Beyond the veil: Popular culture, morality and the afterlife in contemporary society

Ongoing interest in the afterlife serves to navigate existential crises by offering solace or amplifying anxieties about death. Popular cultural narratives, deeply intertwined with religious doctrines, serve as interpretative frameworks for understanding human experiences, ethical conduct and the mysteries of death. This Special Issue, then, explores how, in an increasingly secular world, the afterlife is portrayed in media narratives, which, while primarily aimed at entertainment, also respond to deep-seated existential and moral questions. It discusses how these portrayals offer a mix of hope, happiness and moral guidance, reflecting broader societal values and beliefs about life, death and what lies beyond. This collection of scholarly contributions aims to dissect the portrayal of morality and religion in media representations of the afterlife, examining how these portrayals reflect, critique or reinforce societal norms and values. By focusing on themes such as digital immortality and the supernatural, the Special Issue not only highlights the evolving nature of afterlife narratives but also underscores the role of popular culture in navigating and negotiating the existential dilemmas of the twenty-first century.