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Friday, April 1, 2016

A is for Afterlife

My theme for this year's A- Z Blogfest is DEATH (who I really hope is like DEATH in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series). He is described as "An obvious sort of fellow: tall, thin (skeletal, as a matter of fact), and ALWAYS SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Generally shows up when you're dead, or just when he thinks you ought to be. Not a bad chap when you get to know him (and sooner or later, everyone gets to know him)." Today we begin with the letter A for Afterlife.



I think we're all hoping for some kind of Afterlife when all is said and done. I mean, it's really going to suck if there's just nothing. I for one will be hugely disappointed. As I mentioned in my theme reveal, I really hope Death is like Terry Pratchett's DEATH in the Discworld series. He is a skeleton in a robe with a scythe who speaks in CAPITAL LETTERS and comes to collect you once you're dead and take you...somewhere. That would be okay. Knowing you were going somewhere after. Of course, if you hadn't been a very nice person then knowing you were going somewhere might not look so attractive, if you know what I mean. Or maybe the afterlife resembles What Dreams May Come, which was both a book, and a movie with Robin Williams. I liked the afterlife depicted in that story. My fear of course is that we have all collectively made up this idea of an afterlife because of our fear of death, which means there is nothing. We die and that's it. No afterlife, no angels, no reincarnation, nada. That's a pretty hard thing to believe in, or maybe it's just a hard thing to accept.


Do you believe in an afterlife? Any clue at all what it looks like?


Excerpt from Mort, by Terry Pratchett, in which DEATH takes on an apprentice...

DEATH [to Lezek, Mort's father): I WAS OFFERING YOUR BOY A POSITION. I TRUST THAT MEETS WITH YOUR APPROVAL?

Lezek: What was your job again?

DEATH: I USHER SOULS INTO THE NEXT WORLD.

Lezek: Ah, of course, sorry, should have guessed from the clothes. Very necessary work, very steady. Established business?

DEATH: I HAVE BEEN GOING FOR SOME TIME.

27 comments:

  1. Yes, death is the great unknown. Much as we try to envision what's on the other side, we don't know. I'm not sure I believe in an afterlife, but I don't think our spirit totally disappears.

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  2. Maybe he'll be like Death in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey?
    Of course I believe in the afterlife, in Heaven! Sad those who don't. For them, this world is as good as it gets. For those who believe, this world is the worst it gets.

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  3. "Ah, of course, sorry, should have guessed from the clothes." <---Haha!

    I honestly don't know what I believe.

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  4. Described to me by someone who might know, "like the clothing you shed daily, your body is just a shell..."

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  5. So..I love Sir Terry. I don't remember reading about DEATH but then I've only read a couple of his books; although the description of DEATH reminds me of the book he wrote with Neil Gaiman. which of course i'm drawing a blank on the title.

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  6. I haven't read this series, but now I really want to. That is some funny stuff. :)

    Did you watch the TV show DEAD LIKE ME? If not, I think you'd like it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM3BTBuevmw

    I do believe in an afterlife. Energy doesn't die. It changes shape, but it doesn't just die.

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  7. What a thought provoking post. I'm sure hoping there is an after-life. Have a great weekend.

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  8. I believe in an afterlife. And I believe in guardian angels. My personal opinion is they are the ones who transfer us from the mortal to a place of "...a sweet fragrance...the sound of singing..." And "...the grey rain-curtains turned all to silver glass and was rolled back..." to behold "...a far green country under a swift sunrise..."
    That is my belief.

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  9. I do believe in the Christian teaching afterlife----I remember that robin Williams movie---very disturbing to me---great a post

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  10. I do believe. I also see heaven and hell on earth-too.

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  11. As a Christian I believe in the afterlife, but if I'm totally honest.... I hope there is nothing. The idea of anything after this just makes me feel really tired. :/

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  12. I'm coming round to the idea that when you die it's like a light being turned off and then nothing!

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  13. I'm a Christian so I do believe in an afterlife. How do people deal with the loss of loved ones if they don't? I like 'Death' as he appeared on Supernatural.

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  14. I love that exchange between Death and Lezek. How brave we are to find humor in Death and our possible new employment opportunities.

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  15. I think I believe in an afterlife but I'm not sure if I really do or if I've just convinced myself of it because I want it to be so. I hope this isn't all there is. I want to see loved ones again when I die.

    Your theme is sure to be one of the more interesting ones this month. Looking forward to your posts!

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  16. I believe in Heaven and Hell, so I guess, yes, I believe in an afterlife.

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  17. I cannot believe there is simply nothing. As for fear of death, I'm mostly looking forward to a new adventure and hope I didn't screw up this life too badly for it to be a favorable destination. :) We shall see, eh? I look forward to reading more.

    I’m on the A to Z Challenge list at #1340 today. Best wishes! - Darla M. Sands
    Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen

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  18. Hm. Maybe Death looks like Brad Pitt? Ala Meet Joe Black?

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  19. Oooh. The second A-Z I have come across with death as a theme.
    I too hope that Sir Terry's DEATH is the one I will meet. I will be happy with no afterlife though. One life is enough.

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  20. Greetings Blog Challenge neighbor! What a gret theme.

    No. I don't believe in an afterlife. When we are dead we are dead and that is it.

    Looking forward to seeing what you post all month.

    Tim
    --
    Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
    2015 A to Z of Adventure!
    http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

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  21. I definitely believe in the afterlife. Looking forward to what you'll be sharing.

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  22. Maybe there is an afterlife because we believe in it. We've collectively created it, so it will have to show up. Perhaps...

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  23. Sure I do. And I believe we will enter through a wormhole one way or the other.

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  24. What an interesting theme for the challenge! I look forward to reading more of your posts.

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  25. I lean more towards reincarnation than afterlife. I just want to keep doing this over and over and over, bruises and all! <3 your 1st post. :)
    @niicki from OfftheBeatenPlan.com & IVEYbooks.com

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  26. Great post! I also love the afterlife idea depicted in What Dreams May Come :)
    Have a great weekend!
    Lori

    My A2Zs @ As the Fates Would Have It & Promptly Written
    Follow Me (Ravyne) Twitter|Facebook

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