by Robyn Reece

Created on: August 05, 2009   Last Updated: August 11, 2009

As a non-believer it is very difficult to have any real ideas as to what happens after we die. Those who have a religion to turn to have an answer that relates to their religion.

There are so many theories that who is to know which is real? In fact how are we even able to make theories if we have never experienced death? Where do all these theories come from? Can it be our way of latching on to some form of delusional idea to make death less scary, to make us fear it less?

The unknown is frightening to us and what is more unknown than life after death. The very phrase is insane - life and death as if they exist together. When we die there is no life, surely? We fear death because there are no guarantees to what will happen so we grasp onto more reassuring ideas.

The idea of heaven and hell is the more attractive and simplest idea. If you have been good you go to heaven and if you are evil you will go to hell and spend your existence burning and suffering. Heaven seems less describable as clearly we don't know what our most desired world would be. Heaven will be the ultimate dream world where we are free and happy. However one has to wonder how happy we could really be, isn't it in our nature to enjoy certain forbidden fruits as it where. Maybe drinking on the odd occasion or smoking, one would assume this would not be allowed in heaven. So is heaven really eternal happiness if we are free but not really that free.

We also have the idea of reincarnation, continually being reborn time and time again. To me this seems a very sad existence to lead, it never seems to end it is almost like being punished time and time again. This would have to bring the idea to mind of are we maybe already living in hell, or some form of hell. Maybe we are already dead, the reality we live in is scary and when thinking about what we have become with crime and the way we have caused global warming. Everything we touch we seem to create disaster, reality could be seen as dark and grey and this world could easily be mistaken as hell.

There is also the idea of the seven plains, this idea I like the most. Seven plains to move up and seven plains to move down. The highest plain would be seen as heaven. Maybe the heavenly existence is the answer to all our questions the all knowing and once we reach this level we become a higher being. Every plain is like another world another version of this life this existence. Once we have fulfilled our purpose in this world we move on with the aid of death. If we have lived this life with evil in our hearts and minds then we will descend a level. The next plain we are more in tune with the universe and understanding more of whom, what and why. Our questions start being answered, last level we all become a higher being.

However I feel being a logical person and living in the depressing life of reality that neither of these makes sense. I have made the horrific conclusion of what happens after death. A theory that scares me and I hope is wrong. The answer we all fear, the reason we search for any other alternative but maybe deep down suspect could be the truth. We find it easier to live if the idea of the afterlife can be seen as moving on. What if after death there is nothing? It is all just over; you have no spirit or soul, or if we do have a spirit or soul they die with us. There is not even darkness or a black hole as this would still be something it would still constitute some form of existence. What if we just cease to exist?

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