
Heaven, a place that actually might be on Earth. San Junipero gives us an alternative about where our conscious and souls go and it may be possible through technological advances. But what people may ask themselves is how does this go against their religion? The traditional religions stating how one goes off to heaven after a life of God and acceptance. In San Junipero, not just does it defy religion, but also sexuality, euthanasian, and if this technology would be an alternative that people are willing to accept, and the issues that may come along with it.

At first this alternate reality sounds like it would be a worthy idea, assuring people that after they die they know that they have a place for their souls to go. Living happily ever after at their peak in life, enjoying beaches, parties, and companies of others just like you. Not having any true worries and remaining always healthy. Sounds pretty good to me. When I think of a perfect world all those factors come into my mind. It sounds very much so just like heaven, except for no one has truly captured heaven for there to be proof that it is an actual place. Faith is what guides people to believe in a God above, along with me and plenty of the world. It drives people to get through life and finally be there for eternity. Devoting their life for a cause greater than themselves to achieve the final end of reaching Heaven. 

Being a man of religion this episode really made me think of what my path will be for when I pass. There are certain things people shouldn’t try and fix. One of those being death.  The Bible stating in Colossians 3:1-2. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” The passage above states that do not settle for what is on Earth, but stride for Heaven. Use faith to guide you through the world, and remain the rest of your after life in a perfect heaven that God has created. There are plenty of issues that arise when adding an afterlife through technology. Technology I’m sure has failed everyone who has used it at least once or twice. It’s not perfect and people are well aware of that. So what happens when the servers go down? Does everyone who is on the server just disappear? What if the company goes bankrupt? 

For Kelly and Yorkies relationship in San Junipero they find themselves as lovers, two women who can be happy together in an afterlife where on Earth they do not even know of each other. Comparing to The Bible, this would be against a meaning of “love” in which it is a man and women’s bond. San Junipero gives an alternate look to heaven giving people wide range to do as they please. Loving who they want to love and making a world of their own together. I can also agree in this view point that people may believe in this alternate world. But not just people who are dead can enter, often people who are very sick or terminally ill live in this world and then are sent back to reality. If that were me, it would often lead to me becoming depressed after I came back into my old, week, sick body. Bringing the topic up of euthanasian. If it is morally right, and if the person who would like to die deserves the option to be better off dead, living in the world of San Junipero as a soul.

Euthanasian being a widely talked about topic, back and forth people disagreeing. The Bible saying that it is sin, while often many religious people think euthanasian is a choice one can make for themselves. Everyone believes in a different answer and not everyone will always agree. In San Junipero both get euthanized in the end to be together, but is euthanasian in this sense the right thing to do. Just to be somewhere else other than on Earth with people you love and your family. Euthanasian under English law is illegal, but while some countries have adopted it the talk for a planned death has been more and more widespread. In Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: A Natural Law Ethics Approach, Craig Patterson talks about Natural-Law for euthanasia, stating how it is simply just human rights. That it is the person’s decision to either stay on this Earth or die.

San Junipero can be greatly debated on whether or not it’d be a good idea for people to choose as they pleased for where they’d like to go when they passed. Humans norms may disagree but there are plenty of convincing arguments. No one truly knows the right answer, and possibly one day there could be a San Junipero for the sick and for people who choose to go there when they die. 