It is easy for a living person to imagine all sorts of conceptions of the afterlife in their head, and very difficult to admit that we human beings just do not know what happens after we die. This uncertainty creates great anxiety in people, and all too often we succumb to the temptation to fabricate an answer that makes us comfortable.
Religions have always provided a ready-made theory about what happens after death, but they insist that it is a fact and not conjecture. It takes great courage to become comfortable not knowing. You may find out when you die, you may not. I also don't think there is any reason to believe that it is possible for people to suffer after they die. If you agree, that may ease your mind.
