I don't think anyone can answer that question with certainty.

However, I have observed many people who believe in a supreme being and an afterlife, whose lives appear to be subjectively "better" than those who do not. These are happier, more well-adjusted people, from a wide array of different backgrounds, cultures and social strata. They care more deeply for other people, and they seem to share a common purpose. They believe in the reverence of life, and will generally treat you with respect.

Is it because they are religious? I don't know. I'd like to think it's because they have the inside track on life's true purpose.

If we are here because life is a classroom, it would make no sense for that learning to be lost once we graduate.

Heaven and Hell are what we make here on earth by our thinking and beliefs. There is no other judgement that we should care about other than what we think and believe about ourselves. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "Judge not, lest ye be judged" - if you judge others then it follows that you will use your own judgement on yourself and stop your own good coming to you.

God does not judge. An all loving God loves us beyond measure and gives us exactly what we desire in our hearts, complete with what is attached via the beliefs that we filter that through. It our thoughts and beliefs that condemn us to Hell or lift us to Heaven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aRfjyoeJ9I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR1zqACcYuY

I just found this just now check out Satan and Santa http://www.abraham-hicks.com/lawofattractionsource/videos.php

And I wrote this elsewhere but it is appropriate here too:

Heaven and Hell are vibrational. We cannot achieve our desires from a low vibration of fear for example, as we are thus disconnected from God by our belief in that place of fear. Heaven is the peak vibration of light and our connectedness to God, that connection of love, the place by which our vibration enables us to create all goodness in our life. Hell is place of darkness below that vibration of light, Heaven the place of light. Most of us tread the path between the two, going from one to the other in our lives. It is up to us to be aware that this is how we create our lives and learn how to create and achieve as much Heaven as we can here on earth.

I'm going to focus on your initial question. No, death is not the end. Death is a transition. Now, there are many scientists who believe that this physical life is all there is, and that when it's over, it's over. The reason for this view is the necessity in science of "empirical evidence", meaning that a scientist relies on evidence "derived from or guided by experience or experiment". (Dictionary.com) From a scientific basis, one cannot prove that life goes on after physical death, because any supposed "proofs" can be explained in other ways (such as hallucination or outright lying).

So I recognize that my assertion, that death is not the end, is not provable. But I return to the core of all my answers, which is that my reality is real for me. It may be subjective, but it's real.

If I believe that death is not the end, I have the freedom of knowing that my time will not be cut short. I will be able to continue exercising my creative spirit and will continue to enjoy relationships and connectedness to others and God.

All I want to say about judgment is that it has to do with punishment and fear. Fear has its place in human experience. It is a motivator when we perceive danger. If one believes there is judgment in death, then there is some reason they are fearing punishment, either for themselves or someone else. Certainly, the belief in God's judgment motivates many Christians to proselytize those whom they fear are destined for hell. If a person fears judgment and punishment, they need to address the root causes of those fears and act accordingly. That's why the fear is there, to move one to action.

Jesus said, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." (Luke 6:37) If we are judgmental or condemning, that is what we will experience. If we are forgiving, that is what we will experience. When you hold a grudge for a wrong done to you, anger eats you up inside and restricts your spiritual development. Forgiveness sets you free to grow unhindered.

if we understand life as from
the bottom up, then when our
existence on earth ends,
those say it is all over

if we see life from the top
down, then when our earth
existence ends, those look to
a spiritual transformation

and when this earth existence
ends, we will know it has all
been recorded

Check out my link to the experience I had "seeing" Heaven.....here. I remembered Heaven in great detail...you might find it comforting.

I hate posting links (usually), but this seemed appropriate.

Love,

Jaianniah