(RNS) — I don’t know about you, but ever since Pope Francis died, TikTok has been sending me some very weird videos. Those videos are all about heaven and hell — or, at least, certain Christian ...

The story you tell yourself about your afterlife affects your present life in subtle ways. Our beliefs about what happens to us after we die have shaped religions, cultures and personal philosophies.

Religious service attendance at age 12 emerged as the top predictor of adult afterlife belief, especially in secular societies, while childhood adversity and maternal bonds also played subtle roles.

Our beliefs about what happens after death have shaped religions, cultures, and personal philosophies. A 2021 survey found that in the United States, 83 percent of adults believe in an afterlife, ...