where do pagans go when they die?

[katiethompson]

this is something i SHOULD know, but i just dont grasp the idea. I believe somewhat in reincarnation but in general, where do pagans go when they die? do we have a heaven? I consider myself pagan and am deeply ashamed that i dont know it. i fallow the path because it brings me harmony. where do pagans go, heaven?whats the pagan doctrine concerning this issue?

[aftershocked]

First off, I've heard it put best this way: "Four pagans will give you five answers to one question." That being said, I really don't think that there's a 'Pagan' doctrine.

In my opinion, I think that you go to what your soul connects with- if you wish to reincarnate, you will. If you wish to join your god you will- and if you die and believe that you will go to 'hell', you will. This is why I always try to be positive on my outlook- I don't want to be stuck in my vision of Hell for eternity. (What I imagine Hell would be, if I went there- not trying to start a debate :rolleyes: )

[Ron]

Well first one must understand the meaning of the word "Pagan". It comes from the latin word "paganus" meaning country dweller. It our times we use it to mean any "pre-christian" beliefs... to be best defined one should look to Dictionary.com....

One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
One who has no religion.
A non-Christian.
A hedonist.
A Neo-Pagan.
In our case, the 1st and 3rd apply. (the 2nd and 4th are utter non-sense)
So really, the term Pagan is very very general. A Pagans' beliefs will vary from one tradition to another, from one person and path to another. Do some reading, like Scott Cunningham's Guide to Solitary Practise. Popular routes include, Egyptian, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Gaulish, Norse - but then there's always the personal one, the one you divine by yourself in meditation or solitude.

:) Best of luck

Edit: I spellled understand as "unstand" - sorry I just had to fix it

[Dusk]

We are going to burn in the firey pits of hell because we are evil and God hates us.

:smoke:



The real answer to that question is as unknown to us as it is everyone else on this planet. The range of belief is vast. Some think there is nothing after this life, some think we will be with a God/Goddess, some think we will live again in some form, some think we will dwell on earth as a spirit... and so on and so on...

[rain_fallen_tears]

I may come off as naive...but I imagine the Summerlands, I guess what you could all the equivilant to christan Heaven....I also strongly believe in reincarnation, I think the Summerlands is a place of happiness and rejuvination(sp)...then you are sent to learn more from a new life...when you feel you are wise enough to take your place permanently in the Summerlands and amoungst your Gods and Goddess' you move on no more and become a spectator and learn through those who still live on...thats just my take on things....:)

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Well I would hope that I go to Tir na n'Og, "The Land of the Young."

However, where you believe you go after death is dependent upon your own spiritual beliefs. Mine follow a Celtic path, hence my desire to go to Tir na n'Og after death. Someone who follows a Hellenic path probably hopes to go to the Eluysian (spelling?) Fields. I think the common Wiccan belief for the afterlife is The Summerlands.

[Shanti]

My beliefs is that of reincarnation. But I believe you can recarnate into whatever and where you like. I havent desided the what nor the where.

[Kiya]

By the way, there are no 'stupid' questions! Even questions that you might think are silly, are normally very valid. Your question has made me stop and think - what do I ACTUALLY believe? Anyway, my belief is that we do reincarnate, but after a period of rest and reflection in the Summerlands. What or who we reincarnate as depends on the lessons we need, or wish to learn. Oh look, Aftershocked is right.... loads of different answers! What a diverse lot we are!!!!

[SacredWithin]

this is something i SHOULD know, but i just dont grasp the idea. I believe somewhat in reincarnation but in general, where do pagans go when they die? do we have a heaven? I consider myself pagan and am deeply ashamed that i dont know it. i fallow the path because it brings me harmony. where do pagans go, heaven?whats the pagan doctrine concerning this issue?

The one thing I can acknowledge about the Pagan community and their aproach to things is that everything is a being in its own (I hope that made sense). I am not of the Pagan community (although the elitist religions may think otherwise) but the one thing I like is that most of the Pagan communities is that they respect you for who you are, especially when it comes to beliefs. I think this is why there is no real doctrine or set rule that says, "anyone who follows the Rede to the T is going to the highest plane in Heaven. Everyone else will be shuffled accordingly.". no way!

I think it's all personal preference. :)
:colorful:

[Ron]

SacredWithin puts it much nicer than me. Props to her...

[Vanessa TPD]

Don't be ashamed!

I personally believe in reincarnation. Others, as you can see, believe differently :).

[MoonChild78]

I beleive that we reincarnate until we learn all that we have to learn. Upon learning all that we are sent to learn, we can keep coming back as humans or pets or we can join our family and god/dess and then we become stars and guides for those still living. Just what I beleive, and have always beleived... *BB

[spirit wind]

My belief is very similar to MoonChild78's.

I feel that we reincarnate for as long as needed. Each person/soul is here to learn something (or everything?) and we can keep coming back until we are ready to move on. Then we become stars in the skies above and Guardians for people who need one. :)

Spirit Wind

[SylverStar]

It really does depend on your beliefs or that of the religion you're in. It seems alot of pagans believe in reicarnation (and even the veiws of that can vary). I think the Summerlands is a Wiccan view which is probably the most common I've run across in books and online.

[Grey]

*shrug* as everyone seems to have said, it varies from person to person. There is no shame in not knowing... many people that are in an orginized religion do not "know", they only think. When you find what is right, you will know that it is right, and you will "know" where you will go. Or, as many do, you will face the afterlife without any surety, and be no worse off for it.

Personally, I am a believe in reincarntaion. I think when we die that we go outside the universe and are partially cleansed until we are summoned inward again. Of course I also believe that outside of this universe there are many places one can go and that to your soul they would seem as varied as Valhall, hell, hel, elysium, and purgatory, to name a few. These are all just differrant areas of energy out there, and they have certain effects on folks. Where you go depends on the energies that were with you when you died, which is a blend of how you lived, how you thought, how you were thought of, and how you died. But of course this is just my opinion, and many would not think it worth a grain of salt. *shrug*

[Mizzou]

I myself, believe in what your soul is attached too, and if you are attached to hell, then you will live in your minds version of hell. if you are attracted to heaven, you will live in your minds verson of that. if you are attracted to reincarnation, you will be reborn as whatever you want or is defined for you.

you might be reincarnated as a squirrel (personaly I think there cute)
or a horse, or another person. whatever you choose or is given to you (im not sure if you can choose)

[Ghreyd]

Dusk:

Fire, I like fire. I get to be around fire? Cool.

Ohhh man, you mean to tell me I don't get to go where the fire is. lol.

[Lady Andais]

My opinion is that we first go to the summerlands...this is kind of a waiting point before we are reborn but also you can meet up with family members there if they haven't been reborn yet themselves. Then i think we get reborn until we are done learning our lessions. Where we go from there i honestly can't say because my soul is yet to reach that point from as far as i can tell.

As a side note...i honestly believe that your soul will go where it truly believes it is supposed to go. My mom's believes it will come back as a tree and so it shall happen. There are many x-ians who believe in heaven and i believe that is where they end up. The only ones i feel sorry for is those who believe from the depths of their souls that they will go to hell to be tortured. Those people i feel bad for but realize there must be some deeper meaning behind why they believe this and so i leave it alone.

[Druchii]

Idaho. For the potatoes.

[NatureWizard]

I also share the same beliefs as MoonChild78's :huddle:

[DragonFriend]

....well I dont know where you guys are going when you die but Im going to the Rainbow bridge..... :)

....I agree with NightHawk, I think it depends entirely on what you believe.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Well, the truth is that we'll all find out sooner or later.

Until then, I don't see the need to worry about it. I'm living as good a life as I know how, so I've got my bases covered. ;)

[Tzhebee]

Wow, what a very un-stupid question! I think you would be surpised at the number of people who "don't know" (either because they choose not to think about it, or they are undecided).

I've always believed that we are reincarnated again and again until we have learned all of lifes lessons. Once we have learned all we need to learn, we have the choice of being reincarnated again or going to a Heaven.

But that is as defined as I am. I don't know if I can be reincarnated as an animal or plant or only a person...I don't know if I can be reincarnated in future years only, or if I can go back in time. I don't know if there is a "waiting period" between death and your next reincarnation, etc.etc.

I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that it's OK that you don't know. :)

[Xentor]

I'm going to reincarnate too. :)

[VroomBroom]

I belive (that after a much needed rest from this liftime:lol: ) I will reincarnate again.

[forest spirit]

i am of the belief that we reincarnate after we die. its sort of like a heartbeat, expanding and contracting eternally in a joy and ecstasy of its own. or you can think of it like after everyday there is a night and then day again, forever and ever. Some people find this theary rather morbid, for me, if think it's on the contrary, getting to experience the wonder and joy of life over and over again. plus, one has to remember that the goddess is manifest in the universe and true union with her is to be alive.

[forest spirit]

undefinedi don't mean to seem like i'm imposing this belief, i just mean to put my opinion out in the open :floating: