}
Connecting with the dead
How do we relate to the dead and where they have gone?
The idea of the soul, or essence of a person separate to our bodies, is as old as our consciousness. This can be revealed through dreams, seen as a ghost or felt during near-death experiences.
Some people believe the spirits of our ancestors are constantly present to protect, or harm us, so there is a duty to honour and keep them close.
The hope of an afterlife is present in almost all cultures throughout time. It can be thought of as a familiar environment or as a place to pass through on the way to rebirth into a new life.
Atheists do not believe in a soul or an afterlife. For them, once the brain dies they cease to exist in any form.