Is there an afterlife?

Throughout the history of their existence, people have been asked by unsolvable questions about the meaning of life and their own destiny, about what awaits everyone after death. The exception may be perhaps the most primitive representatives of our race. But in those distant times their way of life was qualitatively not much different from the life of animals. There was simply no time to think about our high ancestors, for survival was in the first place in harsh natural conditions.

When people were interested in afterlife

Human psychology became more complicated in the process of evolution, it gave more space for thoughts about the eternal. The primitive instincts were replaced by higher experiences. At the same time, the awareness of one's own life increased, and, importantly, in this matter, mortality. Now it is reliably known that the fundamental principles of culture were born not so long ago, about one hundred thousand years ago. It was then that the spiritual component began to mean more to people. Along with the development of this aspect of life, thoughts of life and death inevitably began.

Death always followed the person, frightened him, appearing as a terrible and cruel phenomenon, with which it is impossible to fight. At least, the result is always the same. Against the backdrop of this, it is not at all surprising that the very first, important and enchanting mind was the afterlife and the very prospect of its existence. Inquisitive minds have always tried to find confirmation of this truly comforting idea. After all, you will agree, to reconcile that you will die forever, it is not easy. Even to realize all the inevitability of the future will not come at once. It is much easier to take the earthly shell as a temporary refuge for the spirit, which afterwards will go somewhere else.

Modern look

If to be objective, it is not possible to get an absolutely accurate answer to the question whether there exists an afterlife, until now. Neither science nor religion can provide any concrete facts that confirm the existence of "that light." And this causes mankind to continue searching. The development of culture, religions, related theories about the world order, of course, gave us answers to this burning question. It's only in every teaching that he is his own. Who should believe when Buddhists faithfully believe in rebirth, while Christianity is quite convincing about Ada and Rae?

Religious ideas of death

Nevertheless, there are several general ideas that unite all existing religious teachings. First, each of them confidently responds that yes, there is an afterlife. This statement is fundamental, lies at the very heart of any teaching and therefore is not subject to criticism. Religion itself is built on the division of the world into material and other-worldly components. The latter is the fact of having life after death.

Another important statement in most religions is that man has a dual nature. One part - the body, is a temporary vessel for another part - the soul. Obviously, because of its eternity, the latter is an incommensurably more important aspect of any individual. This it must be protected and stored, doing the right things. Death, in the opinion of all religious teachings, comes at the moment of separation of the soul from its corporeal shell.

On the last fact, the most convincing evidence of the afterlife is usually based. A vivid example here can serve as an impression of people who have experienced a clinical death. Many then describe in detail the experiences and unusual sensations experienced by them at the time of cessation of cardiac activity. Up to hovering in the air, unusual ease and watching his motionless body from the side.

Also very often it is told about a classical tunnel and a distant light source. And this is so common scenario that it can be viewed only from two positions: either there is a "light", so everyone sees one, or the vision is based on a common stereotype. Most likely, subconsciously waiting for the arrival of death, people themselves provoke such hallucinations. After all, everyone knows that there must be a tunnel or at least angels, you should think about it - here they are.

Another materialistic version says that the condition of patients was influenced by external stimuli. Not fully recovered from anesthesia people could easily take a bright surgical lamp for the notorious light at the end of the tunnel. Moreover, similar situations happen to us in a dream all the time. Someone is loudly tapping someone behind the wall, music or a cat is playing with his hair - all these stimuli, one way or another, are reflected in the content of the dream.