Perspectives… Yet Again

WED., MAY 6, 1998, 2:02 PM
FARM, STUDY

On Friday of this week you are to make yet another appearance before Lenore’s Garden Club. You plan to use your old “tried and true” notes on Perspectives… Since this is a group of mostly older ladies you should emphasize… and reemphasize… that these are ways of looking at life, as well as at death… for death is definitely a part of life. You plan to do it pretty much as you did it for the Hospice volunteers, but be aware (and appreciative) of differences that may urge you to change plans, somewhat.

You have considered introducing them in some different order, but I want you to see the values in the way you have almost always done it. The Ecological is the least spiritual and yet the most consistent with the Web of Life about which I often speak. It is naturalistic, seeing death of any form of life as a real “partner” with birth, or the coming into being of the “young”. You look out to your left and see a large maple tree, presumably planted years ago, with little competition. Now you see many small trees, growing from the seeds emitted by this and other maples. Unless some of these are cut down (caused to die) there will not be another full grown tree like the one you gaze upon.

Humans die from many causes, and in this perspective this must continue, with even new causes. Humans cannot continue to multiply at present rates. All of the present leading causes of death are necessary, and they may have to be joined by the old “standby”s famine and disease of the infectious sort.

The humanistic is both like and unlike this “lead-off”. It is akin in that it envisions no afterlife and no spiritual judgment… except by human “survivors”. It is different in that it values human life above all else, being much less concerned with this “Web” that I extol. So from this comes both the medical and public health fields, seeking to make the environment safe and healthy for humans (and keep it thus) and to develop and utilize a range of treatments and cures for conditions of ill-health. Human life should be maintained and prolonged, almost no matter what the “costs”.

The Christian perspective is like the Humanistic in its high value on human life, but different in that it proclaims the continuation of life after bodily death, with judgment on how the one dying has lived and what sort of after-life that one deserves. The two are also alike in accepting the valor and value in giving up life for something better, which is spiritual. (This is easier for the devout Christian, but there is that threat, in Humanistic thought, that there may be “nothing else”, so hold on to what you have). The Christian perspective, when sincerely held, must accept (and glorify) the act of sacrifice – Jesus crucified… giving up his life for the salvation of all who believe in and accept this sacrifice.

You shall use the term Reincarnation, but explain that this also could be called Eternal or Everlasting Life. This is not the only form of life for the spirit that is the essence of each human. It typically takes longer than one earth life time to reach enlightenment. Each earth life is influenced by lives lived “before”, and the way one lives this life will influence further, later “lives”. Enlightenment is rather mystical, but when a spirit achieves it there is no need for more “incarnations”.

I like your characterization of the Life After Life view as an agnostic one. While there is assurance about what happens immediately after death (or in time when the body appears to be dead) there is no assurance as to whether this is a brief prelude to nothingness… or to judgment… or to evaluation. Those who return from such experiences have much less to no fear of a future death… and generally have a more positive, appreciative view of the life they now can continue. It also posits that one can “know” without actually seeing or hearing… spirit can discern, remember, and understand.