Last week I heard somebody talk about how the thought of death was something constantly on their mind and to some degree something they were afraid of.
I had asked him if the fear was based around it being something that was unknown, the possibility of pain, the hurt of losing other people or something outside of all this. He answered that it was pretty much all three that I had mentioned.
Without wanting to sound pompous or seem like I'm putting him down, this small conversation was something that stuck in my mind since I've not really had a fear of death in a rather long time. The only way to not die is to not live...and personally I'd rather have lived and this makes mortality an acceptable consequence.
It's often seemed that the fear of the unknown aspect tends to be the more holistic issue on death, since in reality there is no way to actually know until it's actually occurred. While the pain and loss of others definitely can suck to go through, at least that is something we experience and can learn from while still alive. So I became curious of what answers existed for the "What Happens when we Die" question.
Various Answers to the Death Question
Now organized religions provide their own models of the afterlife, some of which people have probably heard of, others being a little more obscure. There's also the more non-theist approach that there is nothing. Personally, I have no problem accepting there being nothing after we die being a viable option, but it's just boring to talk about. That's like trying to describe a pitch black room.
Since people seem to like lists, rather than running through what each religion views on the afterlife, I'd rather take a look at the underlying characteristics that each tends to include in their model. For the most part, each model of what happens after we die tends to include some answer (often implied versus being explicitly stepped through) for:
- Is there a soul that remains when the body dies?
- If so, does it come back to life?
- Does the soul maintain anything from life (i.e. burdens, karma, etc)
- Is there a reward or punishment?
- Is there a single place for everybody or is there a Heaven/Hell split?
- Do you go to the same place as others or is each afterlife an individual projection?
Now, it's worth noting that you'll typically hear from atheists that there is no soul and nothing happens after you die, which makes the line of questioning end early on...and that's quite fine. While this absolutely is a possibility I'm willing to accept (coming from an agnostic point of view)...it's a rather boring discussion.
Also, while we typically give non-atheist models of death and afterlife as a blanket this religion believes this sort of thing, it's worth noting that there is usually multiple takes on this withing each group. On top of this, it really is an individualistic answer that often doesn't fit exactly with their stated religion. I say this because I think we tend to get stuck on the though "This person is X religion, so they believe Y."
Is there a soul that remains when the body dies?
This is really one of the biggies on how death and the afterlife is viewed...is there some remnant left after the physical body dies. I'm curious if there are those of you out there that believe there is a no remnant or soul, but do have some model beyond nothingness.
While it effects everyone a bit differently, I do think that most people are more comfortable thinking that there is something that persistently exists after their die. Regardless of whether it is correct or not, I can see it helping calm fears since it doesn't just end 'who they are' so abruptly.
Now, I do see there being some variance of how the soul/remnant is able to interact with the physical world.
- Is there still a consciousness such that you are able to to perceive things?
- Are you able to see your friends and family?
- Can you communicate or only watch?
If so, does it come back to life?
Many religious models touch on the concept of what happens to the soul/remnant after the body dies. There is a lot of variance between religions around whether there is some form of reincarnation or eventual resurrection. However, between individuals this seems to split out even wider, with some individuals view their groups writings as being more literal and others seeing things to be more metaphorical.
Does the soul maintain anything from life? (i.e. burdens, karma, etc)
Most religions and individuals tend to ask the question of what carries over with you upon death. I doubt many modern people believe that physical objects go with us, but what about our thoughts or history of actions? Now, to me, the idea that should the soul/remnant exist, should be have things we feel guilty about things (that were unresolved) weighing on us when we die, isn't out of the question. This is a mental, emotional state and if these aspects to continue outside of the physical death...then maybe.
This is one that I think can effect our behavior in life, regardless of what actually ends up happening when we die. The belief that a persons history can carry over to the afterlife can help to push them to reflect on their actions a bit more. However, this also can be used in a less ideal way such as instilling fear in them to act a certain way, even when it may not be what they feel is right.
I don't personally have an issue with people being in their chosen religions. I've met good (and bad) people from just about all of them. While it can be a benefit for some, there is just as much likelihood of it being misused by others.
Is there a reward or punishment?
This is somewhat the flip question of 'what do you take with us...' asking what do we get after we die, whether it be good or bad. While I tend to be of the mindset that should the soul/remnant exist, a big portion of being rewarded or punished is self imposed based on what emotional state we're in at the end of our life. Often this is based on:
- Were we happy with our life and what we did?
- Were there unresolved feelings of guilt over things we'd done (or not done)?
Now, just like the previous question, this one can effect how we live our life. While sometimes being a useful thing for individuals, it's also one that is used to influence people with the fear of damnation or some utopian afterlife. To a large degree this is a carrot vs stick scenario.
Is there a single place for everybody or is there a Heaven/Hell split?
Living in the US, the concepts of heaven and hell seem to have at least been heard of by everyone. This implies a break where those in one place are separated from the other and those inhabitants. Some view that once assigned to one, that they are there for eternity. Others see the ability to move from one to the other (often in the direction of betterment, like going from hell to heaven.)
However, not every religion or more individualistic models include this dichotomy. There are many that simply view the afterlife as the afterlife, with everybody going to the same place. This still allows for the soul/remnant to exist, but doesn't imply a difference between good or bad people who receive some sort of judgement to determine who goes where.
Do you go to the same place as others or is each afterlife an individual projection?
This one is rarely talked about, with most models seeming to see the afterlife as being shared with all the other people (and animals/maybe insects/ bacteria?, etc) who have died. But there is also the option that each view of the afterlife could be a projection created from the individuals view.
This would mean that we don't actually share anything with other people, instead creating a copy of others into our personal universe. Every person when they pass creates everything and every person they remember as well as how everything behaves.
Final Thoughts / TL;DR
I don't think it's fully possible to know what happens when we die, without having been there. While I'm quite ok with there being nothing after I die, it's a boring thought experiment or conversation. So having looked across many different religions and individuals accounts for the model of the afterlife, I've found the underlying questions that tend to be applicable. The base is really if the soul exists or if some remnant persists after I die. Everything else tends to go from there depending on the answer.
I'm rather curious to hear your personal takes to the afterlife question whether it be: nothing exists, a more standard religious approach, something through personal experience and spirituality, or something else.
I'd be surprised if this hasn't been thought of by everyone on some level, at some point.
[Sorry that responses too me a little while to get to. Right after posting I had to leave for my last shift at my now old job. But I'm getting caught up reading and replying to all the FANTASTIC comments people have left so far!]
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