Immortality Flashcards
How can someone achieve immortality through a legacy
Being remembered through something you have done, or achieved. Such as the great work of art, music on literature, or charitable work
Problems with immortality through a legacy
Once the legacy is gone, you are no longer remembered
What is immortality
The idea that even though a person is physically dead, they continue to live on in some way
How can someone achieve immortality through memory
Surviving through the memories of friends and family
Problems with immortality through memory
Once these people die, you are no longer remembered
How can someone achieve immortality through resurrection
Person is raised from the dead either bodily or spiritually. Christians believe that God resurrects your body and soul, and you go to heaven or hell
Problems with immortality through resurrection
Physical body decays after death, so what form does the resurrected body take?
If all we have is our body (no soul), how can we be resurrected? There is no evidence of a soul
Can you still be the same person without a body
How a believer would respond to immortality through resurrection
The soul is made of different substances to the body, therefore we can’t see or detect it
Memories provide identity, so if it still has the memories of the life lived, it’s still the same person
How can somebody achieve immortality through reincarnations
A person’s soul is transferred to a new body after death. The soul improves itself every lifetime, until it achieves perfection. It is a Hindus belief.
How can somebody achieve immortality through rebirth
Ever changing character moves from the rebirth to rebirth. It is not a soul. Each life is linked through the law of karma, but it is not the same person.
It is a Buddhist belief
Problems with immortality through reincarnation and rebirth
People don’t survive death; if you’re living a new life in a new body with different memories, how can you be the same person?
Being reborn isn’t the point: the point is to stop the cycle
Can memories of past life be classed as proof? Even if you’re not supposed to be able to remember anything
How a believer would respond to immortality through reincarnation and rebirth
Hindus would say that immortal soul continues, and that is what matters
Buddhists believe there is continuity so life has not ended
There is past life regression therapy
Arguments against immortality
Lack of proof
Science
Atheism
Why does science disprove immortality
We’re a product of evolution; we pass on our DNA. Ideas about the soul are just there because we can’t accept there is no purpose in life
We have invented technology that allows us to freeze bodies and resuscitate them if a cure is found. If we had a soul, this wouldn’t be possible
Why does lack of proof disprove immortality
There is no scientific proof that it exists
Scriptural accounts differ
Teachings about immortality just make us feel better about dying
Why does atheism disproves immortality
We have no purpose in life, therefore no need for life after death
Humanists say that we should improve the quality of people’s life on earth, rather than worrying about what happens after death
Evidence of immortality in Christian Scriptures
John 11:25–26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live,even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die
St. Paul thought that Christians will be raised with a new spiritual body after death
Problems with the evidence of scriptures
Descriptions of different religions do not agree with each other
Often lack detail, which leads to interpretation, which could be wrong
Come from a time when there was little knowledge of medical science
Evidence of immortality in ghosts
Genuine manifestations of dead people, rather than hallucinations, because often more than one person experiences them
Problems with the evidence of ghosts
They could be hallucinations
It’s going to be a trick of the light, a breath of wind or poor eyesight
It could be a hoax
Evidence of immortality in chanelling
Communicating with the living and those who have died and are in the spirit world
Medium claim to be able to contact the dead and pass on messages from the departed
Many have passed on messages that contain accurate information, which was previously unknown to the medium
Problems with the evidence of channelling
Some mediums are proven frauds
Others appear genuine, but could be using cold reading to read body language and throw out statements until something sticks
Why do spirits only communicate with mediums?
Why does every spirit not communicate with the living?
Evidence of immortality in near death experiences
Some patients who are dead but have been resuscitated describe similar experiences
They are so similar, remembered in detail and are often life changing
Problems with the evidence of near death experiences
Result of oxygen starvation that causes hallucinations
This similarity could be explained because that is how the brain automatically reaction oxygen starvation
No scientific evidence to prove they are real; although studies are being done at present
Definition of dualism
We have two distinct parts: body and soul
Together in life but separate at death
Body decays but the mind/soul is immortal
This means life after death is possible
Said by Rene Descartes, “I think therefore I am”
Definition of materialism
The opposite of dualism
Our minds are inseparable from our bodies
Life after death isn’t possible because the soul doesn’t survive death
Life needs a functioning brain, a physical form and nervous system
Christian ideas about dualism
Christians disagree with dualism. They think that both body and soul will be resurrected and the soul is a separate substance but the spark that gives us life
Buddhist ideas about dualism
Buddhists don’t believe in a soul at all, so they don’t agree with dualism
Hindus ideas about dualism
Hindus would except dualism, as they believe the body and soul can continue apart after death
Christianity and dualism
Christianity believes that God created the whole person, and it is that person is raised after death, along with their soul
Jewish beliefs on the ideas of heaven/hell
Sheol - shadowy place where souls go
God judges people’s because of their actions
No heaven/hell only 7 levels to God
Muslim beliefs on the ideas of heaven/hell
The soul is taken for questioning by 2 angels
Barzakh is the period of waiting, where the soul goes to a special place to wait for judgement day. They are either sent to Jannah (heaven) or Jahannam (hell)
Christian beliefs on the ideas of heaven/hell
Purgatory- waiting place
Then you go to heaven or hell
Common traits of NDE’s
Hearing music Seeing a light Seeing dead relatives Going through a tunnel Seeing religious figures e.g. Jesus
Reasons for life after death
Makes sense of this world being a test
Every religion suggests life after death
Evidence of paranormal - ghosts
Children have recalled ‘past life experiences’
Reasons against life after death
Science disproves dualism
Different religions have different ideas about the afterlife
Evidence based on holy book - but which one?
Hindu beliefs about the afterlife
Your atman (soul) moves onto another body. This keeps repeating itself, this cycle is called samsara. Moksha is breaking this cycle as you are the best person you can be
