By Star Zahra
The afterlife is a topic that hangs over our heads, heavy with speculation and controversy. But really, it is an extension of our fears. We desperately want to believe that there is meaning to our lives. Transition is an essential element of human nature, everything always leads to another stage. From pregnancy, we anticipate birth, then childhood, the start of education, maturity, old age and finally death. Naturally, we cannot stop anticipating so we have arrived at the question of what comes after the grave. In a way, it is exciting to feel the boundless reach of our imaginations. Yet, there are many sides to this coin — like the politics of control that is evident in all religions.
I cannot say I believe in heaven. To believe in heaven, I would also have to believe in hell, and that, I can confidently say, I do not. You want me to believe there is a God who punishes people for doing bad things? That this God created a great big place of fire and torment for souls? I would not do that to my worst enemy, much less to something I created.
What I do believe in are things that are concrete. I believe in the earth. I believe the astronauts who have gone into space. I believe in science and the many ways it uncovers the mysteries of our world. I believe in medicine, in peace, in conflict resolution, in social work, in kindness, in anger, in pain, in sorrow, in joy, in betrayals, in love, and in my daughter. These are real, and I have not yet finished trying to understand any of them. It seems unwise, at least for now, to concern myself with the afterlife.
We do not need fear as motivation to be fully human. Humans fall short. Humans sometimes engage in things that contradict their ideals. But humans are also resilient, capable of reflection and self-correction. There are many other things to consider for motivation—love, family, the kindness of strangers, trust, the remorse of those who hurt us, even guilt. The guilt we feel when we act wrongly can guide us. But fear is never a good motivator. To console ourselves with the promise of heaven as a reward for being good may, in fact, say much about our intelligence and our willingness to show up in the world without expecting reward.
