A Life After Death?

A new wrinkle came into my life today when someone I am close to told me they did not believe in a life after death and God was in question.  You die you become worm food, that’s it, end of story.  What?  No God, Jesus, heaven, hell, pearly gates, angels, reincarnation, spirit world, ghosts, or other paranormal woo-hoo waiting on the other side?

I’ll be the first to admit I have no idea what is waiting for us on the other side.  It could very well be oblivion.  If it is, how exciting is that?

When I was in Air Force Intelligence I was endowed with top security clearances and all the caveats that go with them.  Because of this, I was offered a special duty assignment to Area 51 as an “atta boy” for a special briefing to the four-star General in charge of SAC Headquarters. 

 Having an interest in UFO phenomena since I was in 7^th grade, Area 51 was the chance of a lifetime.  I would finally know if flying saucers were real, or if they were just top secret experimental aircraft wrongly identified by an eager population.  After a few days consideration I refused the offer.  My reasoning was this:  If I arrived and found there was nothing to the rumor of flying saucers, I would be crushed.  If, on the other hand, I was made aware of all the flying saucers in the secret underground hangers, I wouldn't be able to tell a soul…ever.  I figured that not knowing would leave the fantasy alive.  This also reflects my view of the afterlife.

I think it was put best in the 1984 film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”  As Indy’s friend Wu Han is dying in his arms, Wu says to Indy, “I've followed you on many adventures…but into the great unknown mystery, I go first, Indy!”

We have so little reason to follow the right path, so few of us would follow the path for the path’s sake.  I think the mystery of what awaits around the next bend, the possibility of a reward for following a better path, assists many of us in keeping our sights steadily on that path.  My great fear is that, without this carrot out in front of us, moral anarchy would reign.  I think this is why virtually all faiths have some view of what awaits us, a view that some reward awaits us, in the hereafter.

Not one to be selfish though, I’ll be very happy to let Indy go first.