The discussion of the afterlife leads many to roll their eyes. Some believe that “nothing” occurs (that’s all, folks!), others aren’t sure, yet others are quite certain of an afterlife.
To continue the discussion, some believe in “God” in some form, some don’t, and some aren’t sure.
The article published January 4, 2013 by the Christian Post gives us a simple run-down of belief in God:
51% say YES. 18% say NO. 17% are undecided.
Belief in afterlife statistics:
51% say YES. 23% say NO. 26% are undecided.
These polls were conducted among London, UK residents by Ipsos/Reuters. However, these numbers are strongly skew by geography and society, as people living in places like Indonesia, Turkey, or Brazil, for example, nearly completely believe in God and in an afterlife (93%, 91%, and 84%, respectively).
Belief. What is that? Well, it’s a feeling that something we cannot sense exists, none-the-less. I have written many articles on belief, about God, about Jesus, and about Christianity, which is my faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped-for, the evidence of things unseen.” These simple words, spouted from the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament of the Bible, give us who believe something to grasp in a world where technology, instant gratification, and possessions are king.
But I have some riddles for you, based in fact and in science, which will likely stir some who do not believe to think. My goal is not to change your mind here, but to make you think just a bit.
I noted this recent Yahoo! article: “Senator Claims Angels Visited Him in Hospital.” Angels, indeed!
Some articles claim such are the fodder of lucid dreams. The comments in Yahoo! Comments were mostly laughing the senator to scorn. Still, another article, published by a noted neurosurgeon, claims to have visited the afterlife. He wrote a book about it (“Heaven is real, says neurosurgeon who claims to have visited the afterlife.”) The neurosurgeon’s viewpoint is seen by some to just help his book publication numbers.
The doubters and skeptics abound. Here are the riddles:
Riddle #1: In what state were we prior to our own births? Think about that a while. For how long might your soul, or consciousness, or whatever you’d choose to call “you” exist in that pre-birth state? Years? Thousands of years? Millions of years? Billions of years? Opens-up a can of worms, doesn’t it? Such considerations trouble those who have difficulty believing in an afterlife.
Riddle #2: I paraphrase (grammar and spelling corrections added) from a Yahoo! Commenter who opens up yet another can of worms:
[“I do agree with you; and for all the scientific skeptics I will offer a few proven laws of physics to back up this claim. Our consciousness or mind or soul, etc., works using of a basic from of energy called electricity (depolarization, specifically); This is what processes our thoughts. Our cells and organs and muscles work on this principle … all with the aid of chemical reactions. We all are taught that energy and matter can neither be created or destroyed: such can only be transferred or transformed. So when the flesh or that which we call “physical body” dies, so also dies the brain, heart, lungs, etc. Where do our thoughts and “mind” go? They must not cease-to-exist, no, they must transfer somewhere.]”
Well, I cannot help you believe. I cannot offer explanations about postmortem thought or consciousness transference. These concepts cannot be proven using existing equipment, mathematics, or theories. However, we rely “in-faith” that there are fundamental laws of the universe which must not be violated.
Where we were before we were born is certain: we were DEAD. What happens at the end of life is certain: WE DIE. We live in-between these two death events. How we spend our lives, dealing with the hearts of humans and the humanity of this world, is what distinguishes us as good or not so good. Shall we, I ask all of you, leave this life with people happier for our being, or unhappier?
Hummm…this is an interesting question. Shall we enter a room full of people at a party, and then leave them with a happier, or a sad mood?
I try to leave ’em laughing. I like to make people think. I enjoy questioning authority, thinking for myself (yes, I’m borrowing an old mantra), and very often I become the physician who must heal himself. But I would prefer to make you smile when you finally realize that “yes, there’s something out there, beyond my life!”
Think and consider your end, for it comes at a time when you do not expect it, and it comes far sooner than you’d prefer, most likely. Your belief systems must be developed in life, otherwise it is too late. You are going to die, guaranteed. You were dead before you were born, guaranteed. If you can believe in death, then you can believe in life. If you can believe in these, then perhaps you are on your way to answering the riddles posed in this article.
