transcendence

Perhaps the most pervasive doctrine among all the world's religions is that of transcendence. This is also an assertion that is by its very nature unavailable for direct inspection. The lack of evidence to the contrary is in no way vindication of the premise. When a Human Being or any other living thing dies, its metabolism stops and it ceases to be alive. Human Beings find other explanations to death that are an integral part of any religious system. Whether it is reincarnation, transformation, or ascendancy, religious beliefs assert that what we are able to perceive of the physical Universe is only a small part of our existence on this planet. Most religions base the results of transcendence on the behavior of Human Beings before death. Most positive afterlife experiences occur as the result of pre-death compliance with the rules of behavior dictated by religious doctrine. Like the religious tenets of creation, most people are brought up with the notion of life after death. With no evidence to support the notion, this belief is still considered valid. Without some concept of transcendence religious philosophy can become indistinguishable from secular philosophy.The concept of transcendence is accompanied by the rules of behavior necessary in order to produce a positive experience in the purported existence after death. There is also the promise of a negative transcendence when the religious doctrines are not followed. This concept is very useful in controlling the behavior of a large number of people for whom justice is not a reality in their own experience.