Three Cultures, Three Views on Death: How I Found My Own Beliefs
The understanding and experience of death are different all throughout the world. Every culture views this profound transition through its own unique lens. Reflecting on my own journey of understanding, I was drawn to three distinct perspectives that have shaped my beliefs: those of Christianity, the Yoruba tradition, and traditional mainland China.
A Look at Three Different Worldviews
Christianity: This perspective teaches that after death, a person's soul leaves the body and goes to Heaven. There, it is judged; "good" souls are granted an eternity in Heaven, while "bad" souls are sent to Hell for eternal torment.
The Yoruba Tradition: This is an animistic perspective that teaches that when a person dies, their soul returns to the collective conscious. Through reincarnation, the soul is born again with a specific "contract" to fulfill, helping it learn life lessons and grow spiritually.
Traditional Mainland China: This perspective teaches that death has significant meaning and is a liberating force. It is seen as an important and peaceful part of life, allowing us to be reborn into "better" human beings by freeing us from old ways of thinking and old habits.
Where They Align, and Where They Diverge
What these three views have in common is the understanding that we have a soul or essence that is separate from our physical body and continues on after we die.
Where they differ is in what happens to that soul. Christianity teaches that the spirit resides for eternity in a permanent "home" called Heaven. The Yoruba and Chinese traditions, however, believe the soul returns to the collective conscious before returning to Earth in a new life form to continue its journey of learning and enlightenment.
My Own Journey: From Dogma to a Broader Perspective
These different views mirror my own experience of understanding death and the afterlife. I was raised in a Christian home and was taught to understand death as it is described in the Bible. But as I got older and was exposed to different beliefs, I broadened my outlook.
After a journey of spiritual transformation in college, my views took a major shift. I felt that my essence was more than something confined to my physical body; I felt my spirit in union with nature and the energy all around me. I now hold the belief that when we die, our souls return to the collective conscious. I believe that in the spirit world, my soul reviews what it's learned and plans how to become a better person in the next lifetime.
This awareness now informs my life and relationships. I encourage my friends, family, and clients to get in touch with their own spirituality, whether through yoga, journaling, or expanding their own definition of "God" beyond a personified figure. I know my soul is connected to the universe, and because of that, I make more ecologically sensitive decisions. This spiritual connection helps me cope with the sadness of death, knowing that I will continue to have a relationship with my loved ones and the universe.
Ultimately, I don't believe any one way of viewing death is "right" or "wrong." Instead, I have a greater appreciation for the meaning of both life and death, and an understanding of the afterlife that brings me at ease.
References
Haber, C. (2004). Anti-aging medicine: The history: Life extension and history: The continual search for the fountain of youth. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 59(6), B515-B522.
Krigbaum, M. (Director). (2014). Death Makes Life Possible [Film].
