What happens when you die

[Death or Life]

Not to get off on any religious beliefs, but what do you think happens when you die? Is there life after death?
As a child, I pondered this question. I just can't fathom in my mind that this life is all there is. This life and these bodies will expire I know,but there is so much we just don't know.Yet the finality of death in this life-boom your dead, in the ground, that's it. The physical perspective of death I understand.I just cannot accept in my mind since I was seven years old that that is all there is. BTW, I am aware of God, I simply wished not to get into a discussion on whether he exist or not.I am simply curious what others here believe happens when they die, in relating to ghost & spirits.........

[heather]

I'm not sure I can say what I think without bringing God into the equation as I am a Christian. I will try to give my perspective on it and you can take it for what it's worth to you... I know that because I am a Christian, many people I know are telling me that I should not be "messing with" the unknown. So that in itself tells me that no one is absolutely sure. And I know that there are evil "spirits" out there as well as "angels." I believe what I do is simply to try and capture thru scientific methods evidence of whatever is out there. I believe that there is life after death. I also think that some events are SO TRAGIC that they can leave an imprint on their surroundings. Sometimes, the "spirits" we encounter seem to be stuck in a pattern, reliving these events. Nothing that you, as someone alive, bothers them or interferes with their mission. Sometimes it is even mundane things. Other spirits seem to be almost craving an interaction with someone alive. Whether it is to give a message or just to prove that they ARE THERE. They seem to have a desire to fulfill that need. And I personally believe that when the "evil" or "mean" things happen. that those spirits are not those of humans who have died. I believe them to be of the non-human demonic persuasion. Yes, that again brings God into the equation but I really don't know any other way to put it. Some of the evidence I've seen just leads me to believe that these entities were never human and posses the power of something extremely dark.

so I guess the long and short of it is.. while no one can say for sure (without bringing religion into it) that SOMETHING definitely seems to happen after death. That you aren't just "boom- dead" and gone. All the evidence seems to say that there is more... and that it may not be all that unpleasant.

[Death or Life]

Let me ask this question: Are there any agnostics or atheist that believe in the spirit world? Or is it possible to believe in the spirit world without a belief in God? (or a higher being?) It is difficult not to bring religion into question. I too am christian and have read debates from both sides of God's existance. I actually believe I have come to know God by accepting that there exist a spirit world after death for us from the physical realm. For me as a child, it was easier to believe or comprehend that such a spirit world exist than to try to understand-boom;you dead-that's it. This was actually my basis to believe in God before I actually come to know God years later. So from a scientific standpoint,my first belief as a child in coming to know God is without merit. I'm not questioning God's existance, but what need would there be for ghost or spirits without a higher calling or being?
Or, are spirits & ghost, angels & demons are a religious connection to the belief in God?