What Happens When We Die Religion Essay

Death is an issue that we all face no affair what our personal beliefs are so What Happens When We Die? , is one of the greatest inquiries of life. Generally we are really loath to believe of our ain termination. Death is a great equalizer and no affair what or whom you are in life, finally we all have to confront the world of deceasing. Is decease the terminal of our consciousness and being? In malice of 100s old ages of research, Science can non turn out when or where life began.

Research workers have found that the human nervous system and encephalon operate mostly through electrical urges. The encephalon requires blood and O to map, when external respiration, if our blood circulation is impaired, the encephalon merely does non work or discontinue wholly. Worlds are a complex construction composed of many co-operating interactions within our organic structures. We have a desire to understand and influence, hunt for accounts through our natural wonder and yet, we are so bemused with the mundane concerns of our lives that decease is pushed into the background until we have to confront it through the loss of a loved one.

Our ideas turn to their death and we decide whether we believe they are gone to a better gait, is at that place a better life after decease, does decease convey a new life, are our bygone loved 1s kiping and expecting reawakening, or does decease mean nonentity… . ( Atheist ) . The sheer heartache and hurting of decease, the loss of a loved one causes enduring for those left buttocks. We carry out an array of imposts during the entombment of our dead, we commemorate them in memory of their lives as world has a demand to travel through a ritual in order to seek to understand what happens when we die. Is it normal to desire a future life after decease or is decease necessary as our limited universe can non conceivably harbinger all life everlastingly?

We question “ What is Death? What is life? Is decease a simple and definable terminal to life? Where does our spirit travel when the bond between our stuff organic structure is dissolved? Is decease permanent? We wonder whether upon decease when our physical organic structure disintegrates what happens to our psyche? . If we do return, make worlds hold the ability carry memories of past events into their present life? ” . Our efforts to understand decease generate fright, contention, self-questioning and rationalization.

In every civilization when a loved one dies ceremonials are held by household and friends to reminisce about the dead. Universally, although civilizations differ, praying dramas a extremely of import portion during the decease ceremonial. The conclusiveness of decease is scaring and worlds have dealt with their loss since the beginning of clip through ceremonials which us to acquire through what we do n’t understand. Death has been depicted by macabre images such as the Grim Reaper coming to take away a individual ‘s psyche. The scythe is a symbol that he reaps the psyche of both saints and evildoer likewise ; “ The Harvest of Souls. ”

Physical decease is the Bottom of Form 1

surcease of bodily maps, when your bosom stops crushing, your encephalon Michigans to map and you stop take a breathing. It is besides the severance of the connexion between our spirit from our physical organic structure and when consciousness eventually leaves our human signifier to travel to the following life. The head or psyche is non a physical portion of our organic structures, it is amorphous and a separate entity from our human organic structure signifier. Questions are raised upon decease ; when the organic structure disintegrates at decease does our consciousness cease? This is where we search for religious replies through faith, Godheads, God, Gods and Goddesses.

During our lives we seek to happen replies to the many inquiries we have about decease and adult male, since the beginning of clip, adult male has tried to gestate a manner to get away decease. Questions range from ; “ Is decease permanent? Does our spirit carry on in another signifier and at a deeper degree of consciousness? Can be reincarnated and come back to Earth? If we are reincarnated are all of our old memories erased? Is at that place a Godhead who will welcome us into our new being? Are we simply a aggregation of cells, molecules, tegument and are we merely another rhythm of nature? Are we a natural portion of development? Is there an hereafter? Is our physical death impermanent? Where, if anyplace, do we travel?

Scientists find it hard to accept a life after decease theory. However, they have to accept unintelligible natural phenomena and other kingdom of world through their ain facts based on Quantum Mechanics. Death can be considered either as the terminal of being or as a passage to another province of being or consciousness. The Hindu ‘s trade with decease by sing life as an semblance and larning through the degrees of reincarnation the true significance of life and both faith and mythology concern themselves with what happens to our kernel after physical decease.

There are many causes of decease such as the natural procedure of aging, natural decease, unwellness, disease, self-destruction, homicide, natural catastrophes, accidents and wars. Universally, decease rites can change extensively depending on faith, race and civilization nevertheless, rites and ceremonials are transverse cultural such readying of the cadaver for a funeral and the ceremonial environing the disposing of the cadaver. Although patterns may differ from civilization to civilization, decease ceremonials are the norm and can include a three twenty-four hours ticker of the cadaver, assemblage of dealingss and friends to mourn their bygone right through to lucubrate rites which go on for hebdomads.

The Ancients flourished on a societal construction where rites of ascendant worship and religious beliefs were the norm. The Gaelic Druids had a strong belief in forfeit and believed in the reincarnation of the psyche into another signifier hence they did non fear decease. The ancient Egyptians practiced signifiers of ascendant worship and believed in metempsychosis after decease and considered decease as “ simply a impermanent break. ” The Mayans were a very faiths people who lived in fright of their destructive Supreme beings so their funerals were held with great regard and ceremonial. Shamanism is based on the belief that liquors and unseeable entities permeate our seeable universe. The Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the boy of God and came down to earth to free them of original wickedness therefore salvaging their psyches and after decease, returning to God in Heaven. Jehovah ‘s Witnesses believe that the Bible is the Manual for Life, Jesus is the Son of God nevertheless, they are non Trinitarian. On their decease they sleep until God calls everyone who has departed this Earth for Judgement Day and those who lived their lives harmonizing to the Bible, will populate back on Earth and be reigned by a Council in Heaven.

Taking the Bible as an illustration we determine that the word Heaven, which is used in a purely material meaning as organizing a portion of the created existence. In Genesis i.1, “ In the beginning God created the Eden and the Earth. ” The ancient Hebrews, nevertheless, seem to hold entertained unusual impressions as to the construction of the stuff Heaven, believing it to be a solid arch resting on pillars, and holding foundations. Therefore, in Job xxvi. 11, “ the pillars of Heaven tremble, and we are astonished at his rebuke. ” In other transitions of the Bible Heaven is compared to a curtin, or the covering of a collapsible shelter, as in Ps. civ.2, “ Who coverest thyself with visible radiation as with a garment: who stretchest out the celestial spheres like a curtin ” .

The ancient Jews believed that there were several different Celestial spheres ; “ the lower, the center, and the 3rd or higher celestial spheres ” . The lower degree of Heaven was considered to “ take in the clouds and the ambiance ; the center as being the stellar or starry part ; and the 3rd as being the Heaven of Heavens, or the habitation of God and his angels ” .

The word Heaven is non merely used in a stuff but besides a religious sense, to bespeak the future residence of the righteous after decease. The belief in Heaven beyond the grave, consequently, is non limited to Christians, being a recognized credo of Heathens, Jews, and Mohammadeans. Among the antediluvian Romans and Greeks, the Heaven to which the good ascended was named Elysium. The precise location of Elysium was a subject of argument for coevalss ; authors of authoritative antiquity declared the felicity of the psyches in Elysium to be complete and allegedly, some believed that the bygone psyches would return to earth once more.

Ageless beatitude was, in position of the antediluvian Pagans, reserved for those who were distinguished for their exhalted virtuousnesss and who were consequently admitted into the “ society of the Gods ” and could, at any clip, return to their ascendants on this Earth. Summerland, a topographic point for resting of the psyche until it is ready to go on on a journey of ego, until the individual learned and escalated to the higher kingdom of ageless consciousness.

Heaven of the Hindu civilization is the soaking up on Brahm and of the Buddhist, obliteration or Nirwana. The priesthood of the ancient Egyptians taught the “ immortality of the psyche under the mane of Palingenesia, or 2nd birth, being a return of the psyche to the heavenly domains ; or it ‘s resorption into the Supreme Being. This philosophy was allegedly “ inculcated merely upon the illerate battalions who could organize no construct of the being of the psyche without the organic structure. ”

The antediluvian Scandinavians, believed in two different celestial spheres ; one, the castle of Odin which they named Valhalla where this deity received all of those who died a violent decease ; and the other called Gimli ( topographic point covered with gold ) , the everlasting place of the righteous where to “ bask enraptured and perennial delectations. ” Those received into the castle of Odin, heroes, believed that every twenty-four hours would be filled with combat, feeding, imbibing and surrounded by virgins.

Judaic Rabbis Teach that there is an upper and lower Eden or heaven with a fixed pillar of Zion. On every Sabbath or festival, the righteous ascent up and feed themselves with a glimpse of the Divine stateliness until the terminal of the Sabbath or festival. “ The psyche of the righteous ” , harmonizing to the Judaic Rabbis, “ do non ascent to the upper Eden instantly after they have left their organic structure, but they are represented as undergoing a pervious sort of noviciate in the lower Eden, which is situated half manner between this bodily universe and the upper Heaven. ”

Mohammadeans believe in “ a Heaven prepared for the blessed among the faithful ” ; a topographic point for those who are true to their faith and followings of the holy prophesier Mohammed. Here, they shall pass infinity and shall “ fall in him in ageless visible radiation and all heavenly pleasances, ever beautiful, in their full strength and energy, brighter than the Sun, and thought worthy to see the face of the Most High God, and to adore him ” . They hold that there are eight Celestial spheres of changing grades.

We have looked at changing traditions in the belief of Heaven and now shall look at the belief in Hell. Both in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures there are two words, Sheol and Hades which are sometimes translated into “ snake pit ” but which denote the universe of bygone liquors in general ; while two other words Tartaros and Gehenna, mean the topographic point of ageless penalty reserved for the unrighteous and wicked after decease. The Amenti of antediluvian Egyptians, the Patala of the Hindus and the Orcus of the Romans, refer to a future province ; but the philosophy of a future penalty is found embodied in all spiritual systems whether Christian, Heathen, Jewish or Mohammedean.

Hell is believed to be a “ topographic point of ageless torture, a bottomless cavity, a worm that ne’er dies, the fire that shall ne’er be quenched. ” The Judaic Rabbis believe in an upper and lower snake pit. Gehennon, to which the Talmud adds seven other names, is said to be applied to seven sign of the zodiacs into which snake pit is divided. Many Judaic people believe in snake pit, non as an ageless dwelling-place of the wicked, but, to the Hebrewss at least, as a topographic point of impermanent purging penalty. It is believed that the really wicked shall be everlastingly annihilated.

The Mohammedeans, like the Jews, divide Hell which they call Gehennon, into seven parts, but they are non wholly agreed as to the dwellers of these territories. The most common sentiment is that Gehennon, is “ bound for those believers of the true God who have non acted up to the rules of the religion which they have professed ; the 2nd division, called Lodha, is for the Christians ; the tierce named Hothama, is for Jews ; the 4th, denominated Sair, is destined for the Sabeans ; the fifth, called Sacar, is for Magicians or Geubres ; the 60 names Gehim, will have Pagans and idolizers, whilst the seventh, the most terrible topographic point of penalty within the lowest deepnesss of the abysm, is named Hooviat, and reserved for the hypocritical professors of faith. ”

The Hindus believe in a calibrated graduated table of future penalties as good wagess ; “ the lupus erythematosus wicked being sunk into a lower place in the following birth ( reincarnation ) , the more wicked being sent down to one or other of the countless Hells, to re-emerge, nevertheless, on Earth, in mineral, animate being, and vegetable signifiers before they rise to the homo, the most wicked of all existences doomed to see the wretchedness and suffering and Hell until the clip of the disintegration of all things ” . The Buddhist tradition has a system of eight principal narakas, or topographic points of torture, all of them situated in the inside of the Earth and “ so enclosed it makes it impossible for flight ” .

Gnostics, ( gnosis, cognition ) , the general name applied to assorted categories of heathens or misbelievers, arose in the early period of the Christian Church. They derived from the school of doctrine and denoted a higher and esoteric scientific discipline which was designed to show the high quality of their philosophies to those of the Pagans and Jews. The systems of Gnosticism were assorted, all of them ascribable to two fixed historical Centres, Syria and Egypt. Hence, there was a pronounced difference between the Syrian and the Alexandrian Gnosis, the former being characterized by a predomination of Dualism, the latter by a predomination of Pantheism.

It is impossible to even cursorily examine Gnosticism in the diversified facet which is assumes, without being at about every point reminded of the old spiritual systems of Asia, Buddhism, Parsiam and Brahmanism. Gnostics believed in intuitions and symbols instead than constructs. In the oculus of the Gnostic “ everything became hyposaterized, ” which, to the Western mind existed merely as a construct.

The foundation of most of the Gnostic systems lies in the thought of two different and opposite universes, the one “ part of visible radiation ” , the other “ the part of darkness ” ; one a part of pureness and the other of wickedness ; a superior universe and an inferior universe. The cardinal beginning of being was the Bythos ( like the Brahm ) of Hinduism in which was an unseeable, inexplicable being, basking perfect dormancy and from whom all emanations proceeded. Following their line of idea, they alleged “ the God or Jehovah of the Jews to be Demiurge, and the jurisprudence they promulgated in the Old Testament to be inferior and imperfect ” whereas, the jurisprudence which Christ promulgated in The New Testament was “ the look of the head of the Bythos or Unknown Father. ” Most Gnostics reportedly believed “ that redemption rested simply on cognition ; and that a adult male who possessed cognition needed no more. ”

The realization of human mortality lives with each and every human being and shade narratives, liquors and stalking ‘s have been a portion of our history, handed down from coevals to coevals. We are taught about liquors, Witches, Angels, Demons, Gods and Goddesses and the extrasensory universe is rich in psychics, supernatural events, divination and with people who have existent experiences with the paranormal such as out of organic structure experiences, direct interaction with apparitional phenomena and near decease experiences.

Skeptics can non disregard or disregard extrasensory happenings merely as Science can non explicate the unexpected e.g. , phantoms, shades, stalking ‘s, orbs or the supernatural. To sum up, no affair what our personal religion, belief, faiths, civilization or race, it is up to you whether you believe that the grounds is strong plenty to warrant your belief in paranormal, the supernatural and an hereafter.

Near decease experiences ( NDE ) , the antique argument, have been happening for centuries. In the twelvemonth 360 BC, Plato writes about a soldier named Er who recalled his NDE. Near decease experiences are quite common and have been recorded through history. You may hold heard person who about died stating that they experienced their “ whole life blinking right before their eyes ” .

NDE ‘s have been a portion of world ‘s being for 1000s of old ages, as some ancient civilisations have recorded these supernatural brushs. With this history, many different accounts have come as to what could be the cause, or if the hereafter is existent.

Millions of instances are documented worldwide of NDE ‘s, or near-death experiences. As they are such a common happening, Scientists have conducted research into 1000s, if non 1000000s, of instances. During the past 30 old ages, near-death experiences have been the focal point of intense Scientific surveies at Universities and Medical Centres around the universe and they can no longer disregard this phenomenon as hallucinations, chemical alterations in the encephalon merely prior to decease, or as a pharmacologically induced experience. Science has questioned and studied NDE ‘s experiences and one thing agreed on by all those involved in research is that near decease experiences truly do be.

No two near decease experiences are the same ; they are as alone and every bit single as the individual who goes through this experience. Peoples who suffer terrible injury, clinical decease, or those who about die, have reported similar traits during their near-death experience and many believe it to be really existent and have significantly changed the positions on life, spiritualty and peculiarly their positions on decease. Some common experiences do happen nevertheless, non all NDE ‘s follow a form.

Common traits that have been widely documented with NDE include:

Feelingss of Peace and Panic:

These feelings may include credence of decease, entire composure, feelings of peace, being emotional and physically comforted. The individual sees a bright visible radiation make fulling the room which they interpret as Heaven or God. Then there are those instances documented of people who do non hold a feeling of peace, did non run into with household or friendly liquors. Rather, they experienced panic as while being attacked and upset by devils.

( OBE ) : Out-of-body Experiences:

The individual feels that they have left their physical organic structure. They observe from above, frequently depicting the sight of physicians working on him. In some instances, the topic ‘s “ spirit ” so flies out of the room, into the sky and sometimes into infinite. We have all heard narratives about person on the brink of decease seeing a bright visible radiation at the terminal of a long tunnel, uncovering that they have entered another dimension or kingdom, seeing religious entities and deceased household, friends and loved 1s.

The individuals spirit may take a spot of clip to look around and so detect a bright visible radiation. The visible radiation may get down out to be little and so go larger as the spirit of the individual moves toward it. In some instances there is non a tunnel, but a really bright visible radiation that fills the room. The visible radiation is brighter than anything the individual has of all time experienced on Earth, but they are non bothered by the it.

General feelings that people experience include euphories and study drifting feelings and beautiful visions of scenic topographic points. The bulk of people who experience near-death say they feel “ really happy with a fantastic sense of composure and belonging. ”

Another Realm or Dimension:

Other people that experience NDE ‘s say that they are led to another kingdom, most have positive experiences nevertheless, a few have reported a negative experience in which they get a feeling of loss of control and falling into a deep bottomless chasm.

Near decease experiences moves the individual beyond this natural universe and into universes unobserved, normally get downing with a tunnel of visible radiation which they are compelled to come in. This bright visible radiation pulls them into another kingdom and, as they leave this universe behind, they experience sightings of liquors, household and their bygone friends. Last, they experience a life reappraisal, where one sees their full earthly life in fast forward.

Once on the other side, they have reported being surrounded by entities, some of them they knew were dead and others who are at that place to speak to them. Some study being told certain things and are asked to travel back to their organic structures.

The most common study for subsisters of outer organic structure experience ( OBE ) is that people feel they have been given a glance into Heaven as they encounter “ existences of visible radiation, ” or other representations of religious entities.

Religious Beings and Entities:

When a individual experiences NDE most study that the feeling environing the religious existences and entities are enjoyable, and they feel wholly disassociated with their physical organic structure, have the ability to see through walls and they relate narratives about what was go oning outside the room where their physical organic structure was pronounced clinically dead. Some report the transcendental or mystical elements emit a sense of complete peace and contentment and, on their return after communicating with the liquors or entities, it has been reported by many people and they describe a male voice stating them that it is non their clip and to travel back to their earthly physical organic structure.

Returning to the Physical Body:

On returning to their physical organic structure, in most instances, they have a sense of being reborn, seeking to larn more about themselves, are stronger, self confident and prosecute a life of truth with heightened grasp and contentment. The typical near-death subsister emerges from their experience determined to populate life to the fullest and most do non fear decease.

Negative NDE Experiences:

Unfortunately, for others, the experience may non be a positive 1. Some people have said they have increased fright, suffer from depression, and concentrate more on decease. However, gratefully, it is a really little per centum that experience negativeness after retrieving from their NDE.

Many subsisters of NDE battle with a fright of mental unwellness, ridicule and fright of rejection. Problems associated with negative experiences of NDE include depression, isolation, with a trouble in explicating their experience to their household or to the medical profession and angry due to their trouble after this experience to return to their old beliefs.

Those who experience a negative NDE can go really hard-pressed, withdraw into themselves, take old ages to set a near-death experience, believe that their experience was a hallucination instead than a existent experience, fright to seek aid or guidance and may experience that they have lost control over their heads. For these people, their mental stableness is challenged as is their belief systems. The effects of those who experience negative NDE are frequently life-altering.

No Scientific account to day of the month can account or explicate all of the facets of close decease experiences, why they happen or what are the causes and effects. NDE ‘s follow a wide general form that crosses civilizations ; they remain in memory for decennaries as being “ realer than existent. ” Scientists have delved into assorted signifiers of surveies and a twosome of illustrations include ; deficiency of O is non a factor in all NDE ‘s, nor is the presence of drugs or medicine responsible.

Skeptics have a large job with the belief in Near Death Experience because it is impossible to specify the line between when life and decease occurs. Definitions of decease can change from continent to continent and from civilization to civilization e.g. ; what makes a individual? , Define the psyche or spirit in a individual? – and as none of this can be proved scientifically. However, this does non dismiss the existent fact that many sincere and honest people have near-death experiences and that Scientists and Medical Practitioners have investigated the phenomena with no solid consequence or grounds to rebut their experiences.