According to David Eagleman’s Descent of Species, every individual has the chance to ask for specific conditions he wishes to be under in the afterlife. Animals too have the given choice. Consequently, one might choose to become royalty or possess specific knowledge in a field of study, a wave of a wand will make it so (Eagleman 10). For those who wish for a complete change, they could opt for an animal, and it would be so. Now, what happens when people forget their past lives as they go into the new one? Eagleman reckons that the “moment of lucidity” where one realizes that he or she would have no memories of the past life is “the punishment for [his or her] sins” (11). After all, there is no way one could appreciate the new status without the memories of where it all began. Thus said, a human could ask to be an animal as a means to escape responsibility only to come back and ask to be a man or woman again because he or she has no recollection of being one in a past life. To that end, the focus of the new religion would be to equip members with the necessary teachings on what they ought to do in the afterlife; central to the ideas would be whoever is without sin will not have to suffer the reincarnations of a vicious cycle.
Significantly, “Descendiants” would have no need to make monetary or animal sacrifices at the temple. However, it is the duty of every believer to aid in the purchase of necessities for the priests and priestesses who are always available to give assistance when needed. Otherwise, all expenditures would be accounted for, and records will be open for the peoples’ perusal. On a similar note, donations made to the charity organizations with which “Descendism” will have an association are to pass through the office of the high priest unless the person making said donations has reason to maintain anonymity. Notably, without records of aiding the poor and marginalized communities, any call for support by the institution would require a fee (that would go to help the mentioned group). Stated support includes but is not limited to fundraisers within the temple premises and requests for any other help from the rest of the masses. “Descendiants” look after each other.
Concurrently, what every man and woman believe about the afterlife will determine the denomination to which he or she belongs. The staunch “Descendiants” hold on to every detail of Eagleman’s revelation about the afterlife since they believe there is a cycle of the reincarnation process. Just as the human became a horse, an animal will have the chance to be either a man or woman and so on. However, the reformers hold that there is no guarantee on what form one would take. The choices are unlimited, and if one opts for it, he or she can also become a fruit even if for just a day. Central to the religion is the fact that one has to remember the past life and the belief system is both matriarchal and patriarchal as there is no way of knowing the gender of the deity from whom Eagleman received the revelation.
In conclusion, the apparent similarities between Descent of Species and Darwin’s theory of evolution are hard to miss since the only difference between the two is the fact that one asserts that species evolve. In other words, instead of thinking that present-day animals will eventually become human, “Descendiants” reckon that the changes happen in a spiritual sphere before one is born into the physical world. Nonetheless, the similarities hint that the principles of “Descendism” have been present since the nineteenth century, but the religion is only gaining recognition in the twenty-first century. The rules on giving to the church and the emphasis that is given to ensuring that the needy receive what believers provide will attract people from all walks of life. Additionally, the religion presents an answer to the questions surrounding death.
Works Cited
Eagleman, David. Sum: Tales from the Afterlives. Edinburgh: Canongate Books, 2009. Print.
