Inspired and Blessed by Bob Acebedo
Mental Health

Growing Old And The Thought Of Afterlife

Jan 19, 2021, 5:47 PM
Bob Acebedo

Bob Acebedo

Columnist

Growing old is not the same as “being old” or “feeling old.” To grow old is natural. To feel old is a state of mind – and this is a matter of choice.

Some people say, growing old is not for the faint of heart – it can be daunting. Physical challenges, loss of loved ones, isolation, loneliness, and the debilitating feeling of being “not needed” are but some of the fearsome realities of old age.

But a most formidable fear most people grapple with in old age is the fear, others call it anxiety, of what lies beyond death or the afterlife.

The Defining Moment

While it is true that as we advance in age and get closer to death, the more we come to accept the inevitability of death, still there remains in us the haunting feeling or lurking apprehension about what will happen to us after death.

We then come face-to-face with the ageless, fundamental questions of life after death – the existence of the soul, and the existence of a supreme end-judge or God.

From an existential perspective, this defining moment in old age can be a breathtaking point of coming to terms with “eternal things” or for a profound realization that there is more to life than our physical existence, and that there is life after death.

There is more to life than our physical body – because the human soul exists.

Existence Of The Soul

Allow me to demonstrate, in my own way, the existence of the soul with the following 3-point argument:

  1. We generally think of or understand the soul as something “immaterial”, “intangible”, “immortal”, “spiritual”, and “transcendent” – beyond the material and physical.
  2. From experience or empirical evidence, we have the capability to “know” (consciousness or awareness) and to “reflect, analyze and decide” (free will). The effects or products of our “knowing and willing” are not material or physical but immaterial, intangible and immortal – e.g. ideas, knowledge, love, goodness, beauty, truth, etc.
  3. Therefore, these operative functions of our “knowing and willing” can only come from something immaterial and immortal in the human person, which is the soul.

Tree, Afterlife, Nature, Environment, Eco

Tree by Picography from pexels.com

Life After Life

There is more after death.

Notwithstanding the theological foundations about the existence of the afterlife and of God, science is replete with empirical evidence about the reality of life after death.

We have a rich literature on this from various studies like, among others – Dr. Raymond Moody, “Life After Life” (1977); Dr. Kenneth Ring, “Mindsight” (1999); and Dr. Stuart Hameroff, “Quantum Theory of Consciousness” (2017).

One striking revelation from the different scientific researches on the subject (with particular attention to philosopher Immanuel Kant’s “Postulates of Practical Reason”) is the complementary and reasonable connection between “theism” or belief in the existence of God and the belief in the afterlife – that is, the existence of God presupposes the existence of an afterlife, and vice versa.

Great Gift Of Life

On one hand, an all-powerful and all-loving God desires to provide creatures with greater and more LONG-LASTING FULFILLMENT than is possible within the brief scope of earthly existence.

On the other hand, the imperfections, “evils” and “unfairness” in this life can only be BALANCED by the scales of justice in the afterlife.

If devoid of these two reasonable and complementary beliefs – in the existence of God and of the afterlife – life itself and its “unfairness or imperfections” would be rendered meaningless, if not reduced to absurdity (reduction ad absurdum).

Have peace!

Growing old is a great gift of life. Embrace each and every day of it with enthusiasm, vitality, enjoyment, acceptance – and gratitude for who you are and where you are, and with the awareness and intention to be fully alive than ever.


We take a stand
OpinYon News logo

Designed and developed by Simmer Studios.

© 2024 OpinYon News. All rights reserved.