Alive - by Dave Smith

Death can be such an uncomfortable subject. We may not like to
think about it much, but it’s a fact we all must face. This fear of death
is, in part, predicated on the fact that as human beings we
instinctively view life as precious. Most of us value our physical health
and do all we can to preserve it for as long as we can. Legally we
seek to protect life: there are the severest of penalties for those who
take other people’s lives. Nevertheless, at some point in our lives we
will all cease to breathe. At this point, we are no longer alive;
physically, we are simply dead.
So, the question is, what, if anything, happens to us beyond death?
This may not be something that you have considered much, or it may
be a topic that you have given much thought to. It’s better for us to
think about it now before it’s too late!
Let’s consider some of the most widely held beliefs about what
happens after death. 5
1. Complete annihilation This is the belief that there is no such thing
as life after death. We live, we die and that’s it.
2. Reincarnation This is the idea that we’ll somehow come back in
another life form. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs: from
Hinduism, to various forms of New Age philosophy through to a
popular nature-religion, where it is believed at death one is absorbed
into the wider world.
3. Ghosts and spiritism This is the belief that we can somehow
contact those who have died, as they live on in a spirit world and that
we, too, will end up as spirits that live in this way. This can include a
sense of ongoing ‘connection’ with close relatives or even with famous
celebrities, like Elvis.