Why is belief in the afterlife important?
Human beings, apparently alone among the life forms on earth, are aware that their life is finite. According to many theologians and mental health professionals, one of the main comforts that people obtain from their religious faith is the assurance that life will not end at their death. They believe that it will continue in some form for all eternity. Sren Kierkegaard “proposed that the awareness and fear of dying is so fundamental to human nature that it underlies most human beliefs and ways of behaving.” 1 Another reasons for the widespread belief in an afterlife might be the desire for justice. In some sections of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) the reward for righteous behavior is said to be a long life and many children. But this does not necessarily work out in practice. The world is often not a very fair place: Many good people die young and childless. Good people sometimes suffer in poverty and with disease. Many evil people lead rewarding, rich, and long lives. Many rel
