Interesting (I hope) thought experiment on the afterlife [View all]

[dmallind]

Based on a dream I had last night. Yes I know it contradicts several scientific concepts. Dreams tend to.

Imagine that you are definitely dead, and yet remain conscious. No pearly gates or step-into-the-light, but merely a disembodied spectral existence in the same world in which you lived. In short, you are a basic ghost. You can see/hear but not interact with the living, who cannot sense you. There are other ghosts but not enough to indicate that this is a universal experience for the deceased. You are not suddenly granted any greater knowledge than you had as a living person.

This is far from a unique view of post mortem existence. It's the basis of countless ghost stories, mediums, etc. Its putative relevance to religious views is not often considered though. Let's try.

Would it make atheists more open to religious beliefs since at least one claim made by many of them is proven true, for which there is no clear rationale?

Would it make common-garden Protestants less likely to believe as there is no immediate access to heaven or hell or any sign of judgment etc?

Would it make the Catholics who accepted the concept of limbus patrum believe they were in it? Would that change if they were clearly ghosts non-purified from sin?

Would either group be more likely to believe in reincarnation given the dearth of ghosts relative to the number of the dead?

What evidence would any ghost seek to know what comes next? Or would it all be hovering over the bedroom of the cute guy/gal across the street and watching concerts and events for free?