Humanity as a whole, holds itself as a superior species from all other life on the planet; existing to rule over the world or at least possessing of some aspect that separates them from the rest of nature. Not many people, however, have thought of, let alone defined, what supposedly exalts humans.

Internal existing conditions between animals and humans are varied to a degree but all the major components and structuring is similar. We are all carbon based, all cells need a constant intake of water and nutrients to sustain life. This applies for dogs, cats, fish, fungus, and humans. This is because Humans ARE Animals! Not only are humans animals, but the properties expressed within plants also crusade numerous corners of the human DNA structure.

Biologically, little separates humans from other organic organisms. So, again, what would elevate human above a common natural pattern? Certainly, humans are a more complicated species than any other on the planet. Our social structure is much more complex than that of apes and most definitely more complex than that of mushrooms. But does our social station correspond into the astral plane also? Most likely not, and if it does it would not, in any case, affect the astral laws that govern that plane.

In earthly relations, there is an obvious shift in social structuring (and therefore social programming) when comparing "primitive" and "civilized" societies. The connotations of "primitive" imply animalistic, barbaric, uncultured, and inferior. Not surprisingly, however, "primitive" cultures do not attempt to exalt themselves above nature, nor do they hold much fear for death. Modern "civilization," on the other hand, fights to control the environment he exists in. This is largely due to the Judeo-Christian motion that mankind exists to rule the world.

Genisis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

One universal aspect that we my never be able to control is Death. For centuries society's medical institutions have struggled to produce now ways to "cheat" death; curing disease, health enhancement drugs, bionic/technological alterations, stasis systems -- the list is indefinitely long!

One aspect that man does possess is a heightened ability to reason. This capability, however, seems to be suspended when faced with Why their beliefs exist. This reaction goes for any question that cannot be materially answered, and therefore most often theology. Confronted with "why?", many answered "I don't know," "Just because" or something similar.

While people think differently at times, the inherent thought process is constant throughout (the fringe exceptions may be the insane). We come to our beliefs and ideas via two routes:
A) We figure them out by comparing one or more aspects of our environment to ourselves or another aspect.
Or
B) We gain it through implanting, meaning those figures in our lives who are most influential (usually parents) instill the "truth" in us and it goes unquestioned being there from such a young age. (Even this is indirectly part of "A" -- their parents went through "A" or their parents parents and so forth.)

Again, reason (as in "A") is usually suspended when confronted with questions that "cannot" be answered. Why this is escapes me. Perhaps some think that because Death does act as a "ruler" of the material world, it cannot be reasoned?

The Judeo-Christian institution has played a strong role in society's view of Death, creating the concept of Heaven and Hell. Somewhere along the line, a person or group of people observed human reactions toward death was fearful; humans, by their very nature, fear what they do not know and what barrier is more foreboding than Death?

The institution soon developed: "God speaks through me, should you do what I say, you will go live in paradise in the afterlife! Go against my words and you will burn for eternity in the horrors of Hell!" Quite a persuasive motivator!

This institution piled fear on top of fear, rendering an extremely efficient and effective social mechanism for controlling the populous.

Humans, by nature, also don't react well to fear. When they feel cornered (and fear invariably makes you feel trapped) there are two reactionary methods: "Fight or Flight." "Flight" is negated here, Death is something none of us can escape from by running. Death is a static time phenomenon and to escape it with speed would imply leaving our body behind; not completely possible until Death. Therefore, we are faced with the "Fight" reaction. The only recourse is to attempt to invent new and improved ways to postpone death in hopes of eventually beating it!

A very majority of the world agrees that we are more than material water sacks temporarily occupying our space in the universe and then decaying into oblivion. We also possess a supermaterial part that is the center of our being, extending beyond the limited capabilities of our human incarnation form.

When our body dies, it decays and continues to cycle through just as all natural materials are cyclic. The rain recycles, carbon recycles, humans have even started to help with recycling (one of the few things we do as a community to help the planet we are destroying.) Not a single natural aspect have scientists been able to find that does not have some sort of cycle, extended or quick.

Our souls, or spirits, or whatever term you would like to use, are also natural though most definitely supermaterial. What then should imply that our souls also do not transverse a cycle of some sort?

Furthermore, even our spirits are relative creatures of energy. Experiments by occultists have shown that spirits and other astral beings react to electromagnetic impulses, such as electricity. (Off topic warning: If you are ever traveling via astral projection or something similar, stay away from power lines, high tension wires and generators! They Will Harm You!) This identification of our spiritual self as being of some type of electromagnetic manifestation further supports the cyclic theory. Energy forms cannot be created or destroyed, but can be transferred form one form to another (Welcome to Chem 101 *smile*). Your car engine, for example, changes the chemical potential energy of gas into the mechanical energy that propels the vehicle, and some of the energy is lost to useless heat during conversion. None of the energy, however, is wasted and none of it vanishes; it continues to another form.

Does this negate the theory of Heaven or Hell? Absolutely not. Science has yet to prove if astral planes or entities are affect by the laws that govern the material world as well. Through the electromagnetic correlation, however, we can see that the physical plane and the astral plane do exist at a common level and then presumably separate at the more complex levels.

What now becomes more feasible is the theory of reincarnation. A cycle of life to death to life, and never a termination. Again, this does not dismiss the concept of Heaven or Hell, but does dismiss the concept of those being terminating points of our journey. It is not unreasonable to see these astral places as "rest stops," a place to reward or punish a soul for a time and then send them back to continue their cycle. Summerland, though few would like to admit it, is a very close mirror to Heaven and Hell, except the punishment or reward is determined by the spirits own judgement of itself (a rendition from some traditions, it varies in degrees between all traditions.)

The consequence of Judgement is for the most part, unanswerable. Who judges what happens to us? God? The God and Goddess? We judge ourselves? No one? Perhaps it does indeed depend on the religious path you choose, and the task falls upon the deity of your path.

Regardless of who truly judges us, if anyone does, a large number of people take it upon themselves to judge where a person has travelled to after death. This is not from the theological sense, but based rather our opinion of the person who has passed on. The majority of the sample that filled out the survey believed that their loved ones always continue on to a better place. Contrary to that, more than half of the surveys reported that when considering someone they don't know, they do not automatically assume the individual has proceeded to a more pleasant domain.

Presumably, few believe they are actually capable of being the judge of another's spirit. Therefore, the prejudgment would be more of a personal psycological comfort than an active attempt to delineate the course of the deceased person's spirit. To assume that a loved one has gone to an unpleasant place, such as Hell, would only further the emotional shock. Quite possibly such an additional shock could produce traumatic effects; insanity, suicidal tendencies, or any number of other conditions.

On a closer look, does our perception of Death affect our everyday lives, or do we only take it into account when we are faced with the loss of someone we know? Survey Two will possibly help us to clear that up.

Blessings,
~Markus