Hey friends. These days, I spend most of my free brain capacity thinking about what happens to us when we physically die. I am a fairly devout Christian, however our Bible isn't really detailed about this topic. Pretty much, if you believe in Jesus you go to a better place. If you don't, you go to a worse place. I have been reading alot of books and articles on the topic. From what I can tell, there are likely to be levels of Heaven and Hell. Reincarnation is possible but not guaranteed, and we may be reincarnated somewhere other than Planet Earth. Our beliefs and behavior in this life (or others we have lived) determines which Heaven or Hell we go to. It seems quite possible that we can graduate from one level to another, or go backwards to a worse level. Also, some spirits of deceased people can stay here for various reasons.
This is what I have come up with so far. My Christian faith doesn't demand that I proclaim one particular explanation of the afterlife as 100% true and all others are false. So, I am willing to learn and revise my expectations. What does everyone here think about the afterlife? How did you arrive at your beliefs? Any books/articles/lectures or other resources that you found particularly enlightening?
Here is my penny worth.
The afterlife, what it will be like, depends greatly on our conscious and perceived expectations.
One who has regrets may not have the best experience crossing over verses one with no regrets. Or he may decide to remain Earth bound. Same for one whose mind is filled with knowing he/she has done terrible things, only for them it may be a hell-like experience. An experience created by their own psyche of guilt that they can not escape from once they become free of their body.
One who has none of that will have a very pleasant experience.
The soul is energy and as thus is neither male or female. However most who cross over prefer to self identify with whatever sex they were before they crossed over.
What or who they see will vary certainly as well. So a religious person will see figures they expect to see plus family members perhaps as well. Others will simply see family members or perhaps a spirit guide to help them across.
The spirit world is a resting place, and not a permanent place for souls to reside.
There is a spirit world for every single world of life. They are all interconnected on a higher level but I am not sure how that works. Especially as it pertains to the multi-verse.
All souls go through learning stages and levels and for the vast majority that means reincarnation. If not here on our planet Earth then somewhere in the cosmos or multi-verse, as most souls are not restricted to Earth.
The amount of time a soul spends in the spirit world depends on a host of things. How well the lessens were learned in the immediate past life, urgency, and what the plans are with other souls with whom they are to interact with in their next life...for example.
Some may remain there for a thousand years while others may reincarnate only moments after they die.
We plan our own life and lessens we need to learn in that life. So we prearrange who we will be, what our likes and dislikes and interest will be(basically) as well as if we need to be a male or female.
One whom murdered in their past life, may feel they need the lesson, to feel what it is like to be a victim of murder, in their next life...as an example.
People you knew after you pass on will appear to you as you best remembered them. So one person being viewed by 5 others may be seen in 5 different ways. It will depend on how those 5 people best remembered you.
Communication is done telepathically. It is the truly, one, universal language. So you may find you can talk to animals(pets).
Souls are eternal. Once they have been created, they can not be destroyed.
There is no Devil or Satan. Those are human constructs.
There is also no Hell. Any hell-like experiences are a soul's own self tormented creation.
Remember the phrase "You are your own worst enemy." This is very true.
Souls are at different ages.
There are young souls(relatively speaking), and there are old souls.
Age depends on how many lives one has lived as an intelligent entity and how much time has passed.
....IMHO