Death always hurts. Even if someone died at the age of 99 years, we become sad even though we know humans are not immortal. The process of aging cannot be stopped. Long ago, I watched the exciting movie, “The Age of Adaline” where the young woman at the age 29 stopped aging after a near-death accident. However, can we escape death? It’s no doubt that human longevity slowly increases.
But when I am in my 70s, sometimes I do think of dying. So a common thought is whether there is life after death.
If you ask kids, you will get interesting and funny answers.
“One girl who is asked where people go after they die points to the sky and answers into the stars.”
Our common response whenever we don’t have any proof is to surrender to an infinity such as the limitless sky. Interestingly, our religion has all the answers.
Recently I read an article on near death experiences. This article is based on the conversation of the writer with an oncologist, who has seen and treated almost 5,000 cancer patients. The oncologist, Jeffrey Long, a founder of the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation narrated his experiences in the following way:
“Many pass through a tunnel and experience a bright light. Then, they’re greeted by deceased loved ones, including pets, who are in the prime of their lives. Most people report an overwhelming sense of love and peace. They feel like this other realm is their real home.”
But Dr. Long didn’t find any scientific explanation for these experiences.
There are also a few stories of “shared-death experiences” among relatives or friends.
Is there a life after a death?
Sciences do not have an answer, but religions have the answer.
Almost all the major religions tell us there is life after death and there is heaven and hell too.
I used to like preacher Billy Graham’s speech. He was such a good orator, and I used to believe whatever he said. He said, I guess I believe there is a life after death. Death is not the end, but the wonderful beginning of an eternal life in Heaven. However, Catholics believe that after death, God will judge us, and we will either go to heaven, hell or purgatory.
On the other hand, Hindus believe in reincarnation after death, which means rebirth of a soul in a new body based on karma. As Gita (religious text of Hinduism) said, “As an individual puts on new pieces of clothing, surrendering old ones, correspondingly, the spirit acknowledges new material bodies, surrendering the old and pointless ones.” There are inspiring stories people who used to know their past life.
Buddhism is not much different than Hinduism. The human soul after death must undergo the cycle of birth, death and rebirth until it gains enlightenment. Instead of calling heaven, Buddhists like to attain Nirvana, a state of enlightenment.
Muslims in Islam also believe in soul, heaven and hell but there would be a Judgement Day to determine who would go to heaven.
What do atheists believe? Not all atheists believe the same thing; however, most believe there’s no life after death. This is like what Karl Marx used to think. The great philosopher and revolutionary socialist said, “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.”
On the other hand, Tagore said, “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
However, Einstein didn’t believe the existence of life after death.
My opinion is in line with the following poetry written more than 125 years ago by Sheikh Fazlul Karim — our Bangladeshi poet:
Where is the heaven, where is the hell,
Who says these are far off?
Heaven and hell are among human beings,
and angels and demons are made of human beings.
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. He writes an occasional column in The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is [email protected].
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