Life's Last Fork in the Road; Finding Your Heaven's Zip Code

By Dr. Glenn M. Cosh

We all have an earthly zip code, a place we live and call home. It ranges from 10001 for New Yorkers, to 90210 for those in Beverly Hills. But what about our life after death, the next phase for our souls aEUR" the afterlife, eternity and heaven? Yes, we seek guidance from the world's major religions, and the plethora of beliefs and perceptions from other sources, as to where our souls might end up. Yet, an astonishing one quarter of those who consider themselves part of a major religion still don't believe in heaven at all.

"Life's Last Fork in the Road" offers a thought provoking scientific and theological overview of what heaven is and isn't among the major belief systems, but goes a step further, asking and offering answers to the question, "What zip code do you want on your tombstone?" Like your fingerprint, you want it to fit within your spiritual beliefs and comfort zone, not someone else's. If we can choose our zip code on earth, why not in heaven?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781640038172

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface

Eternity

(Endless Life after Death)

Chapter 1: Overview of Heaven

Religious Doctrine

Spirituality

Who's on First?

Literal Interpretation

Figurative Interpretation

What's with the Seven Heavens?

Februum (Religious Purification)

Over the Rainbow

Chapter 2: What Is It?

Is Heaven a Physical Place?

Can We Take Our Pets with Us?

Will We Be Reunited with Our Loved Ones?

Individual Perceptions of Heaven

Chapter 3: Getting There

Who Holds the Keys (Judgment)?

Faith and Heaven

What Part of Us Goes to Heaven?

Faced with a Crisis?

Does Mental Stability Affect Our Beliefs?

Rules, Rules, Rules

Sin/Guilt

Go to Hell

Our Last Earthly Hurrah

Chapter 4: Who Goes?

Intercessors

Can Non-Believers Go to Heaven?

Prove It

Death Certificate

It Was Their Time

Reincarnation

How Does Our Brain Process These Ambiguities?

Chapter 5: 2014 Pew Research Report

Percentage of Different Faiths Believing in Heaven and Hell

Chapter 6: Your Heaven's Zip Code

One's Current Location

Algorithm to Assist You in Finding Your Zip Code

Algorithm for Assessing Your Heaven's Zip Code

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

cover.jpg

Life's Last Fork in the Road; Finding Your Heaven's Zip Code

Dr. Glenn M. Cosh

ISBN 978-1-64003-815-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64003-816-5 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64003-817-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2018 Dr. Glenn M. Cosh

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Also by Dr. Glenn M. Cosh

Fiction:

The Green Flash

Summer Camp Blues

Nonfiction:

Is There a Doctor in the House?

A New Customized Prescription for Cycling

Cycling in the Slow Lane

Cover design by Eric A. Seals-Williams

Preface

As a medical extern in the early sixties, I recall assisting the pediatric resident in keeping a newborn with Hyaline Membrane Disease (a respiratory disease of the newborn) alive by manually compressing its chest to keep it breathing. At the time, there wasn't an effective protocol to keep infants with the disease alive. After an hour of assisting the infant, it died in our hands. Not knowing the family's religious background, I wondered, Where was that soul going?

Since then, there have been countless bedside vigils I've attended over the last half century, at which some, ravaged with disease, pleaded to end their life to escape the pain, while others grasped my hand, begging to live another minute. Many of those asked for me to listen to their bedside confessions. How many of those had no idea where they were going or even cared? Some, however, voiced concern about what heaven would be like.

The old adage of going lightly when discussing religion or politics applies equally to dealing with the afterlife.

It's difficult enough making arrangements for a funeral and a cemetery plot, let alone thinking about heaven. We assume that the deceased had already shared those thoughts with family and their religious mentors. In reality though, I suspect most people, irrespective of their religious background, are at a loss to fathom what their true meaning of heaven is all about—or frankly, even wants to know. Life itself wears us out at times, overwhelming our ability to even contemplate death and the afterlife. We're just trying to make it through the day.

Eavesdropped conversation over dinner, coffee, or at a bar, rarely touches upon the topic of heaven… almost as if it's a taboo to delve into that unknown. Hopefully, the insights from this book will lessen the struggle one has to deal with in becoming more comfortable with their heaven. Sprinkled throughout the text, I've added an antidote or two from different faith believers. As a non-theologian, hopefully I can offer a different perspective on heaven—one that not only encompasses spiritual values from all religious viewpoints, but also applies a little common sense in allowing you to visualize your eternity. For the last half century as a family physician, I've had the privilege of treating both the physical and emotional concerns of patients. From my popular book Is There a Doctor in the House?, I address the physical, mental, and emotional health issues we all face in our daily lives. Yet to complete one's holistic approach to a balanced health care, one also needs to include spiritual health. Having treated every possible faith over fifty years, including rabbis, priests, nuns, imams, preachers, spiritual leaders from the Mormon church, Jehovah's Witnesses, atheists, cults, etc., I feel I can offer a balanced and neutral approach to this subject matter, striving to maintain a sagacious tone. It's not intended to sway or convert anyone from his or her religious beliefs. Think of me taking on a role like that of a