Wow, what a vitriolic the subject religion is. More so than politics. There are two topics I never discuss with friends and this is one. It can be an interesting discussion if kept civil. The problem is that these beliefs can be very deep rooted giving rise to fanatical dogma. And so it goes.

Does it really matter Which religious belief one has??? After death, one of 2 things is going to happen. Either our awareness simply vanishes for eternity, both body and soul (so much for any religion), or your spirit must evolve into another form of some kind (highly unlikely to me that a particular religion plays any role in this either). For me, the religious debate is pretty much moot.

I was an agnostic for years until reports/studies of NDE's (Near Death Experiences) were published. (NDE can be experienced by someone who is clinically dead and then subsequently resuscitated. Some fascinating stories regarding them and the glimpses they give beyond our everyday experiences.) A good read on this is: "ABOUT THE CONTINUITY OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS", http://www.nderf.org/vonlommel_consciousness.htm. Anyway, I'm comfortable believing that it doesn't matter, but it would be a cruel hoax for our creator to give us hope that there is something beyond this life and then abruptly turn the switch off at the end. What would be the point of that??