WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER DEATH?

 WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER DEATH?

I was presented a little book recently,

written by my friend Samson Gunathilaka in Kurunegala.

Samson is a retired science teacher and now a science writer. Like I, he too is a free-thinker. He wrote a book containing biographical details about me and a selection of my letters titled ‘A Free-Thinker Addresses You’ in Sinhalese. He is also a member of the Children’s Literary Circle that was formed to encourage young people to think rationally, based on data and evidence, and removed from faith and belief.

So far, six books have been written titled,

1. I Will Not Let Go!

2. How Did We Learn About Pacifism?

3. Let us Discuss Religions

4. How Did We Learn About Nations and Nationalism?

5. Will Humanity Become Extinct?

6. How the World Got Divided into Rich and Poor?

The seventh book titled ‘How Wonderful is The Truth!’ is being prepared for the printer.

In this little book under review, Samson picks up the challenge to answer the vexed question ‘What Will Happen After Death?’, scientifically and historically.

We all are familiar with the various religious and even philosophical explanations dished out. Briefly, while religions maintain that humans are a special creation imbued with a soul, which is eternal and hence continues after death, some philosophies come up with a ‘unified theory’ that links humans with the rest of the animal kingdom and thus all ‘animals’ continue after death by a process of rebirth, re-becoming, re-incarnation and the like.

Yet, none of them wishes to link this process with all living things such as trees and plant life!

Samson argues succinctly that this is due to the ignorance, at the time of the birth of these beliefs and philosophies, of how life evolved on this planet. The origin of life was common to all living things - animals, and plants. Indeed, life as we understand it first started in bacteria and then in plant life out of which evolved animals and lastly humans. Hence all of us – plants and animals are all related. We are all distant cousins and none of us has any ability to continue after death!

It is eloquently argued and the assertions are corroborated with data and evidence as should be expected from a free-thinking science writer.

Due to the terminology which invariably had to be used, it would be more easily understood by young people (and old!) who are a bit versed in scientific terminology. Yet, I exhort all to have a go at it.

It would also be a good idea to get the book translated into Tamil and English.

Congratulations my friend Samson for a job well done!

Ranjan Fernando
08 - June - 2021