Why was life after death invented?

While not a believer in the after-world, I’ve always wondered what were the origins of the belief of life after death, and what made a central tenet used by most religions. Clearly, the belief in an afterlife has deep roots throughout human history and across many cultures. 

It finds its main origin in “good old fear of death”, this inescapable human experience. Afterlife offers a good reassurance that not all is lost in the face of mortality. It provides a welcome extension of existence and a possible reunion with loved ones. What it conveniently fails to mention is that it leaves open the opportunity to run as well into plenty of enemies and debt collectors! 

It could be that dreams, near-death experiences and other bizarre coincidences may have fueled early beliefs in a soul or spirit that survives death. That was conveniently picked up by ancient civilizations, from Egyptians, Greeks or Romans who began to develop elaborate beliefs about the afterlife, often intertwined with their religious and mythological systems. 

There was only a short distance left before these beliefs could be leveraged into spiritual IOUs that would be promised to warriors, builders of cathedrals or any one toiling for no pay, very often against their will. I was also used liberally as a law enforcement and control tool, with the promise of hell as the ultimate maximum security prison for folks who committed crimes against society or failed to conform to strict cultural norms. 

As you can see, the belief in an afterlife was the Swiss army knife that kept total control over early society at minimal cost and continued to work perfectly well until critical thinking spoiled everything. 

Of course, those who disagree say that the concept of an afterlife is a matter of faith and personal belief, and there’s no scientific evidence to definitively disprove its existence, I’ll say to them, “You can have it and enjoy it!”