*daylia*...or course you are correct...there are many ways different people approach being 'here' and the idea of whether is a good place to be. I didn't list nearly all of the possibilities. I studied comparative religion at one time, and the "wheel of Samsara" was a fascinating topic. Belief in re-birth, while at the same time hoping to escape the cycle, is a major part of some belief systems.

Little Hawk... I used to buy and collect books about as many viewpoints as I could afford....I especially was curious about the more 'extreme' claims that I tended to disagree with...wondering how they expressed and defended unusual positions.
Partially because of spending 8-9 years dealing with cataracts and 'old' eyes, I seldom read long, detailed tomes any more...(I can focus on a computer screen easier than on a printed page)...but I am always interested in new ideas if I can read a short summary before attempting the longer format.