There’s a common expression applied to the concept of continuing existence following physical death – Life after death. Like many other aspects of our struggle to grasp the relationship between science, logic, and faith, we are handicapped by the limitations of our human language.

Perhaps a more accurate term might be existence after life.

From a human perspective, we might define Life as the state of being when our conscious, self-aware mind inhabits the physical, functioning body. Death, then, is that state when the physical body ceases to function and the spirit element no longer occupies that physical body, and the physical body is no longer self-aware.

Under that definition of death, the expression “life after death” makes no sense. It is no wonder that we struggle with our faith. In essence, we are handicapped by our own language. While we might grasp the intended meaning of the expression life after death, our subconscious understanding of the individual words in that phrase might contribute to the state of mind that rejects the concept of continuing existence after physical death – in particular, the word life.

It is that simple element, the word life, that is the focal point of many of our speculations on the afterlife. That state of being is commonly referred to as heaven, but it has many versions, defined by a wide spectrum of beliefs. Some believe that heaven is a place of beauty and joy and infinite knowledge. It is a place of reunion with loved ones who have passed before. Some suggest that heaven is a place with streets of gold and many mansions for the departed.

All these definitions, and many others, have one thing in common. They all view heaven, or the afterlife as a place.

Once again, we come face-to-face with the reality that we do not have the tools or the language to grasp the conditions of the continuation of the existence of the human spirit.

Perhaps the simplest answer is to accept that unconditional love is the one true definition of the state of existence after death. Heaven then is not so much a physical place as it is a state of being, a state that we cannot describe or appreciate until that which we call life, has ended.