mydnyte asked this question on 5/14/2000:

Is there such a thing as an afterlife in Wicca? How does it, if it exists, compare to the views of Christians or Moslems? If it doesn't exist, what do Wiccans see as reason to live a good or fulfilling life?

luise gave this response on 5/14/2000:

Greetings,

There are as many beliefs in the Afterlife as there are religions in the world. Each one believes there way is the right one, but who is to say which is right? What I can say is there IS an afterlife, if only for a short while. Many Christians and Muslims may not believe this, but reincarnation does exist.

Most Wiccans and Pagans know reincarnation as fact. We also know Karma as fact. Basically, Karma is whatever you do comes back to you, whether in this one or the next. The goal of each human soul is to one day join back with the Divine. Usually, you can not learn all your lessons in one trip. So, you usually learn one lesson in one life, and some more in the next, continuing on in the spiral of life until you have reached a level of Spiritual Maturity that you can reach the ultimate spiritual goal.

It is true that Wiccans and Pagans do not believe in a hell. Most believe it is a Christian construct to scare their followers into submission. What I can say is there are too many horrible things going on on this earth. Who needs hell? If someone has done something karmically wrong, don't you think there aren't enough things that can happen here on earth to put that person through hell? Drug abuse, war, famine, destruction. Trust me. There is already hell on earth. I don't need someone to try and tell me there is another place the human soul can suffer. It doesn't exist. If someone doesn't live their life right, they will suffer. It is a proven fact.

But what about all the innocents you say? What about those who don't deserve what they get? Well, all I can say is when a soul is reborn, it is presented with the circumstances and situations for the soul to learn that life's lessons, or repay karmic debts. Karma doesn't have a time limit, that's for sure.

What is the Summerland? It is the name a number of Pagans came up with to describe what they want their heaven to be. To me, it sounds like a version of the Elysian Fields from Greek mythology (or Hercules The Legendary Journeys ;) I have no idea what the afterlife is going to look like. However, I hope to see those I have lost if they haven't been reincarnated yet. And I hope to meet ancestors also. I hope to be a Guide to someone else before I am reincarnated.

So is there an afterlife? Yes, if only for a while. I hope I compared it to Heaven well enough. And the main reason why we wish to lead a good and fulfilling life is because it serves our Gods and Goddesses to do so. We know how Karma works. Whatever you do comes back to you, whether it is an equal trade or times three. I don't plan on getting burned by causing harm. It isn't in my best interest.

Blessings, Luise

luise gave this follow-up answer on 5/14/2000:

seeing if this whole thing goes into my FAQ's

luise gave this follow-up answer on 5/14/2000:

seeing if this whole thing goes into my FAQ's

The average rating for this answer is 5.

mydnyte rated this answer a 5.