the end of a funeral service.
Three Primary Views
Let’s begin by keeping things simple. First
of all, there are three primary viewpoints about
death under which most other theories fall.
You’re Dead and That’s It - The first is quite
popular – though utterly dismal – and is being
promoted by those who believe that all reality
can ultimately be reduced to what science
alone can explain. Based on their “what you
see is what you get” dogma, they assume death
is the end. Period. We die, rot in the ground,
become food for worms, and that’s it. You’re a
goner forever.
The Immortal Soul - This second view,
which is the most common, teaches that when
we die, only the body decomposes, while the
Higher Self, or “soul,” journeys on, much like
a snake shedding its skin. Of course different
religions often disagree with each other about
where souls go after death, but the basic idea of
“soul survival” is shared by most.
Mortal Souls and the Resurrection - The
final view argues that the word “soul” refers
to the entire person, and not to some distinct
immortal aspect that survives after the physical