Afterlife...

Afterlife: Where do we go from here:
In the song (which I still consider both terrible and an ear worm) “Hell” by Squirrel Nut Zippers, the lyrics flow as such “In the afterlife, you could be headed for the serious strife. Now you make the scene all day, but tomorrow there’ll be hell to pay. I interpret this to be a fairly plain representation of the Christian view of the afterlife. While you may be on top today, doing what you feel is fun and enjoyable. Tomorrow, you’re done. Burning, End Of Story. I received some very positive and loving feedback from my hubby’s mom yesterday RE: my religion post. She was under the impression that I was shocked by her directness. Honestly, I’m not, nor have I been. I actually value her directness, as when she shares a thought or opinion, you don’t have to dig through a layer of bullshit to find a hidden meaning. It’s not there, the meaning is right on top, staring you in the face.I did however, not feel that this was the most relevant question to ask the person your eldest son has committed themselves to, right at first meeting. She’ll likely disagree, and I respect and love her for that. Now then, moving right along. I’m going to open up this fire fight but simply stating, that in general terms, I don’t believe in the “literal and or literary versions of “Hell”. Allow me to elaborate. In the Old Testament of the Christian Bible (Using King James as point of reference/my fading memory), God would kick your ass. For the smallest infringement. God was all powerful, all knowing, and all vengeful. If you fucked up, you were done. You would be smited in any number of ways and you Knew you’d fucked up because you were getting smited. Now, why would an all knowing, all loving God, who created all things in kindness and love kick your ass so hard? Where’s the love in that? Flip to the New Testament. Jesus is introduced as the Sacrificial Lamb, the Messiah. He steps in, and puts a stop to the smiting shit. He turns it around, and in the end basically says, “okay, enough. I’m dying, so that you can live on forever”, however, we as a people still hold on the idea of “watch out, or God will smite your ass”. Again, why are we burning forever, if Jesus stepped in, took the hit for us, so that we don’t have to. Christianity is not alone in this outlook. I’m going to delve into that now, though I’m working solely through the power of the internet as I don’t have training/indoctrination into Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and several others. I’m simply going to try to find, and then re-illustrate their viewpoints. I will close with my own.

I’m going to open with Islam, for reasons that are my own, and also as it’s very close to Christianity. Islam, like Christianity, states that there is a Paradise (Heaven) and Hell (eternal suffering). Islam also shares the believe of a “Day of Reckoning” (Day of Revelation) where Allah (God) will judge all of mankind, living and dead based on their deeds in life. Furthermore, Islam illustrates that those who are destined for Hell will actually start to suffer at the moment of death and interment.(For reference, for all information, I’m referencing the site http://www.religionfacts.com). These believes mirror Christianity and even add in a little extra suffering for good measure.

Next, I’m going to look at Judaism. To me, if I could have Chosen a religion to fall into and follow, it would have been Judaism. I say this for several reasons. If I recall correctly (questionable) it holds some of the oldest recorded religious texts. It doesn’t have versions or revisions. There is the Torah, and that’s it. It’s the historic and religious texts that Jesus learned from and followed. Alas, I’m not Jewish, so that’s sort of out. Anyway, without rambling more, Judaism doesn’t really have an “afterlife” reference. Unlike Christianity and Islam where leading a good life leads to a good afterlife, Judaism simply demands that you lead a good life. A direct quote “The Torah and Talmud alike focus on the purpose of earthly life, which is to fulfill one's duties to God and one's fellow man. Succeeding at this brings reward, failing at it brings punishment. Whether rewards and punishments continue after death, or whether anything at all happens after death, is not as important.” This to me, more closely aligns with my own personal outlook.

Ranking number three, in World Religion with more than 900 million followers, Hinduism is the religion and belief system that most confuses me. I admit this openly. Part of this is, I was raised in an Almost Christian faith (I say almost, others may say it differently). I was always raised monotheistic, and to this day, I still feel that I couldn’t meditate if every Buddha and Bodhisattva  descended from the heavens and sat upon my  head. Hinduism has many gods, for many things, and such a large and varied belief system that I feel, unless raised within it, you’ll simply never really grasp it. Now, Afterlife beliefs: Essentially, reincarnation, or not. Hinduism has a belief in Karma, or a persons moral actions, that good or bad have an immediate effect on the person's life. With Karma, if you have lead a life, that fulfills your purposes (Plural!) on this earth, then your soul escapes the cycle of rebirth and continued suffering. If however, you fail to meet one or more conditions to escape rebirth, your ass is coming back, and you have to try again.

The last belief system I’m going to address isn’t so much a religion (to me), but a philosophy, and a way to lead and live life. I’m addressing Buddhism. One of the basic teachings is that life is shit. Life is suffering. The purpose of life, is to alleviate suffering wherever you find it. Yes, this is a Very distilled, and very crass version of the basic tenet. Afterlife, as quoted: “According to Buddhism, after death one is either reborn into another body (reincarnated) or enters nirvana. Only Buddhas - those who have attained enlightenment - will achieve the latter destination.” So, with leading a pious, caring life. doing whatever possible to relieve suffering wherever you find it. Studying, meditating, and other practices can all help a person attain enlightenment, and thereby escape the cycle of death and rebirth and end the cycle of suffering for that soul.

Having read this far, first, you deserve a hug. Second, I have to now share My viewpoints. I feel that the soul is most closely compared to energy/matter. In science, we’re taught that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. This is the principle of mass conversion. So, while I may have a soul, or whatever label you wish to put on it. It’s not really going anywhere. The physical body that I inhabit, it’s Definitely falling apart, trust me, at 40, I’m feeling it. However, my “soul”, or what makes up who I am, in every fiber of my “self”, the good bits, the bad bits, and the bits that fall in between, it is simply “there”. It may go on, to live another cycle, it may not. I don’t hold a firm belief to that. I simply hold tight to the tenet that I need to lead as good of a life now, while I can, simply because that’s the purpose Of my life.