For those who practice pagan or other polytheistic/pantheistic religions?

Question

What are your beliefs about the afterlife? And specifically, what is in store for those who don't worship the proper gods/goddesses?

Answer 1

My beliefs about the afterlife could fill a book. Basically I can sum it up this way that those who have lived virtuous lives will go on to experience greater fulfillment, pleasure, and challenge. Those who have led lives characterized more by vice than by virtue will be separated from kin and doomed to an existence of dullness and gloom. The precise nature of the afterlife - what it will look like and feel like - is beyond our understanding and is dealt with symbolically in the myths.

And no one gets punished for their belief or lack of belief in the Norse Gods. You are judged by your deeds, your actions. Not your religion.

As for were I think I'll go when I die? Well that's up to the Gods, but considering which one I am devoted to, I suspect I'll be going to one of the halls in Asgard.

Answer 2

Well, I am not really decided what really happens in the afterlife, I think nobody can say it for sure untill they themselves die and may be then able to find out it for themselves. But I anyway I think there is a place or places in the afterlife. You may call it Summerlands as someone has already said it, or The Land of Youth or Land of Death where everybody - or rather their life-essence or being - goes in the death and there they wait for the next time to be born onto the Earth. I am here talking about the reincarnation, and some people may also connect it with the karma too. But I am not meaning that the next life would be punishment for the last life´s wrong-doings, but rather that each consequent life on the Earth is an opportunity to learn important lesson for yourself and what you choose or need to learn depends on the last life´s lessons or lack of them.

I think this does not depend at all on who you worship or whether you worship none at all. I think this is what happens to all of us people no matter our individual ways of personal worship or lack of it.

Answer 3

I think the Divine conforms to our expectations of It. You go to the between life that your faith goes to. It's possible, since It conforms to you, to make your own afterlife, but the old ones have had millions of people putting their expectations on these ideas for many thousands of years. It's a well worn path and much easier to walk. The only people who would go to a Christian and Muslim afterlife, like Hell, would be Christians and Muslims who have failed their God and others who expect they will go there too. Getting involved in another faith allows you to expect yourself in a variety of places depending on that faith. I'm Heathen. I have no realistic expectation of dying in battle, so I'm comfortable with spending some time in Niffleheim, the cold underworld. One of my goddesses, Holde, mends the roots to the Tree of Life there and it's not a horrible place to be. It's not a rock concert every night like Valhalla, but it's not bad. Unless you molested children, then Niffleheim is very bad. I also believe in reincarnation. I expect I'll spend some time Niffleheim, maybe pop into Summerland occasionally if I'm lucky enough to run an errand for My Lady, and eventually I'll be reborn on Earth to learn more lessons this physical life has to offer.

Answer 4

I'm a pantheist, and I don't believe worship is a requirement. I don't know what happens in the afterlife, beyond succumbing to decay. I hope the experience doesn't end, but I'm afraid it might.

Answer 5

It is the belief of most of the practitioners of Hellenismos that I have spoken to that there is an afterlife. However, that afterlife is not a place of eternal punishment for those who are "not in the club'

Answer 6

I believe in reincarnation. I don't think that believing in God or Gods is necessary for enlightenment, even though I do believe in God. There are many ways to approach God, and to attain God-realization. I think all will eventually find salvation.

Answer 7

I believe we make our own, based on what we TRULY [not just conciously believe]. For example, many Christians see Heaven or Hell when their brain goes pfft. Many people who feel guilty for leaving the flock see Hell, and etc.

For myself personally, I do not see any kind of existance after my death.

Answer 8

I beleive in reincarnation.I don't think there is a right or wrong god/ess. They are all just aspects of the same. Regardless of what name you use the god/ess will know whom you are talking to.

Answer 9

Summerlands/rebirth.

There in no one proper God or Goddess =-].

Answer 10

What a bunch of wacko responses. These polythiest all have one thing in common, their all nuts.