Religious Implications

Had I written this book in the 17th century, Christians would have declared me a heretic and I would have been burned at the stake. Small wonder that I couldn't complete this project until now.

The Passing of Merlin Zauber is not intended as a "summa contra" aimed at Chrisitianity or any other organized religion. After all, Eric, Maria, Gianni, and Frosty are pious Christians. If they are not perfect, they are at least more sinned against than sinning.

It is true that the experiences in the afterlife that I have been able to recall and describe in this novel are better explained by Hindu and Buddhist theology than Christian. Merlin Zauber's response to the afterlife is probably typical. Merlin in Chapter 2: "Getting Adjusted," says to Alexander, the spirit that formally welcomes him to the afterlife, "Well, if I'm in heaven, where's the Father, where's the Son, where's the 'sitteth on the right hand of,' and where's the Holy Ghost?"

The afterlife that I have glimpsed is open to all souls, good or bad. If "salvation" is understood as a continuation of the mind/spirit/soul after death of the body, then everyone is saved. Belief is not the price of admission, since everything is free. In fact, belief, whether religious or otherwise, may have its place in human society, but has no meaning in the afterlife. The governing principle is the Law of Karma, which applies equally to all, and determines whether a particular incarnation is closer to heaven or hell.

In my opinion, the proper function of religion is to mediate between the living and the dead, to help each person prepare for the afterlife, and to ensure that each person lives so as to earn positive rather than negative karma. Certainly the Golden Rule, if really followed, would be a good place to start. As it is, the person's spiritual self is too often unprepared for what it finds upon bodily death and is not in a position to maximize the opportunity that the afterlife provides for significant spiritual improvement.