LETTER: Life-after-death is just a theory

There are often letters to the editor which either imply or directly state that there is “life-after-death.” This is a basic concept in many religions and is commonly used to recruit people to join. Offering eternal life is a powerful “carrot-on-a-stick” because of the extreme fear which humans have of death. It is important to recognize that life-after-death is a “theory” which has not been shown to have validity.

One explanation for some “life-after-death” stories is that a person actually DID NOT DIE and was successfully rehabilitated. Death has many definitions. Death to a coroner might be different than death to a cardiologist or to a neurologist. These qualifications are being refined as science discovers more about human (and other) biological systems. We can expect more detailed revelations in the decades to come.

“Knowledge” is an evolving human process of building upon former information and concepts. Improving human knowledge means developing new models which better fit the realities presented by our micro-to-cosmological (biological/physical) universe. Improvement requires confronting and correcting errors in our thinking. Shaving away errors helps approach truth.

All knowledge should be open to scrutiny. This must include religious claims. When a religious text claims life-after-death, this must be taken seriously. There is NO evidence to support such contentions. Since religions base their entire existences upon this basic theory, other constructs which are supporting pillars of religions also deserve close scrutiny. Something as important to the human condition as eternal life should have the utmost examination.

Science presents the best current methodology for examining all purported knowledge. Religious claims should be subjected to rigorous examinations just as are any other aspects of living on this Earth. No exemptions. Anyone who claims exclusion from this scrutiny (such as claiming blasphemy) is hindering the progress of human development on Earth.

—Gene Johnson, Polson