The Great Beyond

In Plato's "Apology" (apology being one who upholds and defends his beliefs) he tells the story of Socrates' trial and death in the year 399 BC. His accusers said that he corrupted the young men and didn't worship the gods, that he worshiped other gods.

Yes he had to drink the hemlock.


Socrates believed that the soul continues to live after the body dies. Then again most Greeks believed in Hades or another life somewhere down below. He believed that a child is born with certain knowledge, a knowledge that existed before it had a body, a soul if you will. He believed the body was a hindrance to the soul with its lusts and gluttony etc. Only when the soul breaks free of the corrupt body can it reach perfection.

"To die is gain." Socrates said. You have read this from the Apostle Paul, but he didn't come along until four hundred years later. Socrates had figured out in his own brilliant mind that there was more than meets the eye. In fact he said never trust your senses, hearing, vision, etc. The only things real are the things not seen. Maybe he was a stoic.

This toga talker had some strange ideas but insisted that man should not fear death because it was a beautiful beginning. His friend compaired the lyre to the body and its music the soul. He wondered if the sound was still living somewhere. It makes me wonder about music in Christian
religion. Maybe its one more thing in the religion that is intended to be spirit and not body.

Native Americans and other societies held similar beliefs in a great spirit and the next life long before priests and smallpox.
Socrates and Paul didn't have the same beliefs but there are certainly parallels.

The belief in life of the soul after death, I believe, is innate in man unless he becomes too educated by other men.