Religion and Science Agree!

After centuries of conflicting claims between religion and science, they agree on something: an afterlife.

Religion

All of the religions that I’m aware of, and I suspect all that exist, believe in an afterlife. They may differ in their view of that life, but they all agree that it exists.

Science

Science’s agreement that there is an afterlife is more implicit than explicit. To understand how science supports the concept of afterlife we need to examine some of science’s findings, then extrapolate the conclusion that there is an afterlife.

We begin with the law of conservation of energy. This law states that the total amount of energy never changes, it simply takes on a new form. Physicists use a pendulum to illustrate this law. 

When the pendulum is at rest all of the energy is gravitational. Put the pendulum in motion and there are three types of energy at work: the kinetic energy of the pendulum’s movement, heat energy created by the pendulum’s movement through air and gravitational energy which will ultimately return the pendulum to a resting state. When you add the three energies together, you get the same total energy as when the pendulum is at rest.

The law of conservation of energy implies that the energy force within us, the one we call life or soul, continues after our physical form stops functioning. In other words, death is merely the transformation of energy. Here’s an example to illustrate this point.

A tree falls in the forest. The life energy that was that tree is absorbed by insects and fungi that feed upon it. When the insects and fungi die, they provide nutrients to the soil that supports new growth. The energy that was the tree continues on in a form different from its previous form.

For you

Many with whom I’ve shared this message have found comfort in it. For those who hold religious beliefs, it affirms their beliefs in an afterlife. For those who aren’t particularly religious, it affords them the comfort of knowing that their loved ones are still with them…albeit in a different form.

Knowing that religion and science agree that our essence continues beyond this life reduces the fear of death. It also helps us avoid forgoing what we desire because we’re afraid that we may not have enough time to achieve what we desire.

In reality, no matter whether we choose to pursue what we desire or not, there will be unfulfilled dreams on the day that we die. Personally, I choose the joy of pursuing what I desire each and every day knowing that there is as much joy in the pursuit as in the achievement. I’ve accepted and become comfortable with the idea that on the day I die there will be unfulfilled dreams.

For our kids

As your kids are exposed to death, which happens much too frequently today, share with them the fact that religion and science agree on an afterlife. 

Focus their attention on the joy the deceased experienced in their achievements as well as in their pursuit of what was left unfinished. Share with them how sad it is when people deprive themselves of the joy of pursuing their dreams because “they may not have enough time to achieve what they desire.” In essence, these folks are choosing to live as if they’d already died. That’s not what you want for your kids. Nor is it what they’d choose if they realized what they were giving up by making that choice. Help them gain this awareness early in life. They’ll be eternally grateful to you.

Let others know that you love them by sharing this blog post. They’ll appreciate that you care.

I love hearing your thoughts and experiences, please share your thoughts in a comment.

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