e serpent father): whereupon, in the world where only sorrow and death had been seen, the rapture was recognized of an everlasting becoming" (Campbell, 1964, p. 15).
Implicit in this conception of cyclical death and rebirth is a notion of immortality that has appeared in religions throughout the world. Campbell sees such an implication in the legend of the Buddha. "When he placed himself on the Immovable Spot beneath the Tree of Enlightenment, the Creator of the World Illusion, Kama Mara, "Life Desire and Fear of Death," approached to threaten his position. But he touched the earth . . . and the demon fled. The Blessed one that night achieved Enlightenment" (Campbell, 1964, p. 16). In other words, by confronting death directly, it is transcended and points the soul in the direction of immortality. In turn, immortality, achieved via death, can be inferred to be something like the fulfillment of the whole of life.
The Christian view of death is connected with sin. Catholic doctrine, for example, cites biblical v
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