;TLDR at the bottom. Combining my very basic knowledge and limited understanding from different aspects of science, theology, existentialism etc. I have concocted a rough draft hypothesis on "afterlife"; with time, study and testing, I believe it could be refined into a tangible and acceptable theory. Of course, the initial acceptance would be much like Galileo's theories to be sure, but at least in this day, and at least in this country I wouldn't be killed for it. I am not a scientist in any sense of word, so this is the Tim's Basic Understanding of How Things Work version. Given what we think we know about physics, there is a finite amount of energy in the universe and it can neither be created nor destroyed, only have it's properties changed to a different form, i.e. potential vs. kinetic. PLUS Given what we have thus far come to understand about the universe and the cosmic background radiation (another form of energy, only relatively recently discovered and believed to have existed since and been created by the big bang) that constantly surrounds and travels through our bodies. PLUS Given what we know about human anatomy and biology, how signals from our nervous system as well as thoughts travel as electrical impulses (energy) via synapses; or how memories are stored and retrieved via those same impulses or energy. EQUALS Putting this information together, doesn't it seem far more logical that when our bodies finally expire, instead of our "spirit" getting virgins, wings or what have you, that our bodies' energy changes form and just radiates its' energy back out to once again mingle with the rest of the cosmic background radiation? I further hypothesize that this could possibly account for a small number of claims made by individuals throughout the ages of "seeing a person's spirit" leave their body. How exactly the human eye could perceive such without technological aid will be left for theoretical development, this is just a rough draft hypothesis, after all. Deja vu and having "lived past lives" could possibly be explained as well, if the energy that our bodies radiate after expiration retained small amounts of the stored memories of the recently expired. I myself have brief snippets of what I can only describe as old, choppy and faded memories of experiences that I, in this particular iteration of energy and atoms have never been through. Genetic memory or a new concept, "cosmic radiation memory"? "There is divine beauty in learning. To learn means to accept the postulate that life did not begin at my birth. Others have been here before me and I walk in their footsteps. The books I have read were composed by generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and disciples. I am the sum total of their experiences, their quests and so are you." -Elie Wiesel ;TLDR - If you are reading this prior to the main body of text, please refrain from commentary and move on.