence is like - who may enter it and who may not enter for lack of worthiness, according to the laws of the omniscient church.

Afterlife’s body of literature has too often sunk to the level of pure, romanticized religious fiction. The creative imagination has no earthly chains to reign it in or call ‘foul.’ How does one accurately describe the afterlife - an existence for which no words can be found?

"Who - in their grudge against the traditional ‘opium of the people’—cannot bear the music of the spheres."

A well-informed mind prepares one for a subject that has been so incredibly mired in misinterpreted ancient religious myths amid the pontificating rantings of well-intentioned, hyper-ventilating fire and brimstone preachers. Thankfully, those days of ‘raving’ are behind us. Today, the symbolism of fire is still recognized, but turned around. We see less talk of the fire and brimstone variety and more talk of the fire of divine love. When death finally comes knocking, we die, but our lives will have had a special, personal meaning that will hopefully inspire the lives of those we’ve left behind.

Depak Chopra, the inspiring author of many books on spirituality, maintains a hopefull perspective on the afterlife. The back slipcover of his best-selling book, Life After Death presents prominent endorsements for his new book. The spiritually pragmatic book lists several well-deserved accolades, including a sure-fire, tongue-in-cheek endorsement written by Candace B. Pert, who remarked: "A must-read for everyone who will die."

Chopra made a number of insightful observations on the dynamics of religious beliefs. One aspect of religious maturity that distinguishes the religions in antiquity from their modern day counterparts is the belief among the ancients that their gods were more than just abstract deities to be worshipped and obeyed. They willfully participated in the lives of men.

Ancient gods from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome were believed to partake of the human condition and actively engage their earthly subjects in their everyday lives. Farmers depended on Demeter, the beguiling god of the harvest. The success of a dangerous sea voyage was dependent on the vicissitudes and whims of the sea god, Neptune. Hera was the queen of the gods, in charge of women and empires.

If that wasn’t enough of a workload, Hera also served as wife to Zeus. Those were the times when the gods ruled mankind. Today, things are somewhat different. People are busy, electronically searching for the God app, and not even aware of the ‘divine presence’ in their everyday lives.

Chopra noted the backsliding of beliefs in God’s relevancy with a people who worship digital devices as their sole comfort and electrified source of meaning. The burden of proof has shifted, and now, it is the believer who must prove that God and the souls are real. For many people, the triumph of materialism is so complete, that even showing why we should care about God and the soul is a tough challenge.

One might be tempted to attribute that lack of interest to the obvious decline in church attendance and the profound absence of silent prayer and calm meditation as essential elements of everyday life.

The protective gods living on earth (Zeus, Jupiter, definitely Cupid!) is represents an ancient mythology - back then the fabric of religious imagination. Portable electronic devices have assumed the role of a protective presence that routinely notifies one of important events, upcoming show times, breaking celebrity news, and new songs available for download. Don’t forget the pop-up selfie that continually reinforces one’s sense of connectiveness and social belonging. Implicit in this digital dialog is the realization that we, as a people, are as immersed in materialism in the same way the ancients were preoccupied with the call to duty in worshipping gods (to retain their favor) and pleasing the gods (to avoid their deadly wrath).

When I die, I hope to go to Heaven, whatever the Hell that is. (Ayn Rand). That’s one way to express the sublime quest. The comment might have arisen from a deep-seated frustration from not knowing exactly what lies ahead on the road. On the other hand, perhaps it’s the whimsical ‘que sura, sura’ attitude. To be sure, Faith is the spiritual ‘glue’ that binds Christians securely to their beliefs - regardless of what song they choose to accompany themselves on the journey.

This book does not intend to dwell on morbid associations with death, like Sartre’ s existentially depressingly dark play No Exit or the equally depressing Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. Despite Playbill’s enlightening commentary, and excellent performances by all the actors, the storyline leaves one with a heavy, empty soul, a feeling that all is lost, and redemption is nowhere on the horizon.

During the 13th Century, Dante Alighieri wisely reserved the most horrible, most reprehensible circle of hell - the 9th Level - for those spirits who selfishly spent their lives in treacherous pursuits, engaging in acts of deception and lies. In Medieval morality plays, an act of treachery was considered the most serious, damnedable of all possible offenses - a game changer. The official Christian catalog of sins lists Treachery as one of, if not the most grievous of sins.

Is there anything we know for certain about afterlife? Novelists have at their disposal, an inexhaustible supply of source material on this off-the-map ‘twilight zone’ of reality. Millions believe it is real, but it is an uneasy, somewhat unsettling concept that one must continually wrap one’s mind around. What is understood as unknown brings unwanted fear and anxiety, especially to those whose personalities tend to see more of darkness than of light.

Beyond mere speculation, what is known for certain about afterlife, when the only place we know about is here? The deeper we delve into the subject, the more frustrating the effort in establishing anything construed beyond the mystical or the purely imaginative. It could be argued that there are more pressing issues to concern ourselves with in the here-and-now, without worrying too much about the there-and-after.

Many years ago, I attended a concert at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana given by faculty and student musicians. The group of harbinger musicians called themselves "The Ineluctable Modality." The title was apropos given the fact that the group performed unusual, strange-to-the-ear dissonances and esoteric harmonic variations that constitute what was then known as avant-garde music. In a strangely parallel universe, afterlife might be construed as ‘ineluctable’ - in the sense that it represents an inevitable course on an inescapable journey that continually eludes our effort to understand it or make sense of.

Afterlife remains an elusive subject. We are destined to know more about the journey than the destination. Great explorers have always found that to be true. Columbus embarked on a dangerous and risky voyage at sea, travelling through unexplored waters hoping to discover uncharted destinations.

Admittedly, we generally don’t make an extended effort contemplating afterlife until it becomes a personal issue when dealing with a sudden loss - a death in the family or close friend or relative.

This is a book more concerned with inquiry, about raising questions related to what we know, what we don’t know, what we think we know, and what we suspect we don’t know. Many well-known philosophers, writers, and scientists will have their say later on in the book. The ability and habit of always asking questions is the mark of a well-disciplined, educated mind. As Voltaire wisely admitted: Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers. Why are questions so crucial to any understanding?

Whether one speaks of ongoing medical research, scientific exploration, academic research, or advances in new technology, the truth of the matter is that all future knowledge will cease when everyone stops asking questions. If we come to the end of thoughtful discussion, a state in which there are no further questions to ask, and no other issues to be raised, we will have reached the end of any intellectual endeavor. The importance of identifying the right kinds of questions is of paramount importance to the discussion of afterlife.

The many chapters embrace ideas drawn from diverse related disciplines - historical, religious,