I think it's a good question.
You can say verry much about the subject, no offence, but i don't really believe in things like this.
(And if i believe it, i want to come back as human, else i miss the whole wincustomize stuff

, i want to know how my skins do after i die!

)
I don't have the knowledge to give a good oppinion about religion, but, and DON'T!!!! take this personal, a lot of people believe that religion is a way to make live better. (i don't know the right worths to say this, i am from holland, but i give it a try)
If somebody of your family dies, then the family say: he is going to return, or he goes to heaven. It makes the family less sad, because they believe he is at a good place, where he can enjoy the things after lieve.
In a country in the 3d world, when there is no food, they pray to god for better times, they think god can help them, but a week later they are dead, because of hunger, deseases, or war.
That is just my oppinion, once again, don't take this personal.
like backerstreet already sad: Thin ice.