LOL... yes, the Egyptian Book of the Dead was consolidated during the New Kingdom dynasties (~1500 BC) , but was thought to have existed in various degrees and fragmentary forms much earlier. A much later work (Bardo Thodel) from Tibet also dealt with the transition from living to dead. Whether one choses to subscribe to any of those teachings is rather personal, but it can be said that there are millions of believers.
^ i belive that at one point in human history the whole world was togeather as 1 group before being seperated, because of this youll get simularites in all cultures and common themes concerning certian belifes.
I'm not so sure that I would subscribe to a theory of collective original consciousness. I would rather think that human beings behave remarkably alike when placed into like situations. That is, it is innately our nature to respond in certain ways because of how we perceive our surroundings and the events therein. It is this similar pattern of thought and emotional reactions, irregardless of ethnic or cultural origins, that modern psychology finds useful. The fear of death, mourning, belief in an afterlife (ie triumph over death) that allows solace as a personal psychic defense against loss; is IMHO, a common trait of mankind in general. Or else, we've all been assimilated into the Borg without realizing it... >.<
