The fear of death is often linked to the unknown. What happens after we die? Do we enter heaven, become an animal, or reset in a simulation? From Hindu, Rastafarian or Budhist theory, all of them try to explain what comes next.
To explore various theories on death, here are 30 philosophies on the afterlife!
Do you ever get the sensation that everything in our existence is predetermined? What if even death followed a preordained script? According to the simulation theory, our lives are perceived as mere numerical information within the video game of a superior entity.
Rastafarians believe that life is eternal. It is only those who shun righteousness that actually die. Because of this, funerals are not really celebrated in their culture.
The never-ending life theory is definitely one of the most unique on the list. This claims that when you die you are immediately reborn into your life again without any memory of the life you had just lead before.
According to the cosmic theory, our consciousness is associated with the universe rather than our individual bodies. When we pass away, our consciousness reunites with the cosmos.
Buddhists embrace the concept of reincarnation postmortem. After death, individuals may be reborn into various realms, including gods, demi-gods, humans, animals, or ghosts.
The concept of parallel universes has been portrayed in numerous science fiction movies and comic books, raising the question of its plausibility. According to this theory, our existence continues after death, albeit in a distinct region of space and time within the same universe we inhabited previously.
What if everything was merely a dream? The dream theory claims that when we die, we will just wake up from a very confusing, vivid, and long dream. Pinch yourself.
In the belief system of the ancient Aztecs, there were three distinct paths that guided the afterlife: the sun, Mictlan, and Tlalocan. The afterlife one experienced depended on the circumstances of their death. Fallen soldiers and women who died during childbirth were believed to transform into hummingbirds that followed the path of the sun. Those who died from causes considered less honorable would find themselves in Mictlan. Lastly, individuals who died by drowning were thought to go to Tlalocan.
Plato held the belief that our knowledge is constrained by the physical world. He posited that after death, individuals embark on a more fulfilling journey, where their souls can discover their genuine existence. According to his theory, death provides an opportunity for this exploration.
What if after death, everything becomes completely dark and you cease to exist? Not necessarily a reassuring notion.
The Church of Latter-Day Saints holds the belief that deceased Mormons who are good and righteous will become gods. Conversely, non-believers face condemnation in the afterlife.
Mummification was crucial to ancient Egyptian pharaohs as they believed death was not permanent and sought to preserve their bodies for the afterlife.
Our understanding of death is limited to the phenomena experienced by the physical body. The ambiguous theory acknowledges this harsh truth, while leaving room for discussion concerning the remaining aspects.
This concept typically forms the foundation of many horror movies. Advocates of the supernatural argue that our souls linger on Earth after death. Additionally, it is commonly believed that communication with these spirits can be achieved using different methods.
Hinduism also believes in reincarnation, where a person’s future status or form in the next life is shaped by their actions in their present life.
If you believe you are the focal point of everything, then the egocentric theory of death might be of interest to you. According to this theory, the universe begins with your birth and concludes with your death.
If you are familiar with the popular Netflix show ‘Stranger Things’, you are likely acquainted with the concept of the Upside Down. The series suggests the existence of an alternate realm within our own universe, where individuals can become trapped in a state between life and death.
There is a belief among some individuals that they can ensure their preservation for the future by undergoing cryonics after their demise. Consequently, they envision a state of existence that is deeply frigid, yet still potentially alive.
Is there anything beyond our own thoughts that actually exists? The concept of solipsism applies to both life and death. The only undeniable reality is what an individual perceives and encounters. Consequently, it is possible that when the individual dies, everything else ceases to exist too.
According to the excretion theory, the universe represents a colossal brain within a human body, and individuals are akin to cells. Similar to how a cell is eliminated when it perishes in a human body, people might undergo a similar fate eventually.
According to Christian beliefs, individuals trust in the existence of both Heaven and Hell. Those who live virtuously and with integrity are rewarded with entry into the blissful paradise known as heaven. Conversely, those who engage in sinful actions and moral transgressions are destined for hell.
Nihilism holds the belief that all values lack meaning and foundation. Consequently, a genuine nihilistic perspective on death and the afterlife suggests that there is absolute nothingness beyond, as life itself already encompassed emptiness.
The popular 1988 comedy film ‘Beetlejuice’ by Tim Burton tells the story of a deceased couple who haunt their former home and its new residents. To escape this in-between realm, they must rely on an unconventional exorcist. Do you envision the afterlife resembling this quirky film?
Maybe this discussion is irrelevant since we are already deceased? At least, that’s what the pessimistic theory assumes.
The theory of many worlds posits that our death only occurs within this singular, existing universe. Beyond it lie numerous alternative universes awaiting our transition.
According to the illusion theory, the world is primarily a product of our minds rather than a concrete reality, suggesting that it is essentially an illusion. Under this perspective, death is a concept fabricated by humans, and even after we cease to exist physically, an essence of our being persists.
‘The Good Place’, a popular TV show, presents an intriguing concept of the afterlife. It centers around characters who, by a stroke of luck, find themselves in heaven, lovingly referred to as “The Good Place.” Complete with indulgent frozen yogurt, personalized residences, and the prospect of meeting one’s destined soulmate, its viewers yearn for this hypothetically enamoring ideology to be real.
According to the levels theory, after death, humans transition to a new stage of existence, suggesting that being a human being is merely the starting point in the grand scheme.
Have you ever come across the concept of the Tree of Life? There are individuals who choose to embrace this concept by opting for their remains to be buried in a tree pod. By doing so, their bodies are returned to the Earth and it is believed that they may transform into a flourishing tree in their future existence.
