Buddhists think that you are reincarnated over and over again, gaining experience and wisdom each time, continuing on until you reach a state consciousness that transcends the physical. What happens after that, I don’t know but I assure you that I am a long way from that step anyhow. In fact, If they are right, I’m probably just starting out.

Pretty much every religion incorporates some form of judgement, followed by either punishment or reward. My father thinks that this life is the actual Hell. There have been times when I have wondered if he might be right.

What I believe is…

I have no idea. I was raised in a Christian household, and therefore am influenced heavily by that. The problem I have is that the supposed definitive word of God is a book written, rewritten, translated poorly from one language to another, changed, edited and interpreted by people, and people are notorious screwups. Whatever Higher Power that created us also gave us free will, and in doing so made it possible to do all manner of nasty things to one another - including church-sanctioned witch hunts, burnings at the stake, crucifixions, impalings, etc.

I guess I don’t care much for organized religion. Historically, it seems to me that it has been more a means of controlling people than anything else. If it’s true that God is in everything, then I can worship anywhere, any time. And if that’s true, then maybe the Native Americans have it closer to right than anyone else… worship and respect nature.

But I digress. You didn’t ask about all of that. What you asked is what I think happens when a person dies. The truth is, I don’t know, and I don’t subscribe to any particular theory. I’m trying to figure it out for myself. What I do know for sure is that I will die, and whatever happens to me will happen, regardless of what I believe.

Does that make any sense?