What do you think will happen after you die?

Most religions state that when a person dies, his/her soul/spirit/consciousness leaves the body which decays. However, they differ in what they believe happens to that soul, etc., which continues to exist after the experience of death.

The Abrahamic religions, that is, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, teach that, after death, the soul is faced with a fixed permanent state, either heaven, where there is eternal happiness, or hell where there is eternal suffering and damnation. This final state is determined by the way one lives one's life on this earth, prior to one's death. A life filled with goodness and kindness towards others will be rewarded with heaven. However, “good” actions alone are not sufficient but also a belief in a divine being or God as advocated by that religion. In this regard, a philantrophist who may spend most of his/her life in doing “good” to others, or helping them, unless he/she believes in God as prescribed by that religion, will not make it to heaven and eternal happiness. It does not matter if the “good' actions part of his/her life exceeded that of a believer. The believer will be rewarded with heaven whereas the philanthropist will not.

Several Eastern religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism do not accept that the soul is faced with a final permanent state after death. They teach the doctrine of reincarnation instead. They say that, after death, the soul/ spirtit/ consciousness will be reincarnated and born into a new human body, and live a new life right here on this earth. The actual “quality”of life that one experiences, after rebirth, in the new life will be influenced by the measure of "goodness", or lack thereof, that one did in the previous life. Thus, if there are some persons who appear to be suffering a lot in their lives here on this earth, despite the fact that they may be kind and good towards others, according to reincarnation, they are paying for their misdeeds in their previous life. This process of reincarnation or rebirth will continue until one has attained a “sufficient” or adequate quantity of goodness in this life here on earth. Upon doing so, one will break the cycle of rebirth and would not return to a life here on earth but will enter into a permanent state of union with God or the Divine.

There are others who advocate that when a person dies, in addition to the fact that the physical matter of that person's body decays, there is total annihilation of everything that was initially referred to as that person; this includes the soul, spirit, consciousness or whatever. Absolutely nothing is left after death.
Personally, I find such a view difficult to accept. According to the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It may be changed from one form to another, but not annihilated. Whatever it is that drives us when we are alive, whether we refer it as soul, spirit, consciousness or whatever, is certainly some form of energy, psychic or otherwise. Then, according to the Law of Conservation of Energy, total annihilation of this energy is impossible. It may be changed to another form but it can never vanish into nothingness.

In his Rubaiyat, Omar Khayyam states :

"Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who
Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through
Not one returns to tell us of the Road,
Which to discover we must travel too."
- Omar Khayaam

What do you think will happen (to you) after you die?

Will it be:

1.Permanent Location?
2.Reincarnation?
3.Annihilation?
4.Other?

If other, please describe briefly.

Thanks for your responses.
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Comments (27)

Hiya Socrates. I think you already my answer to this: Reincarnation. Our soul is eternal.

However, the "quality" of life you describe here is not based on the "good" and the "bad" from your previous life´- or Karma - but what you chose to work on in your next life.
We are always given a choice which is for our spiritual growth.

There are several "life themes" one can choose to work on.

Also, there is Karma we chose to "repay" to certain people from previous lives.

As for reincarnating on this planet, why should we?
We might not come from the planet Earth in the first place and choose to go back to our original planet or, experience life in other solar systems, whatever?

Furthermore, when we go back to our spiritual form on whatever planet, we also continue to evolve.

Life is a continuous birth/death and rebirth process.

angel
Hello Socrates,handshake Lately with me , not in the best of health, and getting older, I have been giving a lot more thought to what happens after death,confused In past I had my doubts of anything happening, but with the death of a good number of friends , and family, I do believe that there is some sort of continuous of our souls, and spirits. I ve had a few remarkable , unexplainable happenings ,after loosing a love one.I believe there is something there, after death,just haven't got a proper explaination of it.
As for unexplainable happenings you wonder, the evening after my fiancé funeral I was sitting in my back yard , in tears , thinking of my fiancé, when an old backyard light suddenly came on for no reason.(the light was never used, and hasn t been turned on for 10 yrs)and it never ever came on again,the bulb was burnt out. I like to think it was my fiancé s way of telling me she was okay. I have had a few similar happenings, and do believe there is something there after death.
You have a good day My friend,handshake
3 days after actual death. My soul will leave my body. And wait to be reincarnated. I will be available in dreams to my kids and family. Depending on what I did right in my life amd what I still need to learn and experience towards growing into a better person. I will be reincarnated into the appropriate walk of life. I think that is my version and suffice for me for now.
Hi Minerva

Thanks very much for your comment. I hope it will invite comments from others.

My comment about a "previous" life influencing a present life after reincarnation is based on what I have read about the teachings of the Eastern religions.

"We are always given a choice which is for our spiritual growth."

Your statement that we are given a choice in the present life as to what we want to work on in the next life is new information for me.
What is the basis for such a position and how is it implemented, in terms of the individual making the choice?
At what point does that take place? Is it before or after we die?

"Also, there is Karma we chose to "repay" to certain people from previous lives."

With regard to your statement quoted above, how and when do we acquire knowledge about certain people from previous lives?
Once again, at what point does this take place?
Hello 1to1

Thanks for your interesting comment, especially with regard to your experience after your fiancee's death.
I know of other persons right here on CS who have reported similar experiences.
I am not surprised by such experiences.
(See my reference to the Law of Conservation of Energy in the blog.)

I hope that you will experience an improvement in your health.

Take Care, my friend!
Hello Snookum

Thanks for your comment.

You have mentioned that you expect to be reincarnated after a period of three days.

I am curious to know where does the figure of three days come from? Is it related to the death and resurrection of Jesus as mentioned in the Bible?

As you are aware, Christianity does not agree with the idea of reincarnation,
but teaches assignment to a permanent location, either heaven or hell.

Have a nice day!
My background is Christianity and Tibetan Bhuddism. This is my combination of tbe two although I am non religious now there were areas of interest in both.
In answer to your questions:

"Your statement that we are given a choice in the present life as to what we want to work on in the next life is new information for me".

No, we are given a choice when in the spirit world.
eg. If you were rich in the previous life and maybe didn´t use it wisely, you may choose to experience poverty in the next life... or vice versa.


"What is the basis for such a position and how is it implemented, in terms of the individual making the choice?
At what point does that take place? Is it before or after we die?"
"

The choice is made in the Spirit World just before incarnation when discussing your "Life Plan" and choosing also various people who are going to play certain roles during your life.
At that point, you choose your date of birth, where, name, your parents, family, friends etc...and also your death.


"Also, there is Karma we chose to "repay" to certain people from previous lives."
With regard to your statement quoted above, how and when do we acquire knowledge about certain people from previous lives?
Once again, at what point does this take place?"


We can have access to this information either through past life regressions, and also through the Akashic Records.



I have worked with both - not only for myself, but mainly for clients.

You can also find interesting information in the following books:
"Journey of Souls" by Michael Newton PhD.
and "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Dr. Brian Weiss
in my case it was 4.other.

my soul / spirit went through the tunnel of darkness and out through a bright light at the end. I was in another realm and had an experience there which was amazing. (I wont go into that now.)

anyway, for a particular reason i asked god if i could return to earth again to live here for another while longer. i was granted this request and my spirit / soul re-entered my body and i awoke back on earth.

if i had not requested to come back i believe that i would have remained in that realm. (perhaps later god would have either a, left me there in that beautifull place after death, or b, maybe god might have sent me elsewhere unknown , or c, maybe he would have sent me back to earth at a later stage of his own choosing.
i don't know the answer to that...

however, i do know what happened to me in my case. my soul/sprit went to other side, and was allowed to come back into my own body again for now on my own request.

that is the gist of it in relation to the journey my soul / spirit has travelled to date.

it may be same or similar type passing when it comes to the time for others to pass away or maybe not. they might have similar experience on other side or not ..i don't know.

i don't know if you are familiar with what is referred to as o.b.e (out of body experiences),(that's the name somebody assigned to it....i guess perhaps because one is outside of their body at the time.) but if you are you will see that many people have had similar experience as me in passing , but somewhat different experience on other side also. yet many spirits/souls have been allowed return to their own bodies here on earth again for now.

so,...to answer your question. that's one thing that can and does happen.

(and to add something from my experience , which i know is not relevant to what you asked but which i like to add anyway ... i can tell you that not only does our souls/ spirits go from earth to other place,s but we have minds and can think in spirt. we are also aware of all the events in our lives that we have experienced, etc.(with magnified clarity) and have thoughts and feelings on that. etc. also my spirt was fundamentally aware that its purpose on earth was to love. it was fundamentally a loving spirit on the other side..)

............................
@ socrates44 - wave .. We are made of energy, energy can only change state but cannot be destroyed and mother nature does not waste anything therefore we will be reincarnated.... professor


.... grin cheers
Hi Socrates...I am still unsure how I feel about this but fundamentally I agree with Law of Conservation of Energy...can not disagree on that one..lol...so at this time, reincarnation is becoming more and more interesting...currently reading about it. I enjoy hearing of the experiences/comments here about contact with those who have passed on...to me that is entirely probable.typing ....Avias
Snookums

Thanks for your explanation.

Seeing that you have some background in Tibetan Buddhism, can you please inform us what it teaches about what happens after death? Thank you!
Hello lookinforhappy

Thanks for your very interesting comment.

I have read of cases where some persons said they had an experience similar to yours.
In fact, I had a friend (he passed away a few years ago), who told me of his experience. He was in a hospital receiving treatment for a heart problem. He said he also experienced the sensation of travelling through a tunnel with a light at the end. I think he said it was a blue light. He said that the speed of the travel was "fantastic". He did not say much about meeting with God, but he stressed the journey itself, especially the speed,as I have mentioned.
Later, in the hospital, after the experience, he said he asked the doctor:
"Doc, did I die on you?" He mentioned that the doctor never answered the question.

I am familiar with the term "out of body experience (o.b.e.)" that you mentioned; also the term "near death experience", and I have read accounts of such cases.

"if i had not requested to come back i believe that i would have remained in that realm. (perhaps later god would have either a, left me there in that beautifull place after death, or b, maybe god might have sent me elsewhere unknown , or c, maybe he would have sent me back to earth at a later stage of his own choosing.
i don't know the answer to that..."


I am very impressed by the sincerity of your statement quoted above, especially the last line.

I appreciate you sharing your experience with us. Thank You very much.
Hi seagrit

Thanks for your comment.

You have mentioned what you expect will happen with respect to the disposal and decay of your physical body, and your clothes.

Do you think that there is a non-physical part of yourself?
If you do, what do you think will become of it after death?
Hi COGreece

Thanks for your comment.

Hope your ex-gfs do not get into a fight over you in their gossip.

Also, hope you enjoy your time in heaven and being with the angels.

Have a nice day!
Hans

Thanks for your comment.
It certainly is very logical.
I suppose each of us will know what really happens when each of us get to that point after death.

Have a wonderful day!
Hi avias

I am happy to see that you have an open mind on the matter.

As I said to Hans:

I suppose each of us will know what really happens when each of us get to that point after death.

Have a lovely day!
Hey! Socrates
You know! Maybe after each person passes away. Just maybe! Each person will go in different ways.
Me Myself! I don't know. Because I haven't passed away yet. But! Hopefully when I have left the earth land. Maybe! I will be able to come and let you know where I am...hug

PS. No! Matter what ones believe. We will all pass away! One day anyway.

BTW; Can anyone prove that! There isn't a Heaven. Or a Hell? Can one even prove it is!
It doesn't matter to me at all!

I'm just a believer of Christ Jesus, my king!

( People believes what they want too. And so do I!)

Stay Sweet! Socrates.
Hi Angel

Thanks for your very down to earth and practical response, telling it like it is, especially:

"No! Matter what ones believe. We will all pass away! One day anyway."

"Hopefully when I have left the earth land. Maybe! I will be able to come and let you know where I am..."

Thanks for your offer that maybe you will come back and let me know. However, it depends on if you can find me then since I cannot say for sure where I will be at that time. Nevertheless, I still expect "to be".

I hope you will continue to be the angel that you are. angel
Hi Ken

First of all, I wish to thank you profusely for sharing with us, here at CS, some of what you have been experiencing since we were informed that you were hospitalised.

Experiencing a blood sugar drop from 120 mg/dl to 28 mg/dl is almost unbelievable. I admire your strong constitution, both mentally and physically in dealing with it.

The report by persons who have had a "near death experience" of travelling through a tunnel with a bright light at the end of the tunnel, such as you experienced, seems to be quite common.

Some medical research has been done on this phenomenon. Here is part of a report from such a source:

"Mysterious near death experiences may be caused by a surge of electrical activity in the brain moments before it dies.
Doctors believe that a burst of brain activity occurs just before death and this could account for vivid "spiritual" experiences reported by those who come back from the brink.
The researchers suggest this surge could be why some patients who have been revived when close to death report sensations such as walking towards a bright light or a feeling that they are floating above their body.
“We think the near-death experiences could be caused by a surge of electrical energy released as the brain runs out of oxygen,” said Dr Lakhmir Chawla, an intensive care doctor at George Washington University medical centre in Washington.
“As blood flow slows down and oxygen levels fall, the brain cells fire one last electrical impulse. It starts in one part of the brain and spreads in a cascade and this may give people vivid mental sensations.”
Many revived patients have reported being bathed in bright light or suffused with a sense of peace as they start to walk into a light-filled tunnel."




Your statement:
"that neither Energy nor information can be destroyed, only changed in state." has set me thinking. I am quite familiar with the reference to energy. This is the first time I am seeing it applied to information as well.

I am aware that some topics of information may be based on phenomena from the Natural world, but what exactly is the nature of information? I always viewed it as being associated with, and a product of the human mind. Of course, we can store information in books, computers, etc., but such information requires a human mind for its interpretation. A computer may process and interpret information but it requires a human mind to program the computer to do this. At least, that is how I see it.

Your comment with regard to those "tentacled things", with their sinister action in trying to pull you down is quite interesting. Thank goodness, you were able to fight them off.

I wish you a full and speedy recovery from the health problem you experienced.
Take Care, my friend!
That's the big question, isn't it? And just after visiting my best friend with his newborn baby boy and his little girl who's just started school, I would say that after you die there is nothing.
Obstinance_Works

Thanks for joining the discussion.
You stated:

"That's the big question, isn't it? And just after visiting my best friend with his newborn baby boy and his little girl who's just started school, I would say that after you die there is nothing."

Your statement appears to support "Annihilation", as mentioned in the blog, and with which I disagree based on the following:

"There are others who advocate that when a person dies, in addition to the fact that the physical matter of that person's body decays, there is total annihilation of everything that was initially referred to as that person; this includes the soul, spirit, consciousness or whatever. Absolutely nothing is left after death.
Personally, I find such a view difficult to accept. According to the Law of Conservation of Energy, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It may be changed from one form to another, but not annihilated. Whatever it is that drives us when we are alive, whether we refer it a soul, spirit, consciousness or whatever, is certainly some form of energy, psychic or otherwise. Then, according to the Law of Conservation of Energy, total annihilation of this energy is impossible. It may be changed to another form but it can never vanish into nothingness."

I am curious to know the basis of your claim that after you die, there is nothing. Thank You.
Hello Socrates, well the logician inside would say that onus of proof is upon you to show that an afterlife exists. However, it's tragic to believe that there's nothing after you die, and that's what my post was actually saying.
Logically speaking I don't believe we have free will and I regard consciousness as a memory's live recording of a body on auto-pilot. In this the consciousness/spirit/soul are all delusions/myths which die when the body dies.

Yet these are important myths of the mind. The closer the rational truth comes to pulling down these myths the sooner our demise. We were not made to handle so much truth.
Dear Socrates,

I would like to point out only two things:

1) The verb to think deeply means scarcity of knowledge. You never say for something you know "I think"; you say "I know".

2) No human can know anything about death and the life after it, because no one has come back from there. Only The One Who came from Heaven knows and said to us what to know and what to believe about death and the life after death. The rest have been made up by people.

Best regards
Dear omonoountes

Thank you for your late comment.

You wrote:

"No human can know anything about death and the life after it, because no one has come back from there."

That is exactly why my blog title is:

"What do you think will happen after you die?"

The only persons who can say they know are those who have been there.

But, unfortunately, as Omar Khayyam says:

"Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who
Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through
Not one returns to tell us of the Road,
Which to discover we must travel too."
- Omar Khayyam


I am not sure what is the point of your comment.
Dear Socrates,

I am so sure of your intelligence that I do not allow my self to believe that you did not understantand the deep meaning of the verb "to think", which-therefore-was wrong to be used. And the second point of my comment to which you did not really refer at all. If I had the ability, I would love to meet you and talk with you for a long-long time. You are a good man, but the way of your thinking, should be-as I have understood-in compliance with your way of living. Incredible, but true!
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socrates44

San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

I identify with the following words of Socrates:
“Know thyself”.
“The unexamined life is not worth living”.

I am a person who seek depth in life and living. This has been an overwhelming desire in me even since childhood. It is identified with a [read more]