Pagan beliefs on death?

Question

A depressing topic I know.

I know that Christians believe in a life after death being in either heaven or hell depending on how they have acted in their lifetime.

I was wondering what are views of Pagans on this topic.

If anyone could give me an answer or somewhere I could find an answer I would be most gratefull. Thank you.

Answer 1

It completely depends on the Pagan.

If I have lived my life in accordance with the will of my gods, I will be reunited with my family in death, although I could choose to assist them by being reborn into my clan. If I have not, a number of things may happen.

The exact details are not open to you.

Answer 2

Depends on the pagan and on the path. I personally think that the energy that makes me "me" returns to the Universe, but does not retain coherence or consciousness. More like pouring a glass of water back into the ocean. And when a new being is born, the energy that makes that being unique is drawn from that pool, so it may end up getting some (but not all) of what used to be "me". I think that's why you find people in your current life that you feel a "connection" to - because the energy has a connection from a previous life. I think that's also why many different people can have memories or feelings of being the same person in a past life - the soul doesn't reincarnate as a whole, rather the energy is dispersed into the Universe to be re-used.

But since nobody knows for sure, my guess is just as good - or as bad - as anyone else's.

Answer 3

It depends on the Pagan. Some believe in reincarnation, some believe in an actual after life, some believe in a combination of the two.
There is the Summerland's, the Otherworld, and the Halls of the gods, all respective to Wiccan, Celtic Recon, and Heathen. It just depends on the path.

Answer 4

You find as many beliefs as there are pagans. In a way the word Pagan is misleading. There are many varieties of belief covered by the term Pagan. Some of us are very eclectic I tend to mix Norse, Celtic and Hellenic and I have a deep personal devotion to the Bodhisattva Quan Yin. Perhaps I'll commute.
I suspect that reincarnation is a fairly likely senario.

Answer 5

It depends on the religion. "Pagan" is an umbrella term that covers an awful lot of religious territory.

Most Wiccans hold with the idea of reincarnation, which they see as being logical given their perception that the universe runs in repeating cycles. A common belief is that the souls of the dead go to an afterlife called the Summerlands, where they rest and are renewed in the presence of the Gods prior to entering a new earthly life.

Answer 6

In general terms, pagans believe in the cyclical nature of the world. In the recurring seasons & phase of the moon. They generally follow beliefs containing reincarnation or the returning of the spirit in some way, as opposed to christians which believe that you will go somewhere for eternity.

Answer 7

Many believe in reincarnation after some rest and recovery in the "Otherworld." There is generally no concept of hell as a place of punishment, but some believe wrongdoing can trap the soul in state of suffering after death. Some (Wicca) believe the soul joins their dead ancestors who watch over and protect their family. Some believe that life energy continues in some, if unknown, form. Some believe in various spiritual resting places. Many say we don't or can't know what happens after death.

Answer 8

You would have to be more specific. Some people use the word "pagan" as anything that isn't Christian. Neo-pagans have a variety of beliefs: reincarnation, Summerland, Valhalla (Asratu religion), Elysian fields (Hellenic religions), etc.

Answer 9

There are Pagans of many beliefs . The largest groups would be Hindu and Buddhist . They both believe in different forms of reincarmation .

Answer 10

The views differ depending on the pagan and what path they follow. Most pagans I know believe in reincarnation until they learn a particular lesson, and then they move on ...