It’s Anyone's Guess
The afterlife is one of the greatest mysteries in the world, but that hasn’t stopped people from speculating and coming up with a variety of theories. Whether you already have your own beliefs or are interested to see what others think, here are 20 ways people view the end.
1. Nothingness
This one is probably the most boring possibility out here. No consciousness, no existence, really nothing to do or think about. Perhaps there’s nothing out there, but it’s not as much fun to wonder about.
2. Reincarnation
Reincarnation explores the idea of souls or spirits taking on new bodies. Some believe that you don’t even necessarily have to be reincarnated as a human, as you might have been an animal in a past life. Speaking of which, some people do claim to have past lives and there are a few interesting cases of such claims in history.
3. Paradise
This is a very popular one for a plethora of faiths, and explores the idea of some eternal paradise that the good will rest in. Some people have very specific ideas of what this looks like, from rivers of milk to fig trees, while others imagine a more abstract “everyone has their personal heaven” vibe.
4. Reuniting With Loved Ones
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can go through, and for some, there is comfort in the idea that they will be reunited once again. Many people believe they will be reunited with their friends and family in the hereafter.
5. Becoming a Ghost
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s definitely a lot of folklore and history behind the idea. From haunted places to eerie photos. Even Hollywood has monopolized it with movies like Caspar and Paranormal Activity.
6. The Matrix
Speaking of Hollywood, if you’ve ever seen the Matrix movie, you’re familiar with the idea that people are just plugged into a simulation. That means one possibility is you’re simply unplugged and might see some spooky alien overlords on the other end.
7. Higher Beings
If you’ve ever heard of 4D beings, it essentially refers to an idea that there are different dimensions that we humans can’t travel through until we evolve. Some people believe the afterlife could lead to this very thing and is just part of our evolution.
8. The Underworld
Of course, if you’re a fan of Greek mythology, then you’ve probably heard of Hades. Some believe there is another realm where everyone goes to afterward, with layers and levels, and plenty of new rules to follow.
9. Karma
If you’ve heard of karma, the idea is that good and bad deeds influence future lives, and the human journey is all about spiritual growth. This ties in with reincarnation, as better karma means a more successful next life.
10. The Consciousness
Some believe that human consciousness is just one part of a much bigger non-physical state. It’s like drops of water returning to the same ocean, with all consciousness and experience becoming one and the same.
11. Game Over
Speaking of the matrix theory, have you ever wondered if you pass and suddenly you’re just unplugging yourself from a video game? Some people think this might just be a video game or a life simulation we’re playing through.
12. The Simulation
Of course, on the other hand, it might be a simulation, but we might not be the players. Some popular figures and scientists do think we could just be in a computer. Now that would be trippy!
13. One With the Universe
Considering the circle of life and just how connected people are, it makes sense that souls might work the same way. This idea is that when people pass, they return to the “cosmic source” and become part of the universe. Similar to the whole water drop returning to the ocean idea.
14. Dimensional Shift
There’s this very complex idea that when we pass, we actually shift into a different dimension and continue our life as if we didn’t pass. That might make sense and all, until you think about the idea of old age. Surely you can’t shift at the age of 100 to a dimension where you lived till 101 – can you?
15. Limbo
Limbo is similar to the idea of nothingness – except we're conscious for it. So much worse, the idea is that souls just hang around in an empty and bleak room… for basically the rest of eternity.
16. Rerun
This one’s also kind of trippy, but the idea is that after your life is over, you just do it again. Kind of like restarting a video game to make different choices to see how it affects the outcome. But that would get boring real fast unless… you don’t remember.
17. Return to Nature
Similar to becoming part of the universe, this one focuses on a smaller scale, and sees people becoming part of nature. Our body continues to fuel life, and we become one with nature.
18. Watchful Spirits
Some people are raised being told that the loved ones they lost are still watching over them. This means that when we pass, we become omnipresent and aware beings that, perhaps, just watch over the rest of humanity.
19. One Good Deed
If you’ve seen the TV show The Good Place, it explores the idea of people progressively becoming better. Spoiler warning! At the end, it offers the idea that souls can be turned into one good, which drifts back to Earth and better the life of others.
20. Something Else Entirely
While many people have many interesting theories, the reality could be totally different than anything anyone expects. Either way, it’s fun to speculate and wonder about what could be.
