I always wanted to believe, but as i grew older and learned more than when i was a child I could no longer believe. I absolutely hated what we do to each other in the name of religion. I dislike that we are supposed to overcome our humanness, ego etc, and yet were told we were made in Gods image. I struggled with the concepts in contridiction. As i get closer to the end of this life I find it more interesting. I love people as they are, and have even learned to accept myself as ok too. Being human and being a spiritual person fit together as ego and personality fit with the social lives expected of us. I am not afraid to die. I believe however that my life is simply to experience it and express the control I have over seeing it as i choose and doing what I choose without God wanting anything from me at all. The conversations with God series has been enlightning for me as it is the closest to what i have discovered myself in all my searching. What happens at death. My SELF dies.

Life for most of us revolves around the following questions. What kind of car do you drive? Where do you live? What is the size of your bank account? These are the assets that define us in society. What should define us is the condition of our souls. Every day we should ask each other the following questions. Did you extend your hand to someone who was down and out? Did you share your wealth so that someone else could seek shelter, food and medical care? Did you speak kindly to your love ones offering them support and love? Did you thank God for your blessings, no matter how small they may seem? Life on earth is not a trial run. Every year 50,000 to 100,000 children and women are brought in to the US as sex slaves. Why do we as a society care so little about the plight of those individuals stolen from their homes and their lives? When we are not effected by the crime, it has no importance in our world. But imagine how mothers and fathers around the world feel, not knowing where their child is? Or the terror that child feels being kidnapped? Please stand for God by changing the questions we ask each other. When passing each other on the street, be aware of each other’s existence. Tune in instead of tuning out. Awareness is the key to safe guarding all our lives. As for life after death, our spirits return home to God. Our bodies are but shells our souls exist in while on earth. What counts in heaven has nothing to do with your success monetarily, but it has everything to do with the condition of your soul. Make today count. It may be your last day on earth to stand for God.

I was raised a Catholic and worked as a Pastoral Associate at a Catholic Church for 27 years. I remember when my mother died at the age of 91 (in her sleep, after having lunch with her gal pals and complaining about the greasy paella to me on the phone that night) sitting in my sister’s house yelling: “Where the hell is she?”. I still have moments of doubt. It would be lovely to think that I will be reunited with all my loved ones, but sometimes I think it would just be lovely to live on in the hearts of my husband, children, grand-children and friends. So….I try to be worth remembering.

Discovered what I really believed about the afterlife when I had a bad reaction to anesthesia. Woke up the shiny recovery room of a university hospital thinking I was dead. Thought I was in the ante room to heaven. Was very pleased looking back on my life. Had a terrific education, wonderful children, made a few bucks and basically had a fun time. I was ready to meet my maker. My nurse was not pleased by my state of mind and tried to argue me out of the delusion but what brought me back to reality was being returned to my room. A psychiatrist after that incident I had a real appreciation for the power of a delusion.

I don’t know why should someone worry what happens when we die? When your hour will come you will definitely know. Being alive we can imagine many things, but what happens after known only to God, “His Wisdom surpasses our understanding”. We worry about things we are not in control, but up till now we can not (or simply, do not want) find a way to live in PEACE with each and “LOVE our neighbor as we love ourselves”. Let us try to change this world and make it better, practicing “unconditional love” Jesus has for everyone. Let us respect and be tolerant to different religions, cultures and races, be humble and contented, learn how to forgive and say “sorry” (I believe it is the most difficult task each of us experienced in life) and leave things of “another” world to Our Creator. We take so many things for granted and forget Life is the greatest and most precious Gift we have from God. May His name be glorified forever. Peace be to you all!

Just as there are the Laws of Conservation of Mass and Energy, I think there may be a Law of Conservation of Souls. Or maybe soul is energy? Just like our body becomes part of the larger earth, and supports other life forms after our death, our Energy (soul) will become part of the larger reservoir of Energy (souls?). Parts of that pool of Energy (souls?) will reemerge periodically in differnet forms. We are all one.

I think that nothing happens, that we bocome a part of the planet, for as long as it lasts. I would love to believe that whatever a person believes in while alive is what she will find after death. Every belief is true and equal in value. Everything is possible from nothing to heaven, as you picture it and need it to be. Hell, as you understand it, is possible. Purgatory for Catholics, the seven levels of heaven for Mormons, the reincarnation of everyone who believes, the twenty some virgins for the suicide bombers who expect them. Whatever one can imagine and choose to work for in this life can and will happen in the next world. I think that would be fair and just and a really fun concept. I am ok with nothing for me. Thanks for the question.

I found the differences in after-life opinions quite interesting - given the women involved in this conversation. In my life I’ve found that successful, powerful people usually have something they strongly believe in - it’s what gives them the strength to “solider on” - that’s why I found this conversation so intriguing. That’s not a judgement - simply an observation. When Joni Evans chimes in about her personal - spiritual experiences that she begins to have at 50 years of age - the tone of the conversation greatly changes. By tone - I actually mean the sound of the voices of the women sharing. Everyone that is a “non-believer” -if you will - in any form of the after-life seems to sound hopeful. There is a yearning for it to be so. I wonder why we all have that in us - the desire for the knowledge of the after-life? I think maybe its because instinctually we are connected to our spiritual self and know it to be true - so when we hear it we’re filled with hope. It’s lmost an anticipation of our future life. What I know - we all interpret it differently. This is where the confusion begins. When we’ve been force-fed crap about the after-life and we know it’s crap - it’s easier to stop believing in its possibility and shut down. You don’t have to believe what someone else tells you - no matter who’s saying it. A priest or a rabbi don’t know more than you. Their title does not mean anything. I know that I am best served going with my gut or just being. This was a great conversation and like Joni - I too have much evidence about the after-life that believing has never been an issue for me. I’ve been blessed with these experiences happening to me since I was a child - so I’ve never not believed. My believing has nothing to do with religion.

I worked for hospice as an RN for four years and I’ve been present at more deaths than I care to think about. As they were actually dying some of my patients seemed to be seeing loved ones who had already died. They raised their arms and intoned the person’s name. It was pretty interesting.