🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 45 (from laksa157)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa045.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/after-life\/","crawl_time":1774150169,"first_indexed_time":1751723983,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"edu,usc!dornsife,\/magazine\/after-life\/ s443","src_root_hash":"12668707807077137445","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"After Life: What Happens After We Die?","meta_descriptions":["","USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.\nJune 18, 2025\nJust as ancient cultures created stories to explain the origins of the universe, the mystery of death has inspired diverse beliefs about what — if anything — comes next.\nFor some, death means the complete cessation of consciousness. For others, it’s a doorway to another realm. Visions of the afterlife vary widely. Traditional Christian doctrine holds that a person’s deeds on Earth determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. In contrast, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation — a continuous cycle of rebirth among different life worlds of heaven, human, animals, ghosts and hell.\nYet, even Buddhists disagree about the exact nature of reincarnation. Mainstream Buddhist traditions teach that mean-spirited people are reborn as\npretas,\nor “hungry ghosts” — a karmic retribution for misdeeds in a past life. While most Buddhist traditions acknowledge the concept of reincarnation, the question of who or what is being reborn remains highly contested. Many Buddhist schools reject the notion that reincarnation is tied to a distinct soul. “These monks say that rebirth is simply the continuation of existence but without the transmigration of individual identity,” says\nJessica Zu\n, assistant professor of\nreligion\nand\nEast Asian languages and cultures\n.\nReligious teachings on the afterlife have evolved — sometimes dramatically. During the Reformation, for example, the Church of England rejected the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a temporary place of suffering where impure souls are cleansed of sin before ascending to heaven.\nThis shift disrupted long-held Christian ideas around death and generated much anxiety for Elizabethan England, says\nThea Tomaini\n, professor (teaching) of\nEnglish\n. The era’s unease is reflected in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, when he wonders, “What dreams may come \/ When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.”\nThe human longing to transcend mortality continues to reveal itself in our enduring attraction to the illusion of eternal life. In the 20th century, cryonics promised bodily revival once technology caught up to the vision. Today, artificial intelligence fuels dreams of a transhumanist “cyber forever,” where consciousness is uploaded to the cloud for perpetual existence, says\nTok Thompson\n, professor (teaching) of\nanthropology\n.\nAnd yet, freezers fail. Computers crash. Hamlet’s “undiscovered country” may still await us all.\n—M.C.\nUSC Dornsife Magazine\nSpring \/ Summer 2025\nThe Life Issue\nBack to Issue","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to Content](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/after-life\/#main-content)\n\nOpen Site Navigation \/ Menu\n\nSearch\n\n## What are you looking for?\n### Suggested Search\n[Commencement](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/commencement\/)\n\n- [News and Events](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/)\n- [Public Exchange](https:\/\/publicexchange.usc.edu\/)\n- Info For\n  - [Current Students](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/info-for-students\/)\n  - [Faculty](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/info-for-faculty\/)\n  - [Staff](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/info-for-staff\/)\n- Directories\n  - [Faculty Directory](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-faculty\/)\n  - [Staff Directory](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-staff\/)\n- [Alumni](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/dornsife-alumni\/)\n- [Giving](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/giving\/)\n\n[USC.edu](https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/)\n\n- The Dornsife Difference\n  Back\n  \n  - [The Academy in the Public Square](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/the-academy-in-the-public-square\/)\n    Beyond the laboratories, research centers and classrooms, USC Dornsife serves as a dynamic intellectual resource that is woven into the fabric of our communities.\n  - [Life in L.A.](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/life-in-la\/)\n  - [Our Students](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-students\/)\n- About Us\n  Back\n  \n  - [Our Leadership](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-leadership\/)\n  - [Dornsife at a Glance](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/about-us\/)\n  - [Dana and David Dornsife](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/dana-and-david-dornsife\/)\n- Research\n  Back\n  \n  - [The Future of Scholarship](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/the-future-of-scholarship\/)\n    Back\n    \n    - [Faculty Awards & Honors](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/faculty-awards-honors\/)\n    - [News Briefs](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/research-briefs\/)\n  - [Research Centers and Institutes](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/centers-and-institutes\/)\n  - [Signature Research Initiatives](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/after-life\/)\n    Back\n    \n    - [Harnessing AI for Good](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/harnessing-artificial-intelligence-for-good\/)\n    - [Emerging Areas of Scholarship](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/thinking-ahead-emerging-areas-of-scholarship\/)\n    - [Quantum Information Science](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/quantum-information-science\/)\n    - [The Art + Science of Human Wellbeing](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/art-science-human-well-being\/)\n    - [Sustainability: Human Factors](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/sustainability\/)\n    - [Public Exchange](https:\/\/publicexchange.usc.edu\/)\n  - [Facilities](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/facilities\/)\n- Undergraduate\n  Back\n  \n  - [Undergraduate Education](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/undergraduate-education\/)\n    Back\n    \n    - [Your Dornsife Degree](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/your-dornsife-degree\/)\n    - [General Education Program](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ge\/)\n    - [Special Programs](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/special-programs\/)\n    - [Undergraduate Research](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/undergraduate-education\/undergraduate-research\/)\n    - [Academic Advising and Support](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/academic-support\/)\n  - [Majors and Minors](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/majors\/)\n  - [Academic Scholarships](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/undergraduate-education\/academic-scholarships\/)\n  - [Learning in the World](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/exl\/)\n  - [Preparing for Your Future](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/preparing-for-your-future\/)\n    Back\n    \n    - [Career Pathways](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/careerpathways\/)\n- Graduate and Professional\n  Back\n  \n  - [PhD Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phd-studies\/)\n    Back\n    \n    - [PhD Programs](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/doctoral-programs\/)\n    - [PhD Academy](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phd-academy\/)\n  - [Master’s & Professional Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/masters-professional-studies\/)\n    Back\n    \n    - [Master’s & Professional Programs](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/masters-professional-programs\/)\n- Admission & Aid\n  Back\n  \n  - [Undergraduate Admission](http:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/admission)\n  - [Graduate Admission](https:\/\/gradadm.usc.edu\/)\n\n- Departments, Centers, & Institutes\n  Back\n  \n  Departments, Centers, & Institutes\n  \n  - Academic Departments\n    Back\n    \n    Academic Departments\n    \n    - HUMANITIES\n    - [American Studies and Ethnicity](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ase\/)\n    - [Archaeology and Heritage Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/arch\/)\n    - [Art History](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ahis\/)\n    - [Classics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/clas\/)\n    - [Comparative Literature](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/colt\/)\n    - [East Asian Languages and Cultures](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ealc\/)\n    - [East Asian Studies Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eascenter)\n    - [English](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/)\n    - [French and Italian](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/fren-ital\/)\n    - [Gender and Sexuality Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/genderstudies\/)\n    - [Jewish Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/jewishstudies\/)\n    - [Latin American and Iberian Cultures](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/latin-american-and-iberian-cultures\/)\n    - [Philosophy](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phil\/)\n    - [Religion](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/religion\/)\n    - [Slavic Languages and Literatures](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/sll\/)\n    - [Writing Program](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/the-writing-program\/)\n    - NATURAL SCIENCES\n    - [Biological Sciences](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bisc\/)\n    - [Chemistry](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/chemistry\/)\n    - [Earth Sciences](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/earth\/)\n    - [Environmental Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/environmental-studies\/)\n    - [Mathematics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mathematics)\n    - [Neuroscience](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/usc-neuroscience\/)\n    - [Physics and Astronomy](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/physics\/)\n    - [Psychology](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/psyc\/)\n    - [Quantitative and Computational Biology](https:\/\/www.qcb-dornsife.usc.edu\/)\n    - SOCIAL SCIENCES\n    - [Anthropology](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/anth\/)\n    - [Economics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/econ\/)\n    - [History](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/hist\/)\n    - [Linguistics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ling\/)\n    - [Middle East Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mdes\/)\n    - [Political Science and International Relations](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/poir)\n    - [Sociology](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/soci\/)\n    - [Spatial Sciences Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/)\n  - Centers & Institutes\n    Back\n    \n    Centers & Institutes\n    \n    - CULTURE & SOCIETY\n    - [Archaeology Research Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/arclab\/)\n    - [Black Studies Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bsc\/)\n    - [Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/casden-institute\/)\n    - [Center for Advanced Genocide Research](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cagr)\n    - [Center for Ethnographic Media Arts](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cema\/)\n    - [Center for Feminist Research](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cfr\/)\n    - [Center for Islamic Thought, Culture and Practice](https:\/\/citcap.usc.edu\/)\n    - [Center for Latinx and Latin American Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/latinx\/)\n    - [Center for Law and Philosophy](https:\/\/lawphilosophy.usc.edu\/)\n    - [Center for Law, History and Culture](https:\/\/gould.usc.edu\/centers\/clhc\/home.htm)\n    - [Center for Religion and Civic Culture](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/)\n    - [Center for the Premodern World](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-the-premodern-world\/)\n    - [Center for Transpacific Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/transpacific-studies)\n    - [Conceptual Foundation of Conflict Project](https:\/\/www.philosophy.academy\/)\n    - [Consortium on Gender, Sexuality & Race in Popular Culture](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/consortium\/)\n    - [East Asian Studies Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eascenter)\n    - [Equity Research Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/eri)\n    - [Francophone Research and Resource Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/francophone-center\/)\n    - [Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/icw)\n    - [Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/iacs\/)\n    - [Institute of Armenian Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/armenian\/)\n    - [Korean Studies Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ksi\/)\n    - [Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/laih\/)\n    - [Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/max-kade\/)\n    - [Mind and Society Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mindandsociety\/)\n    - [Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cjrc\/)\n    - [The West on Fire](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/icw\/west-on-fire\/)\n    - [USC-Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/emsi\/)\n    - GLOBAL SYSTEMS\n    - [Alice, George and Harold Kachigian Center for Active Learning in International Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis)\n    - [Center for Economic and Social Research](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cesr)\n    - [Center for International Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cis\/)\n    - [Center for the Political Future](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/)\n    - [Center on Science, Technology, and Public Life](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/stpl)\n    - [Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing](https:\/\/sites.usc.edu\/ietc\/)\n    - [Spatial Sciences Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/)\n    - [Unruh Institute of Politics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/jesse-m-unruh-institute-of-politics\/)\n    - [USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/wrigley)\n    - LANGUAGE & CREATIVITY\n    - [American Language Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ali)\n    - [Center for Languages and Cultures](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-languages-and-cultures\/)\n    - [Levan Institute for the Humanities](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/levan-institute)\n    - [Visual Studies Research Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/vsri\/)\n    - [Writing Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/writingcenter\/)\n    - LIFE SCIENCES\n    - [Brain and Creativity Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bci\/)\n    - [Bridge Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bridge-at-usc\/)\n    - [Center for Computational Language Sciences](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ccls\/)\n    - [Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ceed\/)\n    - [Center for Music, Brain and Society](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cmbs\/)\n    - [Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cnt3d\/)\n    - [Center for Peptide and Protein Engineering](https:\/\/sites.usc.edu\/cppe\/)\n    - [Center for Self-Report Science](https:\/\/cesr.usc.edu\/css\/mission)\n    - [Center for the Changing Family](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ccf\/)\n    - [Center for Synthetic Living Systems](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/synthetic-biology\/)\n    - [Convergent Science Institute in Cancer](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/kuhn\/)\n    - [Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroimaging Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/brainimaging\/)\n    - [New Microbes For New Beneficial Natural Products](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/after-life\/)\n    - [Psychology Services Center](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/usc-psc)\n    - [Translational Imaging Center](https:\/\/bioimage.usc.edu\/)\n    - [USC Sea Grant](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/uscseagrant\/)\n    - PHYSICAL SCIENCES\n    - [Agilent Center of Excellence in Biomolecular Characterization](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/agilentcoe)\n    - [Center for Applied Mathematical Sciences](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cams\/)\n    - [Center for Quantum Information and Science Technology](http:\/\/cqist.usc.edu\/)\n    - [Center of Excellence in Molecular Characterization](https:\/\/nmrnet.usc.edu\/)\n    - [Center of Excellence in NanoBiophysics](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/nanobiophysicscore\/)\n    - [Core Center of Excellence in Nano Imaging](https:\/\/cni.usc.edu\/)\n    - [Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/loker-hydrocarbon-research-institute\/)\n    - [Statewide California Earthquake Center](http:\/\/www.scec.org\/)\n    - [The Plastics Problem](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/after-life\/)\n    - [The Urban Critical Zone](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/after-life\/)\n  - [Explore All](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/departments\/)\n    Browse all of our departments, programs, centers, and institutes\n\n[USC Dornsife Magazine](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine)\n\nMENU\n\n- [Current Issue](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/family\/)\n- [Past Issues](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/archive\/)\n- [Creative Writing Contest](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/usc-dornsife-magazine-creative-writing-contest\/)\n\n# After Life: What Happens After We Die?\nUSC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.\n\nJune 18, 2025\n\nShare\n\n[Copy Link](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/#copy_link \"Link\")\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/#facebook \"Facebook\")\n\n[X](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/#twitter \"X\")\n\n[LinkedIn](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/#linkedin \"Linkedin\")\n\n[Bluesky](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/#bluesky \"Bluesky\")\n\n[Email](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/#email \"E-mail\")\n\n![A skull in a cloud with rays coming out](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/01_Bang_Sidebar_Afterlife-300x300.jpg)Just as ancient cultures created stories to explain the origins of the universe, the mystery of death has inspired diverse beliefs about what — if anything — comes next.\n\nFor some, death means the complete cessation of consciousness. For others, it’s a doorway to another realm. Visions of the afterlife vary widely. Traditional Christian doctrine holds that a person’s deeds on Earth determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. In contrast, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation — a continuous cycle of rebirth among different life worlds of heaven, human, animals, ghosts and hell.\n\nYet, even Buddhists disagree about the exact nature of reincarnation. Mainstream Buddhist traditions teach that mean-spirited people are reborn as *pretas,* or “hungry ghosts” — a karmic retribution for misdeeds in a past life. While most Buddhist traditions acknowledge the concept of reincarnation, the question of who or what is being reborn remains highly contested. Many Buddhist schools reject the notion that reincarnation is tied to a distinct soul. “These monks say that rebirth is simply the continuation of existence but without the transmigration of individual identity,” says [Jessica Zu](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/jessica-xiaomin-zu\/), assistant professor of [religion](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/religion\/) and [East Asian languages and cultures](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ealc\/).\n\nReligious teachings on the afterlife have evolved — sometimes dramatically. During the Reformation, for example, the Church of England rejected the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a temporary place of suffering where impure souls are cleansed of sin before ascending to heaven.\n\nThis shift disrupted long-held Christian ideas around death and generated much anxiety for Elizabethan England, says [Thea Tomaini](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/thea-tomaini\/), professor (teaching) of [English](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/). The era’s unease is reflected in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, when he wonders, “What dreams may come \/ When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.”\n\nThe human longing to transcend mortality continues to reveal itself in our enduring attraction to the illusion of eternal life. In the 20th century, cryonics promised bodily revival once technology caught up to the vision. Today, artificial intelligence fuels dreams of a transhumanist “cyber forever,” where consciousness is uploaded to the cloud for perpetual existence, says [Tok Thompson](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/tok-thompson\/), professor (teaching) of [anthropology](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/anth\/).\n\nAnd yet, freezers fail. Computers crash. Hamlet’s “undiscovered country” may still await us all. *—M.C.*\n\n## Bang! Goes the Universe\n[Read More](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/bang-goes-the-universe\/)\n\n![Bang\\!]()\n\n## USC Dornsife Magazine\n## Spring \/ Summer 2025\n# The Life Issue\n\n[Back to Issue](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-life-issue\/)\n\n![]()\n\n- Academics\n  - [Majors and Minors](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/majors\/)\n  - [Undergraduate Education](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/undergraduate-education\/)\n  - [Master’s & Professional Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/masters-professional-studies\/)\n  - [PhD Studies](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/phd-studies\/)\n  - [Scholarship Award Non-Discrimination](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/scholarship-non-discrimination\/)\n- Directories & Maps\n  - [Our Faculty](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-faculty\/)\n  - [Our Staff](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-staff\/)\n  - [Social Media Directory](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/social-media-directory\/)\n  - [Campus Maps](https:\/\/maps.usc.edu\/)\n- Access & Support\n  - [Dornsife Technology Services](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/dts\/)\n  - [MyDornsife](https:\/\/mydornsife.usc.edu\/)\n  - [365 Web](https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/office365)\n  - [USC Zoom](http:\/\/usc.zoom.us\/)\n- Trojan Family\n  - [Alumni Relations](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/dornsife-alumni\/)\n  - [USC Dornsife Magazine](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine)\n  - [Dornsife Dialogues](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/dornsife-alumni\/dornsife-dialogues\/)\n  - [Commencement](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/commencement)\n  - [Career Pathways](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/careerpathways\/)\n\n- [Dornsife at a Glance](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/about-us\/)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/contact-us\/)\n- [Privacy](https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/pages\/usc-privacy-notice\/)\n- [Digital Accessibility](https:\/\/accessibility.usc.edu\/accessibility-at-usc\/digital-accessibility\/)\n- [Emergency Information](https:\/\/emergency.usc.edu\/)\n- [Notice of Non-Discrimination](https:\/\/eeotix.usc.edu\/notice-of-non-discrimination\/)\n\nCopyright © 2026 University of Southern California","attrs_readable_markdown":"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.\n\nJune 18, 2025\n\n![A skull in a cloud with rays coming out](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/01_Bang_Sidebar_Afterlife-300x300.jpg)Just as ancient cultures created stories to explain the origins of the universe, the mystery of death has inspired diverse beliefs about what — if anything — comes next.\n\nFor some, death means the complete cessation of consciousness. For others, it’s a doorway to another realm. Visions of the afterlife vary widely. Traditional Christian doctrine holds that a person’s deeds on Earth determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. In contrast, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation — a continuous cycle of rebirth among different life worlds of heaven, human, animals, ghosts and hell.\n\nYet, even Buddhists disagree about the exact nature of reincarnation. Mainstream Buddhist traditions teach that mean-spirited people are reborn as *pretas,* or “hungry ghosts” — a karmic retribution for misdeeds in a past life. While most Buddhist traditions acknowledge the concept of reincarnation, the question of who or what is being reborn remains highly contested. Many Buddhist schools reject the notion that reincarnation is tied to a distinct soul. “These monks say that rebirth is simply the continuation of existence but without the transmigration of individual identity,” says [Jessica Zu](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/jessica-xiaomin-zu\/), assistant professor of [religion](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/religion\/) and [East Asian languages and cultures](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/ealc\/).\n\nReligious teachings on the afterlife have evolved — sometimes dramatically. During the Reformation, for example, the Church of England rejected the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a temporary place of suffering where impure souls are cleansed of sin before ascending to heaven.\n\nThis shift disrupted long-held Christian ideas around death and generated much anxiety for Elizabethan England, says [Thea Tomaini](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/thea-tomaini\/), professor (teaching) of [English](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/). The era’s unease is reflected in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, when he wonders, “What dreams may come \/ When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.”\n\nThe human longing to transcend mortality continues to reveal itself in our enduring attraction to the illusion of eternal life. In the 20th century, cryonics promised bodily revival once technology caught up to the vision. Today, artificial intelligence fuels dreams of a transhumanist “cyber forever,” where consciousness is uploaded to the cloud for perpetual existence, says [Tok Thompson](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/tok-thompson\/), professor (teaching) of [anthropology](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/anth\/).\n\nAnd yet, freezers fail. Computers crash. Hamlet’s “undiscovered country” may still await us all. *—M.C.*\n\nUSC Dornsife Magazine\n\nSpring \/ Summer 2025The Life Issue\n\n[Back to Issue](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/the-life-issue\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/LandingPage_Hero-900x600.jpg)","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

16 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.6 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/
Last Crawled	2026-03-22 03:29:29 (16 days ago)
First Indexed	2025-07-05 13:59:43 (9 months ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	After Life: What Happens After We Die?
Meta Description	, USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow. June 18, 2025 Just as ancient cultures created stories to explain the origins of the universe, the mystery of death has inspired diverse beliefs about what — if anything — comes next. For some, death means the complete cessation of consciousness. For others, it’s a doorway to another realm. Visions of the afterlife vary widely. Traditional Christian doctrine holds that a person’s deeds on Earth determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. In contrast, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation — a continuous cycle of rebirth among different life worlds of heaven, human, animals, ghosts and hell. Yet, even Buddhists disagree about the exact nature of reincarnation. Mainstream Buddhist traditions teach that mean-spirited people are reborn as pretas, or “hungry ghosts” — a karmic retribution for misdeeds in a past life. While most Buddhist traditions acknowledge the concept of reincarnation, the question of who or what is being reborn remains highly contested. Many Buddhist schools reject the notion that reincarnation is tied to a distinct soul. “These monks say that rebirth is simply the continuation of existence but without the transmigration of individual identity,” says Jessica Zu , assistant professor of religion and East Asian languages and cultures . Religious teachings on the afterlife have evolved — sometimes dramatically. During the Reformation, for example, the Church of England rejected the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a temporary place of suffering where impure souls are cleansed of sin before ascending to heaven. This shift disrupted long-held Christian ideas around death and generated much anxiety for Elizabethan England, says Thea Tomaini , professor (teaching) of English . The era’s unease is reflected in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, when he wonders, “What dreams may come / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.” The human longing to transcend mortality continues to reveal itself in our enduring attraction to the illusion of eternal life. In the 20th century, cryonics promised bodily revival once technology caught up to the vision. Today, artificial intelligence fuels dreams of a transhumanist “cyber forever,” where consciousness is uploaded to the cloud for perpetual existence, says Tok Thompson , professor (teaching) of anthropology . And yet, freezers fail. Computers crash. Hamlet’s “undiscovered country” may still await us all. —M.C. USC Dornsife Magazine Spring / Summer 2025 The Life Issue Back to Issue
Markdown	[Skip to Content](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/#main-content) Open Site Navigation / Menu Search ## What are you looking for? ### Suggested Search [Commencement](https://dornsife.usc.edu/commencement/) - [News and Events](https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/) - [Public Exchange](https://publicexchange.usc.edu/) - Info For - [Current Students](https://dornsife.usc.edu/info-for-students/) - [Faculty](https://dornsife.usc.edu/info-for-faculty/) - [Staff](https://dornsife.usc.edu/info-for-staff/) - Directories - [Faculty Directory](https://dornsife.usc.edu/our-faculty/) - [Staff Directory](https://dornsife.usc.edu/our-staff/) - [Alumni](https://dornsife.usc.edu/dornsife-alumni/) - [Giving](https://dornsife.usc.edu/giving/) [USC.edu](https://www.usc.edu/) - The Dornsife Difference Back - [The Academy in the Public Square](https://dornsife.usc.edu/the-academy-in-the-public-square/) Beyond the laboratories, research centers and classrooms, USC Dornsife serves as a dynamic intellectual resource that is woven into the fabric of our communities. - [Life in L.A.](https://dornsife.usc.edu/life-in-la/) - [Our Students](https://dornsife.usc.edu/our-students/) - About Us Back - [Our Leadership](https://dornsife.usc.edu/our-leadership/) - [Dornsife at a Glance](https://dornsife.usc.edu/about-us/) - [Dana and David Dornsife](https://dornsife.usc.edu/dana-and-david-dornsife/) - Research Back - [The Future of Scholarship](https://dornsife.usc.edu/the-future-of-scholarship/) Back - [Faculty Awards & Honors](https://dornsife.usc.edu/faculty-awards-honors/) - [News Briefs](https://dornsife.usc.edu/research-briefs/) - [Research Centers and Institutes](https://dornsife.usc.edu/centers-and-institutes/) - [Signature Research Initiatives](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/) Back - [Harnessing AI for Good](https://dornsife.usc.edu/harnessing-artificial-intelligence-for-good/) - [Emerging Areas of Scholarship](https://dornsife.usc.edu/thinking-ahead-emerging-areas-of-scholarship/) - [Quantum Information Science](https://dornsife.usc.edu/quantum-information-science/) - [The Art + Science of Human Wellbeing](https://dornsife.usc.edu/art-science-human-well-being/) - [Sustainability: Human Factors](https://dornsife.usc.edu/sustainability/) - [Public Exchange](https://publicexchange.usc.edu/) - [Facilities](https://dornsife.usc.edu/facilities/) - Undergraduate Back - [Undergraduate Education](https://dornsife.usc.edu/undergraduate-education/) Back - [Your Dornsife Degree](https://dornsife.usc.edu/your-dornsife-degree/) - [General Education Program](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ge/) - [Special Programs](https://dornsife.usc.edu/special-programs/) - [Undergraduate Research](https://dornsife.usc.edu/undergraduate-education/undergraduate-research/) - [Academic Advising and Support](https://dornsife.usc.edu/academic-support/) - [Majors and Minors](https://dornsife.usc.edu/majors/) - [Academic Scholarships](https://dornsife.usc.edu/undergraduate-education/academic-scholarships/) - [Learning in the World](https://dornsife.usc.edu/exl/) - [Preparing for Your Future](https://dornsife.usc.edu/preparing-for-your-future/) Back - [Career Pathways](https://dornsife.usc.edu/careerpathways/) - Graduate and Professional Back - [PhD Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/phd-studies/) Back - [PhD Programs](https://dornsife.usc.edu/doctoral-programs/) - [PhD Academy](https://dornsife.usc.edu/phd-academy/) - [Master’s & Professional Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/masters-professional-studies/) Back - [Master’s & Professional Programs](https://dornsife.usc.edu/masters-professional-programs/) - Admission & Aid Back - [Undergraduate Admission](http://dornsife.usc.edu/admission) - [Graduate Admission](https://gradadm.usc.edu/) - Departments, Centers, & Institutes Back Departments, Centers, & Institutes - Academic Departments Back Academic Departments - HUMANITIES - [American Studies and Ethnicity](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ase/) - [Archaeology and Heritage Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/arch/) - [Art History](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ahis/) - [Classics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/clas/) - [Comparative Literature](https://dornsife.usc.edu/colt/) - [East Asian Languages and Cultures](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ealc/) - [East Asian Studies Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/eascenter) - [English](https://dornsife.usc.edu/engl/) - [French and Italian](https://dornsife.usc.edu/fren-ital/) - [Gender and Sexuality Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/genderstudies/) - [Jewish Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/jewishstudies/) - [Latin American and Iberian Cultures](https://dornsife.usc.edu/latin-american-and-iberian-cultures/) - [Philosophy](https://dornsife.usc.edu/phil/) - [Religion](https://dornsife.usc.edu/religion/) - [Slavic Languages and Literatures](https://dornsife.usc.edu/sll/) - [Writing Program](https://dornsife.usc.edu/the-writing-program/) - NATURAL SCIENCES - [Biological Sciences](https://dornsife.usc.edu/bisc/) - [Chemistry](https://dornsife.usc.edu/chemistry/) - [Earth Sciences](https://dornsife.usc.edu/earth/) - [Environmental Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/) - [Mathematics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/mathematics) - [Neuroscience](https://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-neuroscience/) - [Physics and Astronomy](https://dornsife.usc.edu/physics/) - [Psychology](https://dornsife.usc.edu/psyc/) - [Quantitative and Computational Biology](https://www.qcb-dornsife.usc.edu/) - SOCIAL SCIENCES - [Anthropology](https://dornsife.usc.edu/anth/) - [Economics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/econ/) - [History](https://dornsife.usc.edu/hist/) - [Linguistics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ling/) - [Middle East Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/mdes/) - [Political Science and International Relations](https://dornsife.usc.edu/poir) - [Sociology](https://dornsife.usc.edu/soci/) - [Spatial Sciences Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/spatial/) - Centers & Institutes Back Centers & Institutes - CULTURE & SOCIETY - [Archaeology Research Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/arclab/) - [Black Studies Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/bsc/) - [Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life](https://dornsife.usc.edu/casden-institute/) - [Center for Advanced Genocide Research](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cagr) - [Center for Ethnographic Media Arts](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cema/) - [Center for Feminist Research](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cfr/) - [Center for Islamic Thought, Culture and Practice](https://citcap.usc.edu/) - [Center for Latinx and Latin American Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/latinx/) - [Center for Law and Philosophy](https://lawphilosophy.usc.edu/) - [Center for Law, History and Culture](https://gould.usc.edu/centers/clhc/home.htm) - [Center for Religion and Civic Culture](https://dornsife.usc.edu/crcc/) - [Center for the Premodern World](https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-the-premodern-world/) - [Center for Transpacific Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/transpacific-studies) - [Conceptual Foundation of Conflict Project](https://www.philosophy.academy/) - [Consortium on Gender, Sexuality & Race in Popular Culture](https://dornsife.usc.edu/consortium/) - [East Asian Studies Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/eascenter) - [Equity Research Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/eri) - [Francophone Research and Resource Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/francophone-center/) - [Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West](https://dornsife.usc.edu/icw) - [Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/iacs/) - [Institute of Armenian Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/armenian/) - [Korean Studies Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ksi/) - [Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities](https://dornsife.usc.edu/laih/) - [Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/max-kade/) - [Mind and Society Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/mindandsociety/) - [Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cjrc/) - [The West on Fire](https://dornsife.usc.edu/icw/west-on-fire/) - [USC-Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/emsi/) - GLOBAL SYSTEMS - [Alice, George and Harold Kachigian Center for Active Learning in International Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/calis) - [Center for Economic and Social Research](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cesr) - [Center for International Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cis/) - [Center for the Political Future](https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/) - [Center on Science, Technology, and Public Life](https://dornsife.usc.edu/stpl) - [Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing](https://sites.usc.edu/ietc/) - [Spatial Sciences Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/spatial/) - [Unruh Institute of Politics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/jesse-m-unruh-institute-of-politics/) - [USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability](https://dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley) - LANGUAGE & CREATIVITY - [American Language Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ali) - [Center for Languages and Cultures](https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-languages-and-cultures/) - [Levan Institute for the Humanities](https://dornsife.usc.edu/levan-institute) - [Visual Studies Research Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/vsri/) - [Writing Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/writingcenter/) - LIFE SCIENCES - [Brain and Creativity Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/bci/) - [Bridge Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/bridge-at-usc/) - [Center for Computational Language Sciences](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ccls/) - [Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ceed/) - [Center for Music, Brain and Society](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cmbs/) - [Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cnt3d/) - [Center for Peptide and Protein Engineering](https://sites.usc.edu/cppe/) - [Center for Self-Report Science](https://cesr.usc.edu/css/mission) - [Center for the Changing Family](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ccf/) - [Center for Synthetic Living Systems](https://dornsife.usc.edu/synthetic-biology/) - [Convergent Science Institute in Cancer](https://dornsife.usc.edu/kuhn/) - [Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroimaging Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/brainimaging/) - [New Microbes For New Beneficial Natural Products](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/) - [Psychology Services Center](https://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-psc) - [Translational Imaging Center](https://bioimage.usc.edu/) - [USC Sea Grant](https://dornsife.usc.edu/uscseagrant/) - PHYSICAL SCIENCES - [Agilent Center of Excellence in Biomolecular Characterization](https://dornsife.usc.edu/agilentcoe) - [Center for Applied Mathematical Sciences](https://dornsife.usc.edu/cams/) - [Center for Quantum Information and Science Technology](http://cqist.usc.edu/) - [Center of Excellence in Molecular Characterization](https://nmrnet.usc.edu/) - [Center of Excellence in NanoBiophysics](https://dornsife.usc.edu/nanobiophysicscore/) - [Core Center of Excellence in Nano Imaging](https://cni.usc.edu/) - [Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute](https://dornsife.usc.edu/loker-hydrocarbon-research-institute/) - [Statewide California Earthquake Center](http://www.scec.org/) - [The Plastics Problem](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/) - [The Urban Critical Zone](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/after-life/) - [Explore All](https://dornsife.usc.edu/departments/) Browse all of our departments, programs, centers, and institutes [USC Dornsife Magazine](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine) MENU - [Current Issue](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/family/) - [Past Issues](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/archive/) - [Creative Writing Contest](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/usc-dornsife-magazine-creative-writing-contest/) # After Life: What Happens After We Die? USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow. June 18, 2025 Share [Copy Link](https://dornsife.usc.edu/#copy_link "Link") [Facebook](https://dornsife.usc.edu/#facebook "Facebook") [X](https://dornsife.usc.edu/#twitter "X") [LinkedIn](https://dornsife.usc.edu/#linkedin "Linkedin") [Bluesky](https://dornsife.usc.edu/#bluesky "Bluesky") [Email](https://dornsife.usc.edu/#email "E-mail") ![A skull in a cloud with rays coming out](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/01_Bang_Sidebar_Afterlife-300x300.jpg)Just as ancient cultures created stories to explain the origins of the universe, the mystery of death has inspired diverse beliefs about what — if anything — comes next. For some, death means the complete cessation of consciousness. For others, it’s a doorway to another realm. Visions of the afterlife vary widely. Traditional Christian doctrine holds that a person’s deeds on Earth determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. In contrast, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation — a continuous cycle of rebirth among different life worlds of heaven, human, animals, ghosts and hell. Yet, even Buddhists disagree about the exact nature of reincarnation. Mainstream Buddhist traditions teach that mean-spirited people are reborn as pretas, or “hungry ghosts” — a karmic retribution for misdeeds in a past life. While most Buddhist traditions acknowledge the concept of reincarnation, the question of who or what is being reborn remains highly contested. Many Buddhist schools reject the notion that reincarnation is tied to a distinct soul. “These monks say that rebirth is simply the continuation of existence but without the transmigration of individual identity,” says [Jessica Zu](https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/jessica-xiaomin-zu/), assistant professor of [religion](https://dornsife.usc.edu/religion/) and [East Asian languages and cultures](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ealc/). Religious teachings on the afterlife have evolved — sometimes dramatically. During the Reformation, for example, the Church of England rejected the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a temporary place of suffering where impure souls are cleansed of sin before ascending to heaven. This shift disrupted long-held Christian ideas around death and generated much anxiety for Elizabethan England, says [Thea Tomaini](https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/thea-tomaini/), professor (teaching) of [English](https://dornsife.usc.edu/engl/). The era’s unease is reflected in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, when he wonders, “What dreams may come / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.” The human longing to transcend mortality continues to reveal itself in our enduring attraction to the illusion of eternal life. In the 20th century, cryonics promised bodily revival once technology caught up to the vision. Today, artificial intelligence fuels dreams of a transhumanist “cyber forever,” where consciousness is uploaded to the cloud for perpetual existence, says [Tok Thompson](https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/tok-thompson/), professor (teaching) of [anthropology](https://dornsife.usc.edu/anth/). And yet, freezers fail. Computers crash. Hamlet’s “undiscovered country” may still await us all. —M.C. ## Bang! Goes the Universe [Read More](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/bang-goes-the-universe/) ![Bang\!]() ## USC Dornsife Magazine ## Spring / Summer 2025 # The Life Issue [Back to Issue](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/the-life-issue/) ![]() - Academics - [Majors and Minors](https://dornsife.usc.edu/majors/) - [Undergraduate Education](https://dornsife.usc.edu/undergraduate-education/) - [Master’s & Professional Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/masters-professional-studies/) - [PhD Studies](https://dornsife.usc.edu/phd-studies/) - [Scholarship Award Non-Discrimination](https://dornsife.usc.edu/scholarship-non-discrimination/) - Directories & Maps - [Our Faculty](https://dornsife.usc.edu/our-faculty/) - [Our Staff](https://dornsife.usc.edu/our-staff/) - [Social Media Directory](https://dornsife.usc.edu/social-media-directory/) - [Campus Maps](https://maps.usc.edu/) - Access & Support - [Dornsife Technology Services](https://dornsife.usc.edu/dts/) - [MyDornsife](https://mydornsife.usc.edu/) - [365 Web](https://www.usc.edu/office365) - [USC Zoom](http://usc.zoom.us/) - Trojan Family - [Alumni Relations](https://dornsife.usc.edu/dornsife-alumni/) - [USC Dornsife Magazine](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine) - [Dornsife Dialogues](https://dornsife.usc.edu/dornsife-alumni/dornsife-dialogues/) - [Commencement](https://dornsife.usc.edu/commencement) - [Career Pathways](https://dornsife.usc.edu/careerpathways/) - [Dornsife at a Glance](https://dornsife.usc.edu/about-us/) - [Contact Us](https://dornsife.usc.edu/contact-us/) - [Privacy](https://www.usc.edu/pages/usc-privacy-notice/) - [Digital Accessibility](https://accessibility.usc.edu/accessibility-at-usc/digital-accessibility/) - [Emergency Information](https://emergency.usc.edu/) - [Notice of Non-Discrimination](https://eeotix.usc.edu/notice-of-non-discrimination/) Copyright © 2026 University of Southern California
Readable Markdown	USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow. June 18, 2025 ![A skull in a cloud with rays coming out](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/01_Bang_Sidebar_Afterlife-300x300.jpg)Just as ancient cultures created stories to explain the origins of the universe, the mystery of death has inspired diverse beliefs about what — if anything — comes next. For some, death means the complete cessation of consciousness. For others, it’s a doorway to another realm. Visions of the afterlife vary widely. Traditional Christian doctrine holds that a person’s deeds on Earth determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. In contrast, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation — a continuous cycle of rebirth among different life worlds of heaven, human, animals, ghosts and hell. Yet, even Buddhists disagree about the exact nature of reincarnation. Mainstream Buddhist traditions teach that mean-spirited people are reborn as pretas, or “hungry ghosts” — a karmic retribution for misdeeds in a past life. While most Buddhist traditions acknowledge the concept of reincarnation, the question of who or what is being reborn remains highly contested. Many Buddhist schools reject the notion that reincarnation is tied to a distinct soul. “These monks say that rebirth is simply the continuation of existence but without the transmigration of individual identity,” says [Jessica Zu](https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/jessica-xiaomin-zu/), assistant professor of [religion](https://dornsife.usc.edu/religion/) and [East Asian languages and cultures](https://dornsife.usc.edu/ealc/). Religious teachings on the afterlife have evolved — sometimes dramatically. During the Reformation, for example, the Church of England rejected the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, a temporary place of suffering where impure souls are cleansed of sin before ascending to heaven. This shift disrupted long-held Christian ideas around death and generated much anxiety for Elizabethan England, says [Thea Tomaini](https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/thea-tomaini/), professor (teaching) of [English](https://dornsife.usc.edu/engl/). The era’s unease is reflected in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, when he wonders, “What dreams may come / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.” The human longing to transcend mortality continues to reveal itself in our enduring attraction to the illusion of eternal life. In the 20th century, cryonics promised bodily revival once technology caught up to the vision. Today, artificial intelligence fuels dreams of a transhumanist “cyber forever,” where consciousness is uploaded to the cloud for perpetual existence, says [Tok Thompson](https://dornsife.usc.edu/profile/tok-thompson/), professor (teaching) of [anthropology](https://dornsife.usc.edu/anth/). And yet, freezers fail. Computers crash. Hamlet’s “undiscovered country” may still await us all. —M.C. USC Dornsife Magazine Spring / Summer 2025The Life Issue [Back to Issue](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/the-life-issue/) ![](https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/LandingPage_Hero-900x600.jpg)
Shard	45 (laksa)
Root Hash	12668707807077137445
Unparsed URL	edu,usc!dornsife,/magazine/after-life/ s443