[Smile] It's interesting to see the diversity of beliefs. I understand this is a sensitive and extensive subject, and respect each opinion and belief expressed here.

[Smile] Here's a bit of what I've learned from the Bible:

1. God created man from the dust in the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul-Genesis 2:7

2. When a person dies-the dust returns to the earth as it was; and the spirit(Breath of life God gave him) returns unto God who gave it-Ecclesiastes 12:7, see also Gen. 3:19

3. According to Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10 the dead can't help us. They have no part in anything under the sun. They don't know what their loved ones are doing. They can't think, help, guide us, communicate with us, etc. The day they die, their thoughts perish-Psalm 146:4

4. Jesus referred to the unconscious state of the dead as "sleep". (John 11:11-14)

5. Jesus promised that whoever believes in Him will rise again. John 11:25

5.Those who accepted Christ as their Savior will rise at the sound of the trumpet when Jesus comes. (1 Thesalonians 4:16,17)

~We decide our eternal destiny by choosing or not to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior- John 3:16 "...that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life";
And Jesus said: "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned" Mark 16:16.

~Accepting him as such also means we obey HIS commandments and serve him wholeheartedly.- "If you love me, keep MY comamndments"-John 14:15.

~Each person's reward is not at death, but at Christ's return-"And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be"-Rev. 22:12

[Smile] God loves us all, His son died for all, regardless of our differences in opinion or belief. I pray this discussion proves healthy and helps us seek God's answers to our questions. God bless!