Show & Tell: Life after Death

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I have chosen a more serious topic for this week's Show & Tell (though it's of course possible to joke about it as well, as with any topic; up to you!) because I thought it would be interesting to hear people's thoughts and ideas on the afterlife. I wrote when I set out my themes a few weeks ago: apologies for the morbid subject but I find it interesting to think about what happens after we die, if anything, and how miniscule our lifespan (as individuals) is in the history of the universe, or even that of mankind.

I don't have any particular belief "this is what will happen to me" but I hope and want to believe that something does happen, that we go somewhere, to a new world or a parallel dimension...somewhere, something. Some sort of heaven but maybe not necessarily the heaven described by any of the religions. Maybe Nangijala. That would be nice. Without Katla.

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We live such a short time on earth if you consider how long earth has been around or even how long humanity has been around. Makes you humble. And at the same time feel like there must be something more to it. But maybe we just want to, have to, think that because it's so unthinkable that we are so insignificant in the scheme of things. I think the urge to be immortal, to live on, is one reason why we have children. In addition to the want to love and care, and to be loved and cared for, of course.

I think about organ donation. In many ways passing on your organs, either as a live or a dead donor, is a way to live on as well. I registered as an organ donor years ago, however I have said no to research because I rather want my organs to go to someone. But I'm starting to reconsider since research is so important too and maybe my body proves to be better fit for research, who knows. I don't believe my body need to stay intact after I die because if there is a life after death, it's my soul that will move on. I don't think I need my body. If I do need one I'm sure I will get a new one.

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I think by the time you're old and you know you are dying you just accept it. It's natural in a way. But when you are young it's difficult to think about death. Young people who know they are dying from an illness accept their fate as well, most of them at least. I think a calm descends on you. It's more difficult for those around you. And the person dying is more sad for the life they will not lead than being scared about dying itself. So death is really about the lack of life than about death as such. Life after death is probably much more difficult for those left alive. In a way, life after death is about them, those left behind.

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Lastly, Swedish funeral arrangements. The Muslim custom of burying their deceased within 24 hours is a bit rushed and exaggerated; even three days may not be enough time for far away relatives to return, and by that time the sad news may not even have sunk in. But waiting three and sometimes even four weeks as is the case in Sweden is a scandal! A week is appropriate, two weeks if necessary. I understand that if Sweden only (for the most part) hold funerals on Fridays (for some reason??) it will be difficult to book that special church that meant so much to the deceased. But it seems like people nowadays can hardly fit in a funeral in their busy lives and that's the real reason, not church booking arrangements. Sweden has very lax laws on this apparently whilst for example Norway and Denmark have one or two weeks maximum before the deceased must be buried. I think it's disgrace to deceased to let him or her lie just there in the morgue. Sure, they are dead but still. Out of respect to when they were alive.

Just some randoms thoughts.