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Flashcards in Immortality Deck (37)
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1
Q

How can someone achieve immortality through a legacy

A

Being remembered through something you have done, or achieved. Such as the great work of art, music on literature, or charitable work

2
Q

Problems with immortality through a legacy

A

Once the legacy is gone, you are no longer remembered

3
Q

What is immortality

A

The idea that even though a person is physically dead, they continue to live on in some way

4
Q

How can someone achieve immortality through memory

A

Surviving through the memories of friends and family

5
Q

Problems with immortality through memory

A

Once these people die, you are no longer remembered

6
Q

How can someone achieve immortality through resurrection

A

Person is raised from the dead either bodily or spiritually. Christians believe that God resurrects your body and soul, and you go to heaven or hell

7
Q

Problems with immortality through resurrection

A

Physical body decays after death, so what form does the resurrected body take?
If all we have is our body (no soul), how can we be resurrected? There is no evidence of a soul
Can you still be the same person without a body

8
Q

How a believer would respond to immortality through resurrection

A

The soul is made of different substances to the body, therefore we can’t see or detect it
Memories provide identity, so if it still has the memories of the life lived, it’s still the same person

9
Q

How can somebody achieve immortality through reincarnations

A

A person’s soul is transferred to a new body after death. The soul improves itself every lifetime, until it achieves perfection. It is a Hindus belief.

10
Q

How can somebody achieve immortality through rebirth

A

Ever changing character moves from the rebirth to rebirth. It is not a soul. Each life is linked through the law of karma, but it is not the same person.
It is a Buddhist belief

11
Q

Problems with immortality through reincarnation and rebirth

A

People don’t survive death; if you’re living a new life in a new body with different memories, how can you be the same person?
Being reborn isn’t the point: the point is to stop the cycle
Can memories of past life be classed as proof? Even if you’re not supposed to be able to remember anything

12
Q

How a believer would respond to immortality through reincarnation and rebirth

A

Hindus would say that immortal soul continues, and that is what matters
Buddhists believe there is continuity so life has not ended
There is past life regression therapy

13
Q

Arguments against immortality

A

Lack of proof
Science
Atheism

14
Q

Why does science disprove immortality

A

We’re a product of evolution; we pass on our DNA. Ideas about the soul are just there because we can’t accept there is no purpose in life
We have invented technology that allows us to freeze bodies and resuscitate them if a cure is found. If we had a soul, this wouldn’t be possible

15
Q

Why does lack of proof disprove immortality

A

There is no scientific proof that it exists
Scriptural accounts differ
Teachings about immortality just make us feel better about dying

16
Q

Why does atheism disproves immortality

A

We have no purpose in life, therefore no need for life after death
Humanists say that we should improve the quality of people’s life on earth, rather than worrying about what happens after death

17
Q

Evidence of immortality in Christian Scriptures

A

John 11:25–26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live,even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die
St. Paul thought that Christians will be raised with a new spiritual body after death

18
Q

Problems with the evidence of scriptures

A

Descriptions of different religions do not agree with each other
Often lack detail, which leads to interpretation, which could be wrong
Come from a time when there was little knowledge of medical science

19
Q

Evidence of immortality in ghosts

A

Genuine manifestations of dead people, rather than hallucinations, because often more than one person experiences them

20
Q

Problems with the evidence of ghosts

A

They could be hallucinations
It’s going to be a trick of the light, a breath of wind or poor eyesight
It could be a hoax

21
Q

Evidence of immortality in chanelling

A

Communicating with the living and those who have died and are in the spirit world
Medium claim to be able to contact the dead and pass on messages from the departed
Many have passed on messages that contain accurate information, which was previously unknown to the medium

22
Q

Problems with the evidence of channelling

A

Some mediums are proven frauds
Others appear genuine, but could be using cold reading to read body language and throw out statements until something sticks
Why do spirits only communicate with mediums?
Why does every spirit not communicate with the living?

23
Q

Evidence of immortality in near death experiences

A

Some patients who are dead but have been resuscitated describe similar experiences
They are so similar, remembered in detail and are often life changing

24
Q

Problems with the evidence of near death experiences

A

Result of oxygen starvation that causes hallucinations
This similarity could be explained because that is how the brain automatically reaction oxygen starvation
No scientific evidence to prove they are real; although studies are being done at present

25
Q

Definition of dualism

A

We have two distinct parts: body and soul
Together in life but separate at death
Body decays but the mind/soul is immortal
This means life after death is possible
Said by Rene Descartes, “I think therefore I am”

26
Q

Definition of materialism

A

The opposite of dualism
Our minds are inseparable from our bodies
Life after death isn’t possible because the soul doesn’t survive death
Life needs a functioning brain, a physical form and nervous system

27
Q

Christian ideas about dualism

A

Christians disagree with dualism. They think that both body and soul will be resurrected and the soul is a separate substance but the spark that gives us life

28
Q

Buddhist ideas about dualism

A

Buddhists don’t believe in a soul at all, so they don’t agree with dualism

29
Q

Hindus ideas about dualism

A

Hindus would except dualism, as they believe the body and soul can continue apart after death

30
Q

Christianity and dualism

A

Christianity believes that God created the whole person, and it is that person is raised after death, along with their soul

31
Q

Jewish beliefs on the ideas of heaven/hell

A

Sheol - shadowy place where souls go
God judges people’s because of their actions
No heaven/hell only 7 levels to God

32
Q

Muslim beliefs on the ideas of heaven/hell

A

The soul is taken for questioning by 2 angels
Barzakh is the period of waiting, where the soul goes to a special place to wait for judgement day. They are either sent to Jannah (heaven) or Jahannam (hell)

33
Q

Christian beliefs on the ideas of heaven/hell

A

Purgatory- waiting place

Then you go to heaven or hell

34
Q

Common traits of NDE’s

A
Hearing music
Seeing a light 
Seeing dead relatives 
Going through a tunnel 
Seeing religious figures e.g. Jesus
35
Q

Reasons for life after death

A

Makes sense of this world being a test
Every religion suggests life after death
Evidence of paranormal - ghosts
Children have recalled ‘past life experiences’

36
Q

Reasons against life after death

A

Science disproves dualism
Different religions have different ideas about the afterlife
Evidence based on holy book - but which one?

37
Q

Hindu beliefs about the afterlife

A

Your atman (soul) moves onto another body. This keeps repeating itself, this cycle is called samsara. Moksha is breaking this cycle as you are the best person you can be