Afterlife Beliefs Survey for Norse-Germanic Pagans in Belgium and the Netherlands

Afterlife Beliefs Survey

This survey is an academic project by Professor Michael Strmiska, PhD, American scholar of Religious Studies. Answers will be kept completely anonymous and only used for academic purposes, including presentation at conferences, publication in academic journals, or inclusion in academic books written by Prof. Strmiska or others. All participants' opinions are respected and valued, as the purpose of this survey is not to find the "right" or most popular belief, idea or practice about death and the afterlife, but to gain understanding of the different ways different people in different countries and communities are approaching these complex and deeply human issues. If you have questions, suggestions, or wish to see results of the survey when complete, email <strmiska@earthlink.net> .

Question Title

* 1. Do you believe that when we die, we join a community of our ancestors?

Yes

Maybe/not sure

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. Do you believe there is reincarnation?

Yes

Maybe/not sure

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. Do you believe that we have one soul/spirit, or several, or none?

I believe we have one soul or spirit that survives after we die

I believe we have several souls or spirits that survive after we die

I do not believe we have a soul or spirit that can exist after we die

I am not sure if we have a soul or spirit, but I think about this and am open to the possibility.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. Do you believe that after we die, we simply recycle into nature, or go to another plane of existence?

Recycle into nature

Go to another plane of existence

Both recycle into nature and go to another plane of existence

Neither

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. If you believe there is a community of ancestors, who is included in this community, and how is membership determined? For example, if your ancestors hundreds of years ago spoke one language, and your more recent ancestors speak a different language, what language will the community of ancestors use? Another example, if some of your ancestors long ago were Pagans or Heathens, and others in more recent times were Christians, are they together or divided in the afterlife? And how will race and ethnicity be involved? You may choose multiple answers for this question

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, the ancestors only speak one language (note further below).

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, the ancestors do not need language to communicate, as they have become purely spiritual beings that are beyond language.

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, the Pagans, Christians and any members of other religions, will live in separate sections, or even have separate communities based on religious identity.

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, only people of the same race and ethnicity will live together, and there will be separate sections, or even separate communities for people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, the dead are all together. They do not care about race, ethnicity, national or religious identity, as they are beyond that kind of thing.

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, only people of the same racial and ethnic background will live together.

I believe that in the community of the ancestors, we will be with whoever we choose to be with, whether family relations or other people, people of the same race, ethnicity and religion or different ones, based on our common love and shared understanding of life.

I do not believe in a community of the ancestors.

Further comments

Question Title

* 6. Is your idea of the afterlife based on ancient texts such as the Old Norse Eddas and/or old folklore and traditions, on more recent texts or influences, or on your own thinking and experiences?

My idea of the afterlife is based on ancient texts, folklore and traditions

My idea of the afterlife is based on more recent texts, ideas and influences

My idea of the afterlife is based on both ancient texts and traditions, and more recent ideas and influences

My idea of the afterlife is based on my own thinking and experiences

My idea of the afterlife is based on ancient texts and traditions, more recent ideas and influences, and my own thinking and experience (all of the above, in other words)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. Have you participated in any Pagan funeral ceremonies or ancestor worship/veneration, or are you making plans for this for yourself or others? If so, please describe in comment section. (In this section, you may choose more than one answer.)

I have participated in Pagan funeral ceremonies or ancestor worship/veneration (please describe below)

I have not participated in Pagan funeral ceremonies or ancestor worship/veneration

I have created or led Pagan funeral ceremonies or ancestor worship/veneration (please describe below)

I am planning a Pagan funeral ceremony for when I or my loved ones or family members die (please describe below)

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Your age

Under 20

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and over

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* 9. Your gender

Female

Male

Transgender, female to male

Transgender, male to female

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Were you born in the same country in which you are now a citizen? (If you originate from elsewhere, please indicate your nation of origin below in the comments section).

Born in same country where you are now a citizen

Born in different country

Further explanation

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* 11. Nation of citizenship

Belgium

Netherlands

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. What was your family or childhood religion, your first religion?

Catholic Church

Other Christian Church (please explain below)

Judaism

Islam

Buddhism

Paganism

Atheism

Communism

None

Other (please specify)