Afterlife Is A Post-Dated Cheque with A Seductive Amount
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
14 March 2026
“I have no idea what's awaiting me, or what will happen when this all ends. For the moment I know this: there are sick people and they need curing.”
― Albert Camus, The Plague
Why do most mortals believe in Afterlife? Is it a religious or eschatological longing or a psychological requirement? From observations of animals burying their dead, through awareness of the seasonal rebirth of nature, to recognition of inherited characteristics, early homo sapiens developed the concept of life after death in an effort to explain these behaviours and their underlying feelings. Cross-cultural studies confirm that the experiences of dying and visiting "the other side" involve universal elements and themes that are predictable and definable. These phenomena arise from common structures in the brain and nervous system, common biological experiences, and common reactions of the CNS (Central Nervous System) to stimulation. The resultant experience can be interpreted as evidence that people survive death, but it may be more easily understood as a dissociative hallucinatory activity of the brain.
The idea of Afterlife is like a post-dated cheque with a seductive amount. Humans are wistful beings. The very thought that life ends with death frightens all of us without an exception. Saying that I'm not scared of death is mankind's biggest lie. To overcome this eternal and inherent fear, we concocted hell, heaven, afterlife and everlasting existence. All these are states of mind and the manifestations of our fears and longings.
Humans have endless desires, wishes, dreams and aspirations. Alas, life's woefully brief. Each one of us is well aware that so many desires shall remain unfulfilled. This saddens us. But don't worry. You'll have everything once you kick the bucket! This false hope, which is like a typical political promise, helps the gullible humans go through the mundane rigmarole of life. Constantly afraid of realities, we concoct a utopian and idyllic world where everything will be in an apple-pie order. Deep-down we all know that this cannot happen but what's wrong with dreaming impractically if it helps as a defence mechanism? After all, Khwaab dekhne ke paise nahin lagte (You don't spend anything on dreaming). Day-dreaming has its own benefits.
Those unhappy with this life, crave a life of Elysian happiness after death. What you miss here, you'll get 'there' with a kiss from a Miss! This ridiculously deceptive thought makes us happy. Sorry, this is a mirage. Live this life to the hilt and you'll not long for Afterlife. If you want to have drinks occasionally, please drink. Don't expect that you'll have Tahoor (the name of a heavenly wine) after you shuffle off this mortal coil. If a damsel warms the (cock)les of your heart and some other part, don't dishearten her. What you get is your fate. No virgins are there in an imaginary heaven. Carl Sagan aptly said, " I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides." Try to be a good human. Being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead. The real question of life after death isn't whether or not it exists, but even if it does what problem this really solves. So, why should you waste your time and energy on something that has no existence and no meaning?
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/afterlife-post-dated-cheque-seductive-amount/d/139251
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