– Satyakam Ray
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the late actor Chadwick Boseman was a significant influence as the Black Panther. When T’Challa (Boseman) loses his father during the Civil War, he shares his beliefs with the Black Widow. According to T’Challa, death is not the end in his culture. It’s merely a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands, and Bast and Sekhmet lead you into the green veld where… You can run forever.
The famous lines articulate Wakandan culture’s conception of the afterlife, though the afterlife is fictional. Similarly, in the real world, almost all religions, cultures, traditions, and races have many afterlife myths. These stories are deeply ingrained in their followers’ minds.
From the beginning of human civilization, humans have been fascinated by what happens after death. The mystery surrounding life after death has given rise to many speculations, beliefs, and traditions. The existence of God or of paranormal phenomena has been attributed to human curiosity about the afterlife.
The quest for the same intensifies after many people went to the brink of death. They returned with profound experiences and spirituality. They reported seeing Jesus, Lord Krishna, angels, or a bright light. The phenomenon appears natural and universal, although a few skeptics doubt or cast aspersions over the claims. Spiritual organizations often have the task of verifying the veracity of claims. This includes groups such as the Catholic Church, also known as the Vatican. A scientific approach should be taken to ascertain afterlife experiences. It must be supported by appropriate evidence and peer-reviewed research. This is the most effective way to arrive at the crux of the matter.
The religious point of view:
The concepts of reincarnation and rebirth are deeply embedded in the Sanatan philosophy. According to Buddhism, there’s no such absolute end to life. It simply goes from one form to another when one person dies. According to Hinduism, a person’s Karma in this life determines what will happen to them in the next life. If one person commits egregious acts, their reincarnation may not be human. Christianity entails a deeper allegiance among its followers to the belief in Jesus’s resurrection.
Mayan beliefs about the afterlife are distinctive in many respects. The gods governed the Mayan world. They believed offering human blood was crucial for appeasing these gods. This belief ensured the culture would flourish for eternity. These led to numerous sacrifices by the Maya on auspicious days, as determined by the Maya calendar. Recent archaeological excavations of Mayan architecture have drawn attention to the gory side of the afterlife. The power of the dead gives us the sustenance we need to survive on earth. This is the central belief system of the Mayan way of life. Mexicans shared a similar ideology.
The Egyptians who built the mighty pyramids believed in the eternal influence of souls. They called the soul ka (the vital essence). To preserve the ka, Egyptians mummified the bodies. They arranged all the necessities for their daily lives. This preparation ensured they wouldn’t face any problems in the afterlife when the dead arose. The continuation of tradition beyond life is also evident in architecture. The remarkable Egyptian ruler, Ramesses II, is depicted offering the ka to his predecessor, Ramesses. This gesture allows him to live forever. His name is remembered.
Scientific Approach:
According to modern science, the soul doesn’t become dead after death. It remains the vital essence of who we are. Many scientists claim to have captured or observed a form of light emanating from a person’s body after death. In fact, even in the early moments after death, brain activity continues. The claim warrants serious scientific investigation, as hoaxes resurface on social media and the internet.
In a 2010 experiment in the US, a new android robot, BINA48, was developed to preserve a person’s essence. BINA48 (Breakthrough Intelligence via Neural Architecture 48) is a robot. It is owned by Martine Rothblatt. Martine has made billions through pharmaceutical ventures. Roboticist David Hanson created the robot that mimicked Martine’s wife, Bina Rothblatt. The robot also stored the memory and traits of the honest Bina. The head-and-shoulders robot expresses sixty-four different facial gestures without a complete body. It employs off-the-shelf software and customized artificial intelligence algorithms to retain information and enhance listening ability.
The BINA48 robot is Silicon Valley’s answer to the mysteries of the afterlife. However, it will take considerable time for the prototype of cyber-consciousness to provide a definitive explanation of life beyond death. According to the makers, connecting supercomputers will require much effort. Integrating advanced AI algorithms is also necessary to create a replica of the soul or ka.
Is the jury still out?
In the coming decades, religion and science will likely continue exploring the concept of the afterlife. As discoveries and new facts deepen the mystery, understanding what lies beyond the soul will be significant. It will be a remarkable landmark in human history. Till then, let the imagination loose! Are T’Challa’s thoughts about the afterlife correct after all?
The Witty Stride 