Life is precious to us. We don't want to die. But what really happens to us after death? Scientists, philosophers and even theologians don't agree. Where can we go for answers? Shouldn't we seek them from the Creator of life?
A drunken driver loses control of his car and careens headfirst into a
van, killing a family. A mother dies of breast cancer, leaving confused
children and a grieving husband. An infant boy succumbs to a fatal birth
defect. A gentle, elderly lady dies quietly in her sleep. A desperate,
depressed teenager commits suicide.
Maybe death would be different if it were predictable or consistent. But
death can be so capricious. It hardly seems fair.
To us life is precious. But death is everywhere! We don't want to die.
We don't want to see our loved ones die.
Self-preservation is a powerful instinct. We design special diets and
exercise programs to keep us young and fit. Through medical science we
seek to isolate the gene that causes aging, hoping somehow to eliminate
death. A few have even arranged for their bodies to be preserved cryogenically
in the hope that they can be brought back to life when the cure for what
killed them is finally discovered.
Yet for all our efforts, hopes and wishes, death is the one thing
in life that remains certain. Whether through old age, illness, accident
or violence, whether we are rich, poor, male or female, no matter if we're
good or bad, all of us-regardless of race or creed-eventually
face death.
Scientists cannot tell us what happens after death. Too many aspects of
life itself are intangible-too elusive to measure and record. Philosophers
disagree on death and the afterlife.
Religions also disagree. Traditional Christian denominations generally
teach that the souls of the dead live on in a place or condition of heaven
or hell. Many non-Christians believe in the transmigration or reincarnation
of souls at death. Still others believe the dead will never live again-that
this life is all there is.
