For my afterlife, I'm betting on either nothingness/unawareness or transcendent union with the universe/knowledge of the cosmos. Anything else seems so clunky and constructed, not what I'd expect from divine cosmic awareness. If there is anything after death, I expect it to be me coming up before the cosmos and being recognized. I see it like finally being able to meet someone whose good opinion you really want but that person will be able to see exactly what kind of person you are. They're not going to throw you into hell or punish you, but you do want their respect and approval. I want to be able to hold my head up and look the universe in the eye at the end of it all.

The classic Catholic conception of Hell is being out of God's presence. As discussed back in my CCD classes, Judgement Day was pretty much like Connie's looking the universe in the eye - getting respect and approval = heaven, not=hell.

I still want my oatmeal that I did not bring to work, but I would settle for a burger.

So our life (as we perceive it) is a 4-dimensional slice of something much larger?

Well, not to say it isn't, but that isn't really my point. More that it's a 4-dimensional thing whose existence is not dependent on our perception.

I want to be able to hold my head up and look the universe in the eye at the end of it all.

Alternately, I'm kicking my way into Valhalla and sharing mead with Hubby and the cats.

Although I am generally interested in what beliefs about afterlives are, I don't, for myself, particularly care. Have never known what to expect from this life, so I don't need to know what comes next, I guess.

I just expect myself to cease to exist when I die, and I'll be surprised if my consciousness survives my death.

Whatever happens after death is what's supposed to happen, if that makes any sense. Nothing to fear except leaving this world before I'm done, and I think I'll never be done. Maybe oblivion, maybe reincarnation, maybe joining a Cosmic Consciousness. I don't believe in any heaven or hell except what's be generated in the mind/soul. Heaven is peace and joy, hell is guilt and grief. I haven't found any religion that offered an afterlife (besides reincarnation) that I found at all appealing. Reincarnation isn't even all that appealing, I don't want to go through all that shit again!, but it's better than hell or some boring heaven where all you do is sing hosannas.

Supposedly there's a tribe of people in South America who believe that when you die, a giant Eagle (it isn't really an eagle but we can't perceive what it really is) swoops down and snatches our soul away and carries to the afterlife, and if you are very quick and very brave and stupid enough to try, you can evade her, and remain in the world as a wandering spirit, at least until she finds you again. This would not be notable except I once had a vivid dream of this very thing, and part of me is now convinced it's true. Not the rational part of me, of course, but how can we be sure the rational part is capable of grasping the true nature of reality? Quantum physics shows us a world that makes no sense to the rational mind, yet it seems to be true.

At the University of Virginia there's a division of the School of Medicine, the Division of Perceptual Studies, that studies reincarnation and near-death experiences, insofar as it's possible to research such things scientifically. They've been doing it since 1967. I've read some of their research and it's changed my mind on the subject. I'm not ready yet to say I believe, but I'm more willing to consider the possibilities than I used to be. Not that I've ever been a hard-line materialist, I've had too many weird experiences not to be open to Extreme Possibilities (Mulder?).

I kind of have to believe in some sort of afterlife, because I plan on haunting people after I'm gone.

My brain tells me there is nothing, but my gut and heart aren't so sure. I have had too many...I don't know what to call them...connections with people who have passed.

Timelies all!

Even though it's not part of my religious tradition, I really like the idea of karma. The idea of some sort of next-life punishment for people who were shitty in this life, and got away with it appeals.(I realize this is probably not what karma really is about, but still...)