Where do we go when we die?

from JoeUser Forums
Recent events in my family (the passing of my mom's mom) have me thinking a bit again about life, mortality, and where do we go from here.

I'm not necessarily a religious person, but I'm also not ready to say that I'm agnostic, atheist, or otherwise a non-believer.

I think most of us have thoughts of what we expect we pass from this world. We have hopes of how we want friends and loved ones to wind up, thoughts of a dieing grandparent going to a peaceful place where they can be reunited with one who passed some time before.

These types of thoughts are part of what makes me question how someone can truly ever claim to be an atheist. How can someone be so sure that there is no afterlife, and that all we have is our time on this planet. There has to be something more, a place that is better than this life, where we can experience these joyful reunions, even as those we leave behind experience loss and possibly sadness when someone passes on.

I'm curious of other's thoughts and more importantly how they can be sure of their beliefs and expectations.
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5,213 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
I would like to believe in an afterlife. I just can't at this point.

It seems to me that what makes us "us" is our biological make up. When all those synapses in our brains stop firing, what spiritual people consider a soul ceases to exist.

Rather than making life more bleak and meaningless, I think this just emphasizes how precious our relationships and experiences are. It reminds me to treasure my time with my loved ones.

If it makes someone feel more hopeful or comforts them to believe in an afterlife where things are better and where loved ones can be reunited, I don't think that's something that should be dismissed. We all cope with life and its sorrows and joys in the best ways we know how. If it helps someone to believe that they will be rewarded with an eternity of peace and pleasure for their good deeds, then I'm happy that brings them comfort and inspiration.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
When all those synapses in our brains stop firing, what spiritual people consider a soul ceases to exist.


Ha. If I believed that, I would have committed suicide a dozen times over. I've gotten plenty depressed enough to do it, but what's the point if there's an afterlife, so you don't really end anything?

They say if a Texan is good, when he dies, he goes to Montana...........
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
When I was struggling with it, my children were what kept me from it. As I said, I think we each find our own focuses and ways to cope with what life hands us.

I admire your faith, SPC, and I honestly wish that I could have such strong belief like you do, but any faith I professed would be a lie, and I would simply be going through the motions.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think that we all have souls, but I don't believe in the traditional 'streets paved with gold' kind of heaven. I think that when our bodies fail us, our souls are set free. Some of us come back in new bodies (reincarnation) and some of us who are a little further along the spiritual path go on to rejoin the light that we were created from.

I have had days when my kids were the only thing that kept me here too. Y'all aren't alone.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, for me, I believe that this life is but one step out of many in our progression. We lived before we gained bodies "of the dust of the earth. We had experiences, made choices, learned and progressed. Then we came to this earth to continue, learning things that are only possible with the physical and spiritual conditions that exist in a mortal state (The uniting of body and spirit). When we die (the seperation of the body and spirit), we move on to one of two places (conditions). We become teachers or we become learners.

After the end of "this generation" (all who have ever, or will ever live on this earth) has passed (the end of the world) we will be judged on our progression. At the judgement day our bodies and spirit will be reunited, never to be seperated again. Through our acceptance of the atonement of Jesus Christ (grace) and our progression (works) we will go to one of three places (conditions) of further progress. In Corinthians, these are described as "The Glory of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. The highest glory is a place (condition) of ultimate progress potential (Celestial), the glory of the moon (Terrestrial) and Stars (Telestial) are places of more limited progress potential.

Personally, I think that by the time we get to the judgement, we will be pretty much satisfied with where we will go, no matter if it's the highest or lowest. I kind of doubt anyone who would end up in the Terrestrial Glory would really feel all that comfortable in the others, and vice versa. Just as people in this life differ in spirituality and motivation to "progress", I don't think its far fetched to figure that that attitude would change... of course, until we get to that point (in the immortal words of "Stairway to Heaven") "There's still time to change the road you're on". ;~D

There's my beliefs on the subject.. in a nutshell.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks to all for the comments.

My own thoughts are that I just don't know what happens after this life, but I really hope this isn't all there is.

On the one hand, I appreciate the sentiment that TW expresses in her first reply that perhaps the thought that theres no where to go from here might make some appreciate this life more, and encourage them to do more with it, I think the thought that there is somewhere to go from here also helps to encourage many to do more with this life as they strive to ensure their place in the next life.

It really is a tough question to answer though. At my grandmothers viewing last nite my sister's oldest daughter, herself just a little over 4 years old, was viewing my grandmother in her casket and she told my mother that she wanted to say goodbye to my grandmothers "shell." My sister had told her children (my neice and her twin brother, her youngest daughter is still just a newborn) that when people die their bodies stay here, but their spirits leave the shell behind to go on. Like they say, out of the mouths of babes....

Anyway, it's a very tough question since we don't get all the answers while we are on this planet. We can seek them, and we expand our knowledge every day, but we have only begun to scratch the surface of all of the knowledge that is there to be gained. And still, unless someone crosses over and comes back with irrefutable proof, there's just no knowing of what the future holds after we have lived our lives here.