RELIGION AND THE LIFE HEREAFTER

‘These facts strongly suggest that the universe, and the human personality, each have a dimension additional to the material one so capably and successfully explored by the natural sciences.’ Many other scholars who have objectively examined the evidence furnished by psychical research have felt compelled to accept the life Hereafter as a matter of fact. After making a general survey of various investigations in the field of research, C. J. Ducasse observed: ‘Some of the keenest-minded and best-informed persons, who studied the evidence over many years in a highly critical spirit, eventually came to the conclusion that, in some cases at least, only the survival hypothesis remained plausible. Among such persons may be mentioned Alfred Russel Wallace, Sir William Crookes, F.W.H. Myers, Cesare Lombroso, Camille Flammarion, Sir Oliver Lodge, Dr Richard Hodgson, Mrs Henry Sidwick and Professor Hyslop, to name only a few of the most eminent. This suggests that the belief in a life after death, which so many persons have found no particular difficulty in accepting as an article of religious faith, not only may be true but is perhaps capable of empirical proof; and if so, that, instead of the inventions of theologians concerning the nature of the post-mortem life, factual information regarding it may eventually be obtained. That, in such a case, the content of this information will turn out to be useful rather than not, for the two tasks which it is the function of religion to perform, does not, of course, automatically follow.’ Ducasse, while accepting life after death as a reality, has refused to accept the religious nature of this same phenomenon. This is only a matter of his own personal predilections. The truth is that if life survives after death, there can be no interpretation other than a religious one. o Relate to the bounties of God as if they were created specially for you. Cherish the personal benefits you derive from them. This will inculcate enormous gratitude to God.