The Afterlife Trivia Quiz

Answer: Near Death Experience

Near Death Experience or NDEs are the experiences of people reported as dead, but are revived later. Many such people experienced travelling through a tunnel, feeling weightless, meeting angels and dead relatives and meeting heavenly characters. Dr. Ray Moody, Dr. Michael Sabom and Dr. Kenneth Ring, doctors who have studied these phenomenon, believe them to be true and proof of the afterlife.

However, skeptics have claimed that these experiences may only be hallucinations of a dying brain, caused because of chemical reactions or lack of oxygen. NDE believers however claim that their experiences were real.

Answer: Re-incarnation is starting a new life

Dr. Ian Stevenson, a well-known researcher has studied re-incarnation. Based on his studies, he concluded that there was some evidence to suggest that re-incarnation was a possibility. In various studies, it was revealed that mostly children below five years, talk of a past life and identify people from their past life.

Afterlife exponents have claimed that this is conclusive proof of the afterlife. However, skeptics have also claimed that most of these cases are either fraud and that there is no conclusive scientific evidence.

Answer: Poltergeist

Poltergeist is a German word which means 'noisy spirit'. Poltergeist incidents refer to reported incidents of levitating furniture, cutlery being smashed, matches being lit, all of which are reportedly performed by ghosts. Poltergeists are believed to be souls which are stuck on earth and indulge in mischief out of frustration.

There have been various explanations given for this phenomenon which include fraud and exteriorization of energy (which means it is the latent energy of living people causing the incidents). Thousands of incidents of poltergeists have been reported across the world and many of them are still unexplained. One famous poltergeist incident was showcased in the shocking Hollywood movie 'Entity'.

Answer: Karma

Karma is a Sanskrit word which means 'actions'. The concept of karma is that the deeds and actions of a person that affect his afterlife, further lives and stays in heaven or hell, are determined by karma. Nirvana is basically a Buddhist concept which signifies union with God. Yoga is a form of exercise which focuses on physical and spiritual growth. Avatar means incarnation.

Answer: Out of Body Experience

OBE stands for Out of Body Experience. This is a phenomenon, where living persons can project themselves out of their body and move around. The concept here is of an astral body which is connected to the physical body. This astral body can be sent out of the physical body. Dr. Charles Tart, a well-known scientist conducted a number of experiments on OBE with Robert Monroe.

The experiments seemed to suggest that OBEs were real. However, researchers have also reported that if a particular part of the brain (gyrus region) is stimulated, this can lead to a feeling of separation from the body. So scientists claim that is just an illusion of the brain.

Answer: EVP is the study of voices reportedly from the afterlife

EVP stands for Electronic Voice Phenomena. EVP is supposed to be communication between those who live physically on this world with those who are in the afterlife. EVP involves making tape recordings under certain conditions. When these tapes are played back, strange sounds and voices are heard, which EVP proponents claim is communication from the afterlife. Dr. Konstantine Raudive has been one of the researchers of EVP.

Other greats who believed in spirit communication included Marconi, Baird and Crookes.

However, skeptics have claimed that these are random voices, which do not mean anything and also could be leakage from radio signals.

Answer: Instrumental Trans Communication

ITC stands for Instrumental Trans Communication, which has been claimed as further evidence for the afterlife. ITC involves making direct contact with dead people through radio, television, computers, fax machines, etc. Researchers claim to have received messages from dead people through phone calls and through messages on the computer and other electronic equipment.

However, skeptics have claimed that this is highly unlikely and that there is no scientific evidence.

Answer: Medium

A medium is a person who is supposed to have special skills which enable him or her to communicate with spirits. Mediums are supposed to have abilities to make objects and persons from other worlds materialize on earth. There have been number of experiments notably The Scole Experiment and the David Thompson materialization research.

However, skeptics claim that since these séances happen in the dark, the scope for fraud is unlimited.

Answer: Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a firm believer in the afterlife and was reported to have investigated séances, mediums and the like. In the 1926 novel 'Land of the Mist', he explored the world of mediums, séances and spirits. The novel featured the second most famous character created by Doyle - Professor Challenger.

The plot of the novel involved a love story between Edward Malone and Challenger's daughter, both of whom believed in the afterlife. Challenger was highly skeptical but in the end was convinced about the afterlife.

The novel contained a number of notes which reflected Doyle's interest and belief in this unexplained subject.

Answer: Uri Geller

Uri Geller was a famous and controversial psychic from Israel. Geller reportedly had ESP powers through which he could see through closed doors, bend metals and even read minds. Geller used his skills and became famous as a psychic performer. A number of experiments conducted (among others by Stanford Research Institute) seemed to suggest that Geller's ESP powers had some truth to them. However skeptics strongly claimed that he was indulging in fraud and gave their own evidences to prove it. Edgar Cayce and Bob Monroe were famous for their powers of communicating with spirits. John Edwards is a famous modern day medium who conducts a number of programs and surprises people by giving them messages from their dead relatives.

The Afterlife and the evidences presented as proof make a large number of people convinced that there is life after death. However, skeptics rightly claim that there is no scientific evidence for any of these phenomena. But one thing is sure, there are a number of strange phenomena happening in the world for which we don't have a proper explanation. The Afterlife will thus remain in the realm of the unexplained.