It may not be the most popular thing to think of.

[Glowingsun]

If you don't know, I have beliefs in the afterlife. I seriously do. I don't believe that people really die. Their bodies, yes. But spiritually, no. I believe that souls are made up of energies and pulses.
I don't cry at funerals, I don't mourn deaths. Except when it's a baby or kid.
sure I get sad if it's a good close friend. But with friends or family that I'm not close with I don't cry. I do respect others beliefs and would never smile or laugh at someones death. bu tI just feel as though those people are not "gone". But merely moved on. It's natural and happens to everyone.
Is this wrong to believe this? Insensitive? Is there somehting wrong with me?

[Nesta]

If you don't know, I have beliefs in the afterlife. I seriously do. I don't believe that people really die. Their bodies, yes. But spiritually, no. I believe that souls are made up of energies and pulses.
I don't cry at funerals, I don't mourn deaths. Except when it's a baby or kid.
sure I get sad if it's a good close friend. But with friends or family that I'm not close with I don't cry. I do respect others beliefs and would never smile or laugh at someones death. bu tI just feel as though those people are not "gone". But merely moved on. It's natural and happens to everyone.
Is this wrong to believe this? Insensitive? Is there somehting wrong with me?

I'm much the same, I believe we are energy and that our energy never dissipates, it just changes. Death does not sadden me in the way that it does most people. I do cry though, I cry for the pain of the people who are grieving because I'm sorry for them and because grief encapsulates such a strong array of emotions. I also cry for young children who have suffered before they passed.

[TheLittleWitchy]

I am the same pretty much. I just can't feel upset at a funeral - even if it was a family member.

Everyone is different, so no need to feel bad! :rubhead:

[Mors]

If you don't know, I have beliefs in the afterlife. I seriously do. I don't believe that people really die. Their bodies, yes. But spiritually, no. I believe that souls are made up of energies and pulses.
I don't cry at funerals, I don't mourn deaths. Except when it's a baby or kid.
sure I get sad if it's a good close friend. But with friends or family that I'm not close with I don't cry. I do respect others beliefs and would never smile or laugh at someones death. bu tI just feel as though those people are not "gone". But merely moved on. It's natural and happens to everyone.
Is this wrong to believe this? Insensitive? Is there somehting wrong with me?

Ditto, I completely agree with you. You're not insensitive, I did that too. Well, most people would say that I'm insensitive, but that's because they doesn't understand. Shouldn't we be happy for them because finally they passed on to a better world/new life?

[Nuadu]

I don't cry at funerals, I don't mourn deaths. Except when it's a baby or kid.
sure I get sad if it's a good close friend. But with friends or family that I'm not close with I don't cry. I do respect others beliefs and would never smile or laugh at someones death. bu tI just feel as though those people are not "gone". But merely moved on. It's natural and happens to everyone.
Is this wrong to believe this? Insensitive? Is there somehting wrong with me?

Its good to have a belief in the afterlife but it is essential to mourn. From personal experiance Ive found that if you dont mourn even when youre unaware of it the sadness is bottled up inside you and it festers becoming much worse until you are forced to deal with it.
If its people you dont know or care about really then its normal not to be sad, all you really have to do is have a sense of decorum at the funeral out of respect but that numbness that comes from the shock of a death of someone you care about shouldnt go on more then a few days to be healthy.

Religions have a theraputic function aswell as a spiritual one and beliefs in an Afterlife being such a large part of religions is an illustration of how important grieving is in human life. For example if a child dies its said in Ireland that the Gods/Fairies swept it off to their Sidhe because one of their women lost a child. If a mother dies in childbirth its said that the mother was swept to nurse one of the human children who wasnt doing well in the Sidhe. Of course the gods/fairies only take the best of us. In both those scenarios people cope with their grief by having belief that the people arent gone that they are living close by in a well known local place and are enjoying a better life instead of being gone.

Thats not to say belief in the afterlife is entirely a fiction its that some things in life are so important that the highest expression of the culture, the peoples spiritualuty/religion, steps in to support the culture in its greatest hardship. Religion doesnt do that for many things, for example you cant say the fairies swept your house if it burns down even though thats traumatic.

[cauldronkitty]

I feel that both ways of looking at it are true.
If someone feels that the soul goes on and there's no need for grief, then that can be healthy (as long as it's not a way to bury the emotions. I just mention that because I've seen it in myself and others.)
But, personally, whereas I can see the "big picture", I still feel a lot of sadness because that person or animal won't be physically there with me anymore. I won't get to talk to them or hug them anymore.

[Galen]

I do cry at funerals, but for my own selfish reasons. I don't believe that a person's energy - soul...whatever you wish to call it - dies. I believe we all move on in an endless cycle and keep learning throughout life. Sure, my beliefs in this may have some loopholes such as "What happens when you learn everything?" but let's save that for another conversation.

Anyway, forgive my derailing. Of course, when someone loved dies, you will miss them. It's okay to cry, to mourn. Male or female, old or young - it's just part of life. Not everyone shares the belief that we progress into a new life. We should respect that. I say I have my own selfish reasons to cry at a funeral or viewing because of the times I had with that person. The times I didn't get to have...the times we weren't supposed to have. Whether you have tears of happiness that the person moves on or whether you're sad they are leaving this plane of existence...it's okay to cry. A mixture of both is okay.

To answer your questions...it's not wrong to believe. Pagans, heathens, Christians, Jews...we're all entitled to our own beliefs. We should respect said beliefs. I believe you (generalized) are being insensitive when you do not respect others' beliefs and whatnot. If someone is crying and mourning, express your condolences. I think it's kind to do even if you share different views. There is nothing wrong with you, I'd say. :)

[Nicholas]

I thought I'd throw my belief in to the mix. I was lead to believe what many of the above think all through my childhood but by the start of high school and up until now I sincerely believe that I'll become nothing more than compost. Most people all appalled by this, but I find it much more comforting with an actual ending.