I stumbled upon an essay I wrote for my Anthropology class a few years ago. We were asked to write an epitaph and a few paragraphs on the afterlife. I wrote it knowing that my professor and most of my classmates were not Christians, and mocked Christianity enthusiastically. Here it is:
Obituary:
Mrs. Wendy M. Wason, 82, died on Monday after suffering a heat stroke. She had been gleefully chasing children out of the yard of her humble mansion when she suddenly expired. She is survived by her husband, 84, who stayed inside, and her 15 children and 22 grandchildren. Funeral proceedings will take place on Thursday for any that would like to attend.
Epitaph:
Wendy Marie Wason
October 1982 – July 2065
“You kids better not be playing near my gravestone!”
Knowing that death is imminent, how should we live? Above I joked about dying a grumpy old lady who had a heat stroke as she ridded her yard of neighborhood children, but in truth I would want to be a kind old lady who would be remembered for her generosity and faith rather than a heat stroke and fifteen children. Simple as I may sound, I believe that there is an afterlife, a heaven, a hell, and an all-knowing God. So for me, living knowing that I will die means striving to live a life in which I am helpful and loving to my family and those around me, giving what I can to improve the lives of others, and trying to improve my own traits and do as the Bible teaches. However, if one believes there is no God, then “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” If this is all that there is, and if there is no afterlife, then what a waste it would be to not enjoy the only heaven that is afforded to us.
So what happens afterward? Though it may sound simple, I believe that all souls go on living eternally, whether in heaven or hell. In heaven, souls will be reunited with their creator and enjoy fellowship with him in a place that has no death or sadness, a place that really I can’t imagine.
But then on the other side there is the theory that perhaps man created god, forgot he did it, then started allowing god to rule him. What a dirty trick man played on himself, then. In some ways, man would be better from the rules instituted by religion. Do not glutton, be a drunkard, murder, or steal. Those rules obviously improve the health and well-being of those who follow them. With rules such as “do not lie,” it’s a little less obvious to see the benefits. We all know the worn-out phrase, “nice guys finish last.” There are quite a few instances when having no conscience and feeling no regret can put a person far ahead of others in this life.
Obituary:
Mrs. Wendy M. Wason, 82, died on Monday after suffering a heat stroke. She had been gleefully chasing children out of the yard of her humble mansion when she suddenly expired. She is survived by her husband, 84, who stayed inside, and her 15 children and 22 grandchildren. Funeral proceedings will take place on Thursday for any that would like to attend.
Epitaph:
Wendy Marie Wason
October 1982 – July 2065
“You kids better not be playing near my gravestone!”
Knowing that death is imminent, how should we live? Above I joked about dying a grumpy old lady who had a heat stroke as she ridded her yard of neighborhood children, but in truth I would want to be a kind old lady who would be remembered for her generosity and faith rather than a heat stroke and fifteen children. Simple as I may sound, I believe that there is an afterlife, a heaven, a hell, and an all-knowing God. So for me, living knowing that I will die means striving to live a life in which I am helpful and loving to my family and those around me, giving what I can to improve the lives of others, and trying to improve my own traits and do as the Bible teaches. However, if one believes there is no God, then “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” If this is all that there is, and if there is no afterlife, then what a waste it would be to not enjoy the only heaven that is afforded to us.
So what happens afterward? Though it may sound simple, I believe that all souls go on living eternally, whether in heaven or hell. In heaven, souls will be reunited with their creator and enjoy fellowship with him in a place that has no death or sadness, a place that really I can’t imagine.
But then on the other side there is the theory that perhaps man created god, forgot he did it, then started allowing god to rule him. What a dirty trick man played on himself, then. In some ways, man would be better from the rules instituted by religion. Do not glutton, be a drunkard, murder, or steal. Those rules obviously improve the health and well-being of those who follow them. With rules such as “do not lie,” it’s a little less obvious to see the benefits. We all know the worn-out phrase, “nice guys finish last.” There are quite a few instances when having no conscience and feeling no regret can put a person far ahead of others in this life.
