Numerous books have delved into the subject. Various films have depicted the boundless potential. And religions have been established to offer definitive explanations. Yet the inquiry still lingers: does life continue after death? According to a scientist, the answer is an unequivocal “No.” So why do we keep referring t the ‘afterlife’?
Sean Carroll, a cosmologist and physics professor at the California Institute of Technology, has asserted that life after death is ‘impossible.’ According to him, human consciousness is not separate from our physical bodies, and no scientific evidence suggests that consciousness can exist outside the human body.
His argument on the afterlife does hold logic
Carroll argues that the laws of physics that govern everyday life are well-understood and do not permit for any information stored in our brains to persist after we die. Carroll said: “The laws of physics underlying everyday life are completely understood.”
He cites Quantum Field Theory as proof of no afterlife, as quantum tests have discovered no ‘spirit’ particles. Thus indicating that there is no existence beyond death. Dr. Carroll continued. “Claims that some form of consciousness persists after our bodies die and decay into their constituent atoms face one huge, insuperable obstacle.”
“And there’s no way within those laws to allow for the information stored in our brains to persist after we die.” Although this may be disappointing to many believers, some people have claimed to have had near-death experiences, which could be seen as evidence of life after death.
An Atheist weighs in on it all
An individual who identified as a ‘true atheist’ reported a profound shift in his perspective on life and death after having a near-death experience. Jose Hernandez apparently stopped breathing during a medical emergency and claims to have seen spirits. Ultimately reuniting with his deceased father in Heaven. Hernandez said. “When I met my dad on the other side, I realized that sometimes we may not be able to say something here. [But] we’re gonna be able to say it somewhere else.”
Another individual asserted that he had experienced death for a period of twenty minutes. During which he was transported to a field of magnetic flowers. Scott Drummond said: “And I just remember looking and seeing how beautiful the flowers were.”
“Something that I really enjoy is yard work and gardening and I just remembered the vivid colors were magnificent. The next thing I knew the person that had escorted me there was not there anymore and I was by myself. But it was so peaceful.”