Life after death Part 1 Mind and body. What is death? A definition: –‘Complete and permanent cessation of all vital functions in a living creature,

Life after deathLife after death

Part 1Part 1

Mind and bodyMind and body

What is death?What is death?

A definition:A definition:– ‘‘Complete and permanent cessation of all vital Complete and permanent cessation of all vital

functions in a living creature, the end of life’functions in a living creature, the end of life’

All agree on the first part many disagree All agree on the first part many disagree with the idea of it being the ‘end of life’with the idea of it being the ‘end of life’

How could life continue?How could life continue?

Through our genes in our children and Through our genes in our children and descendantsdescendants

We live on in our life’s workWe live on in our life’s work We live on in the memory of othersWe live on in the memory of others Immortality of the soulImmortality of the soul Resurrection of the bodyResurrection of the body ReincarnationReincarnation

Materialism or Dualism?Materialism or Dualism?

Two main theories of human natureTwo main theories of human nature MaterialistsMaterialists believe that the mind and body believe that the mind and body

of a human are inseparableof a human are inseparable DualistsDualists believe that humans consist of a believe that humans consist of a

body and a soulbody and a soul

MaterialismMaterialism

There is no soulThere is no soul Most materialists believe that at death the Most materialists believe that at death the

whole person ceases to existwhole person ceases to exist Gilbert RyleGilbert Ryle

The Concept of the Mind (1949)The Concept of the Mind (1949)

– Ghost in the machineGhost in the machine– A category mistakeA category mistake


Hard MaterialismHard Materialism Soft MaterialismSoft Materialism

All characteristics are All characteristics are physical onesphysical ones

Not all characteristics are Not all characteristics are physicalphysical

Mind cannot be Mind cannot be separated from bodyseparated from body

Mind and body are Mind and body are relatedrelated

Consciousness is just Consciousness is just brain activitybrain activity

Consciousness is more Consciousness is more than just brain activitythan just brain activity

When body dies so does When body dies so does the brainthe brain

When body dies so does When body dies so does the brainthe brain


There is no scientific evidence for the soulThere is no scientific evidence for the soul The soul cannot be located in the bodyThe soul cannot be located in the body The body is matter onlyThe body is matter only Therefore there is no soulTherefore there is no soul

Materialist argument Materialist argument against an afterlifeagainst an afterlife

– Life depends on a functioning brain, nervous Life depends on a functioning brain, nervous system and physical bodysystem and physical body

– Death involves the destruction of the brain, the Death involves the destruction of the brain, the nervous system and physical bodynervous system and physical body

– Therefore a person’s life ends at death as Therefore a person’s life ends at death as without a physical form, life cannot be without a physical form, life cannot be supportedsupported

DualismDualism

Mind determines personalityMind determines personality Body is a shell for the real selfBody is a shell for the real self Body is contingent and will endBody is contingent and will end The mind is immortal and considers higher The mind is immortal and considers higher

realitiesrealities Truth, goodness, justiceTruth, goodness, justice

PlatoPlato

– A dualistA dualist– Body and soul are two separate substances that Body and soul are two separate substances that

interactinteract– Soul is immortal and contains the real identitySoul is immortal and contains the real identity– Plato developed idea of formsPlato developed idea of forms– Body belongs to the physical contingent worldBody belongs to the physical contingent world– Soul wants to go to the world of ideas and stay Soul wants to go to the world of ideas and stay

there for eternitythere for eternity

AristotleAristotle

– Soul is part of the bodySoul is part of the body– It is what turns the physical form into a living It is what turns the physical form into a living

thing of a particular typething of a particular type– Soul and body are inseparableSoul and body are inseparable– Soul develops character but cannot survive Soul develops character but cannot survive

deathdeath– But is Aristotle a materialist? He did believe that But is Aristotle a materialist? He did believe that

the body and the soul were differentthe body and the soul were different

RenRenéé Descartes Descartes

– A DualistA Dualist– Mind includes feelings and sensations that Mind includes feelings and sensations that

cannot be located physicallycannot be located physically– Concluded ‘I think therefore I am’Concluded ‘I think therefore I am’

Mind and body are differentMind and body are different Each have own special characteristicsEach have own special characteristics Mind is a substance that is to ‘think’Mind is a substance that is to ‘think’ Body is a material that is to ‘take up space’Body is a material that is to ‘take up space’

RenRenéé Descartes Descartes

ConcludedConcluded– Identity comes from thinking and reasoningIdentity comes from thinking and reasoning– Conceivable that we could survive our body and Conceivable that we could survive our body and

remain same personremain same person– Believed body not needed to live intellectuallyBelieved body not needed to live intellectually– We can make drastic changes to our bodies but We can make drastic changes to our bodies but

remain the same personremain the same person– Believed that after death our soul can life on Believed that after death our soul can life on

with Godwith God

St Thomas AquinasSt Thomas Aquinas

– Agreed with AristotleAgreed with Aristotle– Soul animates the body – gives it lifeSoul animates the body – gives it life– Soul operates independently of bodySoul operates independently of body– Only things that are divisible decayOnly things that are divisible decay– Soul is not divisibleSoul is not divisible– Therefore soul can survive deathTherefore soul can survive death– But link between body and soulBut link between body and soul– So soul can retain individual identitySo soul can retain individual identity

Putting it all togetherPutting it all together

Answer the following exam question in Answer the following exam question in groupsgroups

‘‘The soul is just a part of the body’. Discuss.The soul is just a part of the body’. Discuss.

How to answerHow to answer

Start with the problem – Why are we even discussing this?Start with the problem – Why are we even discussing this? Explain Materialism and DualismExplain Materialism and Dualism Explain the views of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Aquinas.Explain the views of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Aquinas. What do you think and why?What do you think and why? ConclusionConclusion

Life after deathLife after death

Part 2Part 2

ReplicationReplication

Christian ViewChristian View

Most Christians believe in the resurrection of Most Christians believe in the resurrection of the bodythe body

Most Christians believe in the immortality of Most Christians believe in the immortality of the soulthe soul

– The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.became a living being. Genesis 2.7Genesis 2.7

But disagree on whether resurrection is But disagree on whether resurrection is physical or spiritualphysical or spiritual

Heaven and HellHeaven and Hell

There are different Christian views on what There are different Christian views on what happens to the soulhappens to the soul

The soul may remain close to earth, ascend to The soul may remain close to earth, ascend to Heaven, descend into Hell or participate in a Heaven, descend into Hell or participate in a general resurrectiongeneral resurrection

For many Christians Heaven and Hell provide an For many Christians Heaven and Hell provide an understanding of evil and sufferingunderstanding of evil and suffering– A physical body will be needed to experience tormentA physical body will be needed to experience torment

Liberal Christians place little emphasis on a placeLiberal Christians place little emphasis on a place

Personal identityPersonal identity

If resurrection is physical then people can be If resurrection is physical then people can be recognisedrecognised

But if spiritual how will recognition take place?But if spiritual how will recognition take place? What is the ‘I’ ?What is the ‘I’ ?

MemoriesMemories PersonalityPersonality Physical looksPhysical looks

Personal Identity is a problem for any form of Personal Identity is a problem for any form of afterlifeafterlife

Just how can we be sure it is actually the same person?Just how can we be sure it is actually the same person?

John HickJohn Hick

Hick is a materialistHick is a materialist But he believes that people can live after But he believes that people can live after

deathdeath This is possible through the creation of a This is possible through the creation of a

replicareplica God is all-powerfulGod is all-powerful

Therefore he can create a replicaTherefore he can create a replica

Replica TheoryReplica Theory

John Smith lived in AmericaJohn Smith lived in America One day he vanishes in front of his friendsOne day he vanishes in front of his friends At precisely the same time a replica of Smith appears At precisely the same time a replica of Smith appears

in Indiain India Hick argues it is the same personHick argues it is the same person

Smith dies in America and a replica appears Smith dies in America and a replica appears in Indiain India

Smith dies in America and a replica appears Smith dies in America and a replica appears in a parallel universein a parallel universe

Replica TheoryReplica Theory

Is it the same person?Is it the same person? What should we look for to identify the What should we look for to identify the

replica as being the same person?replica as being the same person? Hick argues that if the replica looks like the Hick argues that if the replica looks like the

original, has the same memories and original, has the same memories and personality, we would assume it to be the personality, we would assume it to be the same personsame person

Objections to the Replica TheoryObjections to the Replica Theory

A replica is not the same as the originalA replica is not the same as the original– Art collectors would not pay £1000s for a replica picture Art collectors would not pay £1000s for a replica picture

because it is not the originalbecause it is not the original

If God can create one replica why not many? Then If God can create one replica why not many? Then which would be the real person?which would be the real person?

Hick’s theory relies on God actually existing, but Hick’s theory relies on God actually existing, but many philosophers do not accept the existence of many philosophers do not accept the existence of God and therefore his theory failsGod and therefore his theory fails

St Paul’s viewSt Paul’s view

Hick provides a possible way in which Hick provides a possible way in which resurrection could take placeresurrection could take place

But he does not suggest the resurrection of the But he does not suggest the resurrection of the original bodyoriginal body

Rather it is the re-creation of the person who diedRather it is the re-creation of the person who died

Hick’s view is compatible with Christian idea Hick’s view is compatible with Christian idea of resurrectionof resurrection

St Paul wrote to the CorinthiansSt Paul wrote to the Corinthians– The body is buried mortal, when raised, it will be immortal… The body is buried mortal, when raised, it will be immortal…

…when buried it is a physical body, when raised it will be a …when buried it is a physical body, when raised it will be a spiritual bodyspiritual body

Richard DawkinsRichard Dawkins

Writer of many booksWriter of many books AtheistAtheist An empiricistAn empiricist Focuses on evolutionFocuses on evolution Belief in a soul is a failure to accept that Belief in a soul is a failure to accept that

evil and suffering have no purposeevil and suffering have no purpose Another replication theoryAnother replication theory


Humans are nothing more than their DNAHumans are nothing more than their DNA The only thing that can be said to survive a The only thing that can be said to survive a

person’s death is their DNAperson’s death is their DNA provided they have childrenprovided they have children

If people learnt to reason as scientists they If people learnt to reason as scientists they would be better humanswould be better humans

Science answers questions about origin, whereas Science answers questions about origin, whereas religion depends on faithreligion depends on faith


Dawkins explains our consciousness in Dawkins explains our consciousness in terms of memesterms of memes

Genes are the physical replicatorsGenes are the physical replicators Memes are human culture replicatorsMemes are human culture replicators Memes enable cultural survivalMemes enable cultural survival

But also evolveBut also evolve


Writer of many booksWriter of many books AtheistAtheist An empiricistAn empiricist Focuses on evolutionFocuses on evolution Belief in a soul is a failure to accept that Belief in a soul is a failure to accept that

evil and suffering have no purposeevil and suffering have no purpose



‘‘The resurrection of the body is not possible’. The resurrection of the body is not possible’. Discuss.Discuss.


Start with an explanation of what we mean by Start with an explanation of what we mean by resurrectionresurrection

Explain why it is a problemExplain why it is a problem Refer to the biblical idea of resurrectionRefer to the biblical idea of resurrection Mention St PaulMention St Paul Explain the problems with personal identity Explain the problems with personal identity Discuss Hick’s replica theoryDiscuss Hick’s replica theory Explain the problems of the theoryExplain the problems of the theory What do you think and why?What do you think and why? ConclusionConclusion

Life and deathLife and death

Part 3Part 3

ReincarnationReincarnation

Evidence for existence of a soulEvidence for existence of a soul

ReincarnationReincarnation

Could be referred to as RebirthCould be referred to as Rebirth At death the soul moves from the dead body At death the soul moves from the dead body

into a new bodyinto a new body The new body is totally different from the oldThe new body is totally different from the old Usually there are no memories of the Usually there are no memories of the

previous lifeprevious life Therefore personal identity cannot be Therefore personal identity cannot be

retainedretained

BuddhismBuddhism

There is an interconnection between each There is an interconnection between each life that does not involve a soullife that does not involve a soul

Connection made through karmaConnection made through karma– Karma means ‘action’Karma means ‘action’– Relationship between what a person does and Relationship between what a person does and

what happens to themwhat happens to them

‘‘I’ is not the person living a single life but the I’ is not the person living a single life but the union of all lived lives.union of all lived lives.

HinduismHinduism

Atman = soul and is eternalAtman = soul and is eternal Individuals develop through cycle of life, Individuals develop through cycle of life,

death and rebirthdeath and rebirth Aim is to work to be reunited with BrahmanAim is to work to be reunited with Brahman Living right (dharma) gives good karmaLiving right (dharma) gives good karma Usually no memories of a previous lifeUsually no memories of a previous life

Near Death ExperienceNear Death Experience

Advances in medical research mean that Advances in medical research mean that more people declared as clinically dead are more people declared as clinically dead are being resuscitatedbeing resuscitated

Dr Raymond Moody saw similarity in the Dr Raymond Moody saw similarity in the experiences of people who were experiences of people who were resuscitatedresuscitated

His investigations revealed…His investigations revealed…

At moment of death many have a feeling of At moment of death many have a feeling of floating above their bodyfloating above their body

They can observe what is happening around themThey can observe what is happening around them Movement unrestricted – can move through wallsMovement unrestricted – can move through walls Sense of bliss, ecstasy and peaceSense of bliss, ecstasy and peace Rapid movement down a tunnel with bight light at Rapid movement down a tunnel with bight light at

the endthe end Dead friends and relatives are waiting at the endDead friends and relatives are waiting at the end At end of tunnel there is a beautiful place with a At end of tunnel there is a beautiful place with a

sense of the divinesense of the divine Panoramic view of their entire lifePanoramic view of their entire life Made aware of how their actions have effect their Made aware of how their actions have effect their

life and otherslife and others Told it is not yet their time to die and they returnTold it is not yet their time to die and they return

Near Death ExperienceNear Death Experience

No two NDE’s identicalNo two NDE’s identical Longer person is dead the more in depth Longer person is dead the more in depth

their experiencetheir experience Not all people resuscitated have such Not all people resuscitated have such

experiencesexperiences

Regression to Past LivesRegression to Past Lives

If we have past lives some believe we should have If we have past lives some believe we should have memoriesmemories

Some people do claim to have memories of a past Some people do claim to have memories of a past lifelife– Children sometimes make comments that suggest they Children sometimes make comments that suggest they

are remembering a past lifeare remembering a past life– People under hypnosis have given accounts of past People under hypnosis have given accounts of past

liveslives

Research can confirm the accuracy of their claimResearch can confirm the accuracy of their claim

Regression to Past LivesRegression to Past Lives

Reasons why their claims might be falseReasons why their claims might be false– Could be recalling information already gained in Could be recalling information already gained in

this lifethis life– Maybe a cultural gene that passes information Maybe a cultural gene that passes information

down down – Memories could be suppressed events of this Memories could be suppressed events of this

lifelife

SightingsSightings

Dr Deepak ChopraDr Deepak Chopra– Bodies are effectively energyBodies are effectively energy– Appear solid but actually are an impulse of Appear solid but actually are an impulse of

energyenergy– When someone dies the energy field remains When someone dies the energy field remains

Made be seen by othersMade be seen by others Perceived as a ghostPerceived as a ghost

Unlikely to be hallucinations as often seen Unlikely to be hallucinations as often seen by more than one personby more than one person

SightingsSightings

Alternative explanationsAlternative explanations– Hoax or elaborate trickHoax or elaborate trick– ‘‘stone tape’ theory. Like a magnetic tape. Event stone tape’ theory. Like a magnetic tape. Event

is played back in right conditionsis played back in right conditions– Mistaken identityMistaken identity– Power of suggestionPower of suggestion

SpiritualismSpiritualism

Communication between dead and livingCommunication between dead and living Messages give comfort to the bereavedMessages give comfort to the bereaved Some mediums have been shown to be Some mediums have been shown to be

fraudsfrauds Others appear genuineOthers appear genuine Could be real communication with spiritsCould be real communication with spirits Could be telepathic communication with the Could be telepathic communication with the

livingliving



Shakespeare described death as ‘the Shakespeare described death as ‘the undiscovered country from whose bourn no undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns.’ There are those who would traveller returns.’ There are those who would argue that people have returned from ‘the argue that people have returned from ‘the undiscovered country’. Discuss the evidence put undiscovered country’. Discuss the evidence put forward as proof that there is life after death, and forward as proof that there is life after death, and the form that life after death might take.the form that life after death might take.


Consider ideas that provide evidence of life after deathConsider ideas that provide evidence of life after death– NDE’s, Regression, Sightings, SpiritualismNDE’s, Regression, Sightings, Spiritualism– You do not have time to write too much so you have to deal You do not have time to write too much so you have to deal

with them briefly but clearlywith them briefly but clearly– Give a critical analysis of the ideasGive a critical analysis of the ideas

Explain the two main theories of possible forms of Explain the two main theories of possible forms of after lifeafter life– ResurrectionResurrection– ReincarnationReincarnation– Give a critical analysis of bothGive a critical analysis of both

What do you think and why?What do you think and why? ConclusionConclusion

Life after death Part 1 Mind and body. What is death? A definition: –‘Complete and permanent cessation of all vital functions in a living creature,

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