Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

Carol’s Corner

November 16, 2007

The Afterworld – Part 11 – Reflecting Upon Death

Carol Roach

This section will look at how many of us in this world believe that even though death is a part of life, it is merely the end of our life on this earth. There is an afterlife where our souls will spend eternity.

There are references to an afterworld in mythology. For example in Greek mythology Hades was the god of the underworld. It is said that the dead must pass through the river of Styx to get to Hades. In the Styxian Marsh, there is also the river of Woe (Acheron) the river of fire (Pyriphlegethon) and the river of wailing (Cocytus). Some say all souls passed through the river of Tartarus to the realm of pure darkness. Whereas Tartarus is the realm of pure darkness, Elysium, is where all is good. Elysium fields contain beautiful lush valleys, light, song, laughter, and happiness. Gaia, or Mother Earth, was said to be the personification of the Heavens. Zeus or Jupiter was the ruler of Heaven.

Valhalla is the eternal resting place of the Norse (Viking) warriors. It is a reward for the fierce and loyal warrior after his or her passing from this world. These warriors were chosen by the God Odin to enter Valhalla. In Norse mythology there is a hell or Hel, named after the Queen of the underworld and of course unworthy warriors will go there after death. The Norse Hel is opposite to what we know hell to be. It is cold and barren and icy.

I was curious about the Norse portrayal of existence after death. What struck me was the fact that no mention was made of women and children and what became of them when they died. This society obviously was centered on warriors, but what of those who were not? The only reference I could come up with was that the goddess Frigg was the Queen of the Gods, wife of Odin, and the protector of humanity. Her concern was especially for women and children.

Could it be that there was no heaven for women and children? Were they generally devalued by this society or was everyone born to be a warrior? Everyone being born a warrior would only make partial sense to me. I would still question what happened to those that were disabled from birth, or did community occupations, tending the herds, making clothes, animal husbandry etc. Perhaps there is not enough old text in existence that explains the religious believes of this ancient mythology or perhaps one would have to do extensive research in university archives to find it.

Another thing I found fascinating about this culture was their description of Hell; totally the opposite to the Christian and Middle Eastern tradition. Where we have a fire and brimstone concept, they have one of cold and ice. My son came up with the hypothesis that to man, depending upon culture, hell would be the most terrible place you could think of. In the Middle East where you had to battle the heat on a constant basis more heat would be overwhelming. In the cold Viking terrain, more ice, cold, and desolation would be the ultimate hell.

Now looking at Eastern and Middle Eastern traditions we find that in Ancient Egypt, when a person passed away, the Ka or body double, which is a part of the soul, entered the Kingdom of the Dead, and resided in the field of Yalu. It was extremely difficult to reach this place and once there, the souls had to contend with Osiris, a strict and demanding master. First the corpse had to be mummified to begin the journey to the afterworld, and then the soul and heart had to pass rigorous tests to entry the kingdom. The soul had to recite incantations and spells from the Book of The Dead, and the heart of the deceased not only had to be good, but also lighter than a feather to pass the test. In the African traditions the soul-life is transported to the afterlife upon death. But it does not necessarily mean the soul-life lasts forever. In the case of little children, the weak minded or insignificant people, the soul-life might wither and die. Those departed who had a strong personality in life may experience many generations of soul-life. Evil souls of witches, sorcerers, etc may also live on for many generations as well to taunt the living. The oldest of traditions state that the afterworld as such is located in the deepest forests of African, hidden away from mortal man.

“The Yoruba (Nigeria) believe that each person has at least three spiritual beings. Firstly there is the spirit, emi, literally 'breath', which resides in the lungs and heart and is fed by the wind through the nostrils, just as the fire is fed through the twin openings in the blacksmith's bellows. This emi is the vital force which makes a man live, that is, breathe, rise up, walk, be aware, be active, work, speak, see, hear and make love. There is also the shadow or shade, ojiji, which follows its owner like a dog. When he dies, it awaits his return in heaven. The third is the eleda 'spirit' or ori 'head', also translated as 'guardian soul'; from time to time it has to be 'fed' by sacrifices. At death these spiritual aspects of a person leave the body and wait for him or her in heaven.”

http://www.a-gallery.de/docs/mythology.htm

This particular site has much interesting information too numerous to mention in this article. I am also quite certain that George Waters Ojeigbe, our long standing writer from Nigeria for Storytime Tapestry can elaborate on these points as well.

In Hinduism, the Atman (soul), reaches the state of Mokska, after it has gone through several incarnations. The atman is then connected to the creator, Brahman. For Buddhists, the ultimate reality is nirvana, a state of bliss, which is attained once all lessons of life have been learned; and all stages of reincarnation have been met. It is also the state of pure knowledge and immortality. 

In Zoroastrianism, according to their sacred writings of the Pahlavi or Pahlevi texts, in the Dadestan-i Denig ("Religious Decisions"), like Christianity, the soul must face judgment day. Depending on the judgment, the soul then may go onto heaven, or hell. The soul may also go to a third place called hamistagan. Hamistagan is a place where the departed is said to have done an equal amount of good and bad deeds. It is similar to the Roman Catholic concept of limbo, but it is not a place of punishment or eternal exile. The soul would still be judged and eventually sent on to heaven or hell. In Zoroastrian belief, paradise will descend to earth in the last days. When I studied this religion in a major religions of the world class in university, I found a striking resemblance to the teachings of Christianity. In bible times the ancient Jews believed that after death the soul entered a place similar to the Christian concept of hell called “sheol”. According to some texts it is the place where the dead congregate regardless of whether or not they were good or bad people in their former life. It was said to be a barren horrible place. Other texts refer to it as Gehennah, the place for the wicked, where they experience “the fires of gehennom” or the fires of hell as the Christians see it. The opposite place, the place for the good souls, is called “gen eiden”, the garden of Eden, or Paradise.

The Talmud makes reference that the Olam Ha-Ba, the world to come, and states it is like the Shabat and all must prepare for it. The Pharisees found reference of the world to come (Olam Ha-Ba), in the Torah and though there are many different interpretations of whether or not this is the final resting place, or temporary realm before the issuance of the messianic age (return of the messiah) the concept can be said to be similar to the Christian concept of heaven.

Muslims too believe in eternal paradise with Allah. Pious Muslims follow the teachings of the Qu’ran and practice the 5 pillars of Islam: Declaration of Faith, Praying to Allah, Zakat in the Name of Allah, Fasting in the Month of Ramadan, and Pilgrimage to Mecca. If they have not fulfilled what is required, they will also end in a place called hell.

Christians believe in the afterworld and the reuniting with God once our earthly bodies have expired. Heaven is our final destination for all good Christians, while hell is for those that were evil people or non-believers.

Much more could be said for all these religions but that would be left for another paper at another time. Suffice to say that most of these religions of the world, believe in God, an afterlife and an eternal soul.

to be continued

 
Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

Check out her newest book,

Angels Watching Over Me. http://www.lulu.com/content/964306