John Guillaumier’s perspective of life and ‘afterlife’(August 5) is very much tied to the way one looks at the human person. To conclude that Albert Demanuele (July 18) displayed the wisdom of a mature man because he believes there is no afterlife since “unfortunately, no one came back to tell us about it” is not convincing.

To believe only in the here and now and to deny any other reality beyond what can be empirically measured or proven is a very narrow way of looking at the meaning of one’s existence. One has to make an allowance for a reality in man that, though not easily experienced with one’s physical senses, is as real and true. I am referring to the spiritual dimension in man.

To believe that we simply die, like everything else in the cosmos, as Demanuele contends, because no one came back to tell us about afterlife is to base one’s judgement simply on what one can see, feel or hear.

People like us, who believe in fundamental truths like the resurrection and afterlife, not because someone came over and told us but because our faith in the risen Christ is firm and real, believe that this transcendent reality is part and parcel of our life.

Unfortunately, by emphasising the materialistic and transient nature of man and by giving importance only to what is rational and empirical, we are ignoring the spiritual dimension in man, a reality, which directs us and gives us the true meaning of our existence.

Blessed are we who believe because we are able to see new horizons and grasp things that are beyond one’s physical and temporal realm.