After Here
A few weeks ago, we saw the Clint Eastwood directed film, Hereafter. The film received less than sterling reviews but several reviewers went out of their way to congratulate Eastwood for undertaking a film about such a difficult subject. During the course of the film, we get a glimpse of where we’re all headed through the murky Near-Death Experience (NDE) of journalist Marie LeLay (Cécile De France) which looks, by the way, more like a haunted house than anyplace I’d care to end up. We get evidence of an afterlife through the eyes of medium, George Lonegan (Matt Damon) as he reluctantly contacts those who have already passed over. Eventually, we meet the director of a hospice in Switzerland who has become convinced of the
existence of a hereafter by hearing of hundreds of amazingly similar NDEs from her patients. Finally, Marcus, who’s spent the entire film mourning the death of his brother, Jason, contacts him through George Lonegan and is told that, The afterlife is more wonderful than you can imagine. As Porky Pig would have said, That’s all, folks!
Now, I really didn’t expect Clint Eastwood to provide earth-shattering insights about the afterlife but I expected something more challenging than warmed-over NDE theories and refried occult speculation. As much as I’ve wanted to believe that the similarities in Near Death Experiences prove that there is a hereafter, the scientist in me can just as easily see them as final images produced by a dying human brain. And while I don’t dismiss the possibility that mediums who communicate with the dead exist, there are other explanations … from deception to mind-reading … that I find easier to accept. I also found Hereafter‘s obvious effort to remain completely secular somewhat strained … after all, as I recall, many NDEs have involved angels or a sense of God, even Jesus. It reminded me of the way the movie, Contact, attempted to explore faith using extraterrestrial aliens instead of God.
I suppose I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t long for proof of a hereafter, especially one that’s more wonderful than I can imagine but I don’t expect it to be forthcoming. I can look at the wonder of the universe and find compelling evidence that a creative Higher Power exists, although the next step … to belief … is still a choice. The notion that this Higher Power created an eternal afterlife just for our peculiar species is a bigger step. If I was created to accept dogma … the Bible says it, so I believe it … as fact, then I’d have my proof. But then I’d have to believe that my God created millions of people that are destined for hell just because they followed their spiritual hearts on a different course. No thank you. So, I make the choice to believe with some support from what my heart tells me. Am I just one more delusional human? Maybe … but I don’t think so.
Where do you stand on what comes After Here?
Tags: afterlife, death, feeling older, hereafter, Life, movies, perspectives, religion, spirituality
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
November 27, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I grew up Catholic and learned to believe that there is a heaven only for Christians and a hell for those who choose not to follow those beliefs. It took me a long time to begin to question the simplicity of those beliefs. I guess that leaves me feeling unsure as to what exactly to expect in the afterlife, but I do still believe that leading a good and honest life will make it easier to get there.
November 27, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I grew up Catholic, too, although I gave it up in college. While I don’t know how it works, I do believe that a good life makes things easier.