Secular Eschatology: Beliefs about Afterlife

TLDR

The afterlife concept evolved from ancient Shamanism, religious scriptures, and secular philosophies such as positivism and humanitarianism. The study surveyed 270 healthcare workers and 414 university students, then performed post‑hoc analyses across gender, race, and religious affiliation. Most participants (85.1%) hoped for an afterlife, 53.3% believed in a specific afterlife, 29.5% believed in reincarnation, 13.6% endorsed extinctionist or secular‑religious views, and 10.2% believed everyone would attain heaven.

Abstract

The development of the concept of afterlife was traced through examination of extinctionism, existentialism, pre-historic Shamanism, the Hebrew Torah, the Judeo-Christian Bible, the Qur'an of Islam, Eastern religious and philosophical systems regarding reincarnation, pluralistic death, and secular alternatives of positivism and humanitarianism. Beliefs about afterlife were investigated for 270 healthcare workers and 414 university students. The extinctionist view was endorsed by 13.6 percent. The predominant view of 85.1 percent was a hope for an afterlife. Belief in a specific type of afterlife was acknowledged by 53.3 percent. Belief in reincarnation was indicated by 29.5 percent. The belief system of 13.6 percent was based on traditional religious concepts modified by secular influences about eternal life and resurrection into heaven or hell, depending on our earthly deeds. An additional 10.2 percent believed that we will all obtain heaven. Detailed post-hoc analyses by gender, race, and the religious identification categories of Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jew, and agnostic are reported.