Dissertation on Life and Death

Introduction

The first thought that arises in the mind of man every time one sees such a title "Life after Death" is "what is known about the subject of death and life after a person dies?" Life after death has been one of the most significant dilemmas to humankind since the beginning of the world. This is not only since human life must end one day but rather because there can scarcely be anyone among us has lost through death someone that was dear and close. The loss creates a dilemma in our lives, and thus we are curious about any information that may be available concerning life after death. We are naturally very anxious to any source of information on life after death. We have all had different theories as to life after death. This is from the various religious bodies through publications both print and media. However, even the most devoted followers of these religious bodies, scientist and philosophers seem hard to believe in their teachings. This is evident from how the topic has remained a debate over many decades.

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Throughout history, people have always tried to coin explanations about what happens after a person dies commonly referred to as the afterlife. According to Segal (2010), immortality refers to a state of human consciousness where a person enters after they leave their physical bodies after death. Afterlife occurs after the physical death of an individual. Various beliefs and opinions have been offered by religions, scientists as well as philosophers in the afterlife and when it begins (Segal, 2010). However, it is important to note that many of the answers and explanations provided seem to contradict each other. It is important to note that the belief of life after death as well as the curiosity regarding afterlife is a source of personal security, spiritual betterment, and optimism. Many believe that an individual's courage to face death or the consequences of death, i.e., the loss of a loved one is derived from the thought that after the death of a person, they are transferred to another life whereby they continue living awaiting reunion with family and friends.

Evidence retrieved from various archaeological patterns suggests that though human beings initially abandoned their dead, they still developed a sense of responsibility by assuming models that are more mournful (Kubler-Ross, 2009). This is also evident from the traditional perceptions of life and afterlife documentation available at different historical sites and museums (Kubler-Ross, 2009). The conceptions of the afterlife in the Ancient Greek incorporate the concept of 'underworld.' The term underworld is used to depict an alternative universe where the souls of the dead went after separation from the physical body of an individual after death (Bremmer & Bremmer, 1987). Ancient Greek believed that afterlife of an individual happened in the underworld and referred to these souls as the living dead. This same concept was also helping by many African traditional communities. These communities believed that after death the spirits of an individual always was present in the daily lives and activities of the society but could not be seen through the naked eye. Instead, the traditional African communities would offer incarnations and sacrifices to appeal and sermon these spirits (Magesa, 2014). The belief that souls existed insubstantially, i.e., with no material existence in another world after the death of an individual are a familiar concept held by societies and religious groups even up to this day.

Though death is something that happens to everyone, it is difficult to understand let alone explain. Different cultures and people have different understandings of death and have their way of defining death. Despite the many views held by various religious groups and individuals, it is; however, common believe there is life after death. The difference exists in how this life after death is awarded and the form to which one will live in the afterlife. It is arguable that no one can discuss how death feels like since they necessarily are dead. Though many have claimed to have died and resurrected from the dead, there remains a lot of controversy on the matter. The experiences of these individuals have been recorded and documented in numerous reports around the world. According to Greyson, (2010), a near-death experience is entirely different from hallucinations as the brain of an individual does not function. The experience encompasses a variety of sensations which include detachments from the body, feelings of levitation, security, warmth, total serenity, the presence of light and the experience of absolute dissolution. Religious as well as transcendental beliefs in afterlife recognize the NDEs. This dissertation paper seeks to examine and explore the question of life after death from three perspectives. These include; a near-death experience, religious, and a quantum mechanics perspective.

The researcher will first define a near-death experience. After definition, the researcher will then discuss the near-death experience, history, documented reports and how it has been explored and the various studies conducted on the subject. The researcher will then review the stages of the near-death experience as discussed by the various philosophers in the subject. Examples will be used widely in discussion with an aim of providing more insight on the life after death. This is expected to help the reader understand more what near-death experiences are as well as differentiate between the exposure and hallucinations.

Many arguments have been presented against near-death experiences. Scientist, as well as medical experts, have been on the frontline in dismissing the near-death experience and the evidence that there is life after death. Many people are still confused about whether these experiences are hallucinations or real. Whether real or not, the perceptions held by different individuals and religious groups on the matter are diverse and thus the need for detailed research. The researcher will in this study examine the near-death experiences on the hallucinations from the vantage point of science and medicine.

After investigating near-death experiences and presenting the arguments against, the researcher will provide cases of near-death experiences. In particular, the researcher will provide examples of the medical professional as well as scientists who have experienced a near-death experience. The models will provide additional evidence to discredit the arguments against near-death experiences. The effects of this experience on the victims will also be discussed with the aim of finding out how the individuals were influenced into believing that the act happened.

The researcher will then discuss the religious indicators of proving life after death. This will be achieved through the exploration of various beliefs of the different religions. The religions to be examined in this study include Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

Lastly, the researcher will discuss and examine the scientific point of view of life after death. This will be achieved through the examination of the Quantum physics. The various arguments developed by scientists on the subject of life and death will be discussed. This will help build an analysis center of which arguments, i.e., near-death experiences, religious or scientific best try to explain the concept of life after death.

It is important to note that the exploration of this topic on life after death helps answer a question that has been around since the early existence of human life. The spiritually transformative as well as near to death experiences have enabled human beings to accept life after death. Besides, the arguments and revelations of quantum physics have provided additional evidence to the spiritual transformative and near death experiences of life after death. There exists a collective agreement which exists between the three points of view. This research proposes that the acceptance of life after death as reality will in turn influence an individual's spiritual motivation, understanding of life, the comfort of living as well as the fear of death. This acceptance of life after death derived from the three points of view helps creates a sense of peace of mind in an individual and also provides motivation to explore oneself with little fear. The spiritual growth of an individual is improved from a better understanding of life after death. The study helps in answering many questions which are derived from the matter of life after death. These include; what happens when someone dies? Where do I go after I die? Is there any supreme being in control of life? Is there an afterlife after death? Etc.

Literature Review

The first thing that we should realize about death is the fact that ends is a perfectly natural incident which every living thing must experience in the course of life. Different scholars, scientists as well as philosophers have come up with different opinions which have been published at different levels. Religious journals have also been released detailing the various believes held by the different religions in the world on the life after death. This section discusses the various pieces of literature on life and death with a spiritually transformative experience, near death experience as well as scientific point of view.

According to Hume (2006), a British imperialist considered by many to be extreme there exists nothing like the soul or god. He argues that for something to exists then an individual must be able to feel and see it, therefore in the case of god and soul, the existence is based on none-physical and nonfactual evidence. Hume (2006) also argued that the same applies to heaven and the concept of the afterlife. According to Hume (2006), once someone died that was the end of life. He differed with the belief that an individual's soul left the physical body after the physical death (Hume, 2006).

Sukie Miller (1997) a psychotherapist in Northern Carolina states that there exists life after death. She relied on sound bites of ethnic beliefs as well as data from sessions spent with psychotherapy clients in a case study. Miller (1997), goes beyond Elizabeth K Kubler-Ross's theory which tries to explain life after death by instead posing a question of what happens when a human being dies. In her study, Miller seeks to improve on the usual American diet of bromides and denial by introducin...