This is one of those questions that can be difficult to answer if you are like me, and for the most part agnostic. If I were an outside observer of the universe I would have no problem seeing the people and animals wandering around this planet and concluding that they have no afterlife, and once they are dead their internal computer brains just cease to function, ceasing their cognitive existence. Which is more or less the Atheistic view. But existing myself in one of these bodies, knowing my own conciousness and concious thought I can't come to the same conclusion. Without my mind there is nothing, all of my experiences that have been will be wiped away making their purpose null. And even the universe forgets as time and entropy degrade and destroy everything you have ever done.

For these reasons I need to believe in an afterlife, I have no idea what form it will take, what I will remember or be aware of before or after it. But without it my point of reference in the universe is gone, and as far as things go, to me that is immutable, it can't be destroyed.

I do not believe in reincarnation, but I believe in life after death. The topic of an afterlife is one of the most controversial subjects ever. But Just as @kerryk said, I believe there is a heaven and hell. And I also believe that when believers die they go to heaven and the unbelievers go to hell.

I believe in the bible and know that after our life on earth , there is a place made for us , were there is no rich or poor, old or young, black or white; a place free from sorrow, tears and pain. This is the place for people who have lived according to the will of God. There is also a place for the ones who have not lived right; a place made of brimstones and unquenchable flames.

If a person dies today, he is remembered for the things he had done and his loved ones hold on top those memories until they meet again.
http://www.angelrays.com/plain/images/heaven2.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wlQ1GDk4u7c/S_GKNVQjDvI/AAAAAAAAAAU/aMblQUFkkDY/s320/hell+awaits.jpg

I think you live on in people's memories and in whatever you have left behind of significant importance. You say writings but I have built things that I know will be here for the next 100 years with my name on it. They can't all burn down. I have changed Laws where I live so I know that will forever be in books that are never destroyed and will be there for the generations to see. My business will live on and I guess if it makes it down the road everyone will always remember the name of the person who started it more so then the people inbetween. There could be a Heaven and Hell but until we get there we don't know for sure. Is there something to life after death, maybe, there seems to be alot of things to lead us in that direction. But if so what makes it possible for those few to return. In any event I'll find out when I get there and may be surprised.

I believe partially in the view of my religion and partially in reincarnation, to explain..

I believe that there are "souls" and that these souls are reincarnated until the soul earns honor and learns all that they are supposed to learn, if they do not they go to "hel" (note I mean the norse hel a dwelling beneath this plane meant for those who die without honor or out of combat) in which they wait to be reincarnated and try again. If honor and knowledge are obtained a soul can go to Valhalla and drink with their ancestors waiting to help win and create the new world when this one finally dies.. or choose to be reincarnated as their reward.

I wouldn't say that's what most think of as "the afterlife" but it's something.

I think that there is an afterlife. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus came as God in human flesh and those who believe in Him and know He is Lord and savior will live in eternity in Heaven. I don't know what the afterlife consists of, but know from the Bible that it is much better than anything we have on Earth. Pain and suffering is gone. Having said that, I want to live here as long as I can to fulfill everything I am set to do here. God wants us to have a long, prosperous, productive life here on Earth.

As for whether or not memories will live on, of course I want that to be the case. I know that whenever someone passes in my life, I hold on to the memories of that person and relive the greatest times and moments that I can recall from that person's life. So, in essence, the answer to your question is both afterlife and memories remain.

http://are-you-going.com/images/heaven2.jpg

I've thought about this question so many times. I can remember thinking and wondering about it when I was little too--it simply interested me so much. I was always of the mindset that I wouldn't mind if I died because I wanted to know what death was exactly. This thought didn't exactly thrill my parents. But anyhow, I have absolutely no idea.

I'm agnostic, not believing in any God of sorts, but I still can't say "No, there isn't an afterlife" because I'm really not positive. What if there is? What if our energies go floating about? But then again I think, well maybe we just die, rotting. But I think it's hard for us humans to fathom NOT having a consciousness since it's what's makes us humans.

I believe that there is a life after we die here, but I don't believe that it occurs immediately following your death. There are a number of Bible quotations that indicate that when a person dies, he/she actually is sleeping and waiting for the second resurrection. When Jesus referred to Lazarus, He says, “11Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to awaken him.” 12 Then the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 (Now Jesus had been talking about his death, but they thought he had been talking about real sleep.) 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”(John 11:11-15)

Another example is the raising of Jarius' twelve year old daughter who died. "49 While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.50 But when Jesus heard this, he told him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. ” 52 Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” 53 And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead."(Luke 8:49-53).

I believe that we stay in this state until the 2nd resurrection where the sleeping will be called from the dead, after the second coming of Christ for Judgment day. It would not be necessary to have this 2nd resurrection nor a Judgment Day if everyone destined for heaven or hell immediately went there following his human body's death. I believe that the place that Christ is preparing for us where we'll stay for eternity is so incredibly beautifu that our human minds can't even imagine it.

There are many more example of death being referred to as "sleep". I believe that

I have had this idea for a while now, that everything in nature that you can possibly think of is recycled, if not intentionally by human beings, then by nature itself.

For instance, ancient trees became coal, the sap from them became amber, the billions of tiny creatures that eventually became crude oil, when an animal dies in the wild, other creatures consume it. If you think about it nothing really disappears, so why should it be any different for our souls, intelligence, awareness, whatever you wish to call it?

The amount of knowledge acquired by a human being of even average skills during the course of his or her lifetime is phenomenal, without even thinking of the genius's who have lived. So why should nature (or again whatever you wish to call it) allow all that mental energy and intelligence to just vanish and be wasted?

Why should it not also be recycled? Could this possibly be the reason that there is some belief in and evidence of reincarnation?