Death

I was listening to the communist manifesto today and it had a line in there about religion being an eternal truth that had survived all kinds of social revolutions. It went on to say that it was one of the things that communism would end though, because communism was supposed to discard all eternal truths. It didn't happen, obviously. The application of communism was pretty much a bust because now matter how you tout morality and the betterment of all, you frequently end up with corrupt people trying to get more out of it than the ideology allows. That's a separate issue. It intrigued me to consider religion an eternal truth.

I can't think of a society that doesn't embrace the idea that there is something more to human existence than this life. Some people say that is just us trying to make our miserable lives have more meaning but I'm more of the opinion that it is likely because there is an afterlife and a reward for virtuous behavior. But there really isn't a reliable communication method between the Earth as we know it and the community of those who have passed on. That makes it difficult for us because we could tolerate our loved ones taking a trip as long as we could call them periodically and have that sense of contact at our command. It's the idea that the person is gone forever that is difficult to take. Hence the afterlife. I think half the appeal of the afterlife is that it is supposed to be this place where all the people you love are waiting to greet you and hang out with you forever, neglecting the key fact that when we're around them here, we frequently erupt into anger if we are together too long. In the moment of loss, however, I think it's understandable that we think we would be changed by death into people who would find joy in eternity with the people we love. If your parents called and said that they were moving to some far-away country where they didn't know if they would have access to telephones, mail, internet, or any other means of communication, and they would be there for 15 years or so, would it be less difficult to deal with? Is it just lack of faith that makes is so? If we had stronger faith in our eventual reunion and in the blissful peace, would we still sorrow so greatly at the loss? Why is the hope and possibility that they will be able to see us on earth again so important? When Paul said, "Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?" had he developed his faith sufficient to feel the same about someone going on a trip of indeterminate length as about someone dying?