I'll try. I'm not the religious type though.

Neither my father, who passed in my arms, nor my uncle who passed two years after my Dad, were religious. Right up to their last (literally dying) breaths, they had no interest in turning to God or Jesus. They were both raised in the southern "Church of Christ" so they had ample opportunity to return to their roots.

That said, their dying moments were very spiritual and I know they were seeing and feeling something special. My dad was looking up and reaching for something, and smiled as he passed. It was very quiet, very peaceful. And I know his soul left his body. I didn't literally see it, but I felt like I was seeing it. When it was gone, I knew his body was empty and I didn't cry for his body at all.

So I'm def inclined to believe we have souls and that they go somewhere when we die. But I don't see historical figures such as Jesus (great man and teacher that he was) as being necessary for connecting us to the universe.

Best wishes and thanks for your note.