CONCEPTS OF THE HEREAFTER

The Hereafter is often referred to in jokes and almost always at funerals. It is the product Christian and some other faiths sell as the ultimate reward for a life well lived. Yet with our expanding knowledge from DNA structure to black holes, there has been little written on what the Hereafter, if any, might be like or if it is logical to expect that there would be rewards there for lives well lived.

MIAT invites interested people to give their contribution to this Project as set out below:

CONCEPTS OF THE HEREAFTER
PROJECT
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AIM:

Until 600 years ago recorded civilization believed that the earth was square and flat with a heaven above and a hell below. No one believes that now.

At some time most people will ponder about what happens after death, including:

IF THERE IS A HEREAFTER -

• Is there “life” after death? Is there reincarnation?
• Is our human consciousness extinguished at death?
• If each of us has a soul what form will it have in the hereafter?
• Is the soul connected to the imagination? Do we all have a “God” particle/slice?
• Will there be judgment “Pearly Gates” where justice not received in life is received after death? Is there to be a reward for a life well lived?
• Is there to be punishment for those who have knowingly caused wars, deaths, destruction, rape, child abuse, hunger, loss of hope or abused the environment?
• Will judgment, if any, be community based, individual based or a mixture of both?
• What and where in or out of our universe are heaven, hell and possibly purgatory?
• We have all been given different talents, some many, some few – are we accountable for the use, non-use or mis-use of our talents?
• Is “Heaven” exclusive for your particular faith?
• Will “Heaven” be boring because there will be no opportunity to exercise the unique gift, which in all the animal kingdom, only humans have, of being able to make decisions which affect our future?
• Is there evidence of life after death which meets scientific criteria, as claimed by some who state they are agnostic or atheistic?
• Western tabloid “Agony Aunts” and psychics often say that departed family pets are wagging their tails waiting to be re-united. Do animals have souls?
• Do your actions meeting your faith’s criteria guarantee you will enter your faith’s “heaven” after death? Or is belief the only requirement? Or both?
• Are there “sins of omission” as well as “sins of commission”?
• How can nations’ leaders go to church, synagogue, mosque or temple to pray for peace and then commit their nations to do the opposite?
  

IF THERE IS NO HEREAFTER –

• Why get up in the morning? Why be good? Why have hope?
• Is the only “heaven” what we experience here on earth?

PROJECT:

We, the Project’s managers, are inviting eminent people from at least 10 countries covering a variety of cultures and faiths to give their personal concept of the “hereafter”.

• If you believe there is a hereafter we request you give your concept of what it might be like, covering the issues listed above.
• If you believe there is no hereafter we request you give reasons why there is any incentive to be “good”, why you believe there is no hope for relief from earthly suffering for the multitudes who so suffer and generally why one should get up in the morning.

Within the same faith and culture we expect there will be wide differences – and that is part of the reason for this Project. We expect that some concepts described will be “traditional”, some simplistic, some philosophical, some theological.

We believe that reading other peoples’ concepts may assist many as they ponder the value and purpose of their own lives and the goals and standards of their communities, as well as helping them understand their own and others’ faiths and cultures.

PROPOSED USE:

It is proposed that contributions to this Project will be put into a book as a collection of 25 or more as well as being made accessible on the MIAT website. Of course, permission will have to be given by each author before his or her contribution is published or put on the website.

We will also welcome contributions which the author does not wish to be published and these will be used to prepare a summary of contributions which does not disclose the author’s name.

Please Note: This is a not-for-profit project. In the unlikely event that the Project produces a profit such amount will be donated to a United Nations charity.

CONTRIBUTION LENGTH:

While we acknowledge that restricting the length of a contribution may impair its quality, nevertheless we would prefer that contributions did not exceed 4000 words.

BIOGRAPHY:

A biography of the author is required, giving relevant personal details, which might include age, cultural and ethnic background and a photo (head and shoulders).

BACKGROUND:

This Project is being organised by the Major Issues and Theology Foundation (“MIAT”), an Australian Christian based ecumenical group whose President is Rev Martin Levine, previously Minister of the Uniting Church of Australia. MIAT has a particular concern with human rights issues both nationally and internationally as well as various theological subjects.

The Managers know that all Christians do not hold similar views and accept that people of other faiths and of no faiths may hold similar views or vastly different views.

An assurance is hereby given that all contributions to this Project will be given equal respect, and as far as possible in any publication, equal treatment and coverage.

We expect the result will make fascinating reading and contemplation.

PROJECT MANAGERS:

The Project Managers are Harry Wallace (Australia) in association with Sir Maxwell MacLeod (Scotland).

Harry Wallace	Sir Maxwell MacLeod
25 York Street Beecroft NSW 2119 AUSTRALIA	Dowies Mill House Dowies Mill Lane Cramond EH4 1PG SCOTLAND
Email:	Email: