Methusalah discarnate. You do describe a fundamental issue at the crossroads of the sacred and the profane. Yet as a species we embrace the concept of a discorporate nature for our being at every opportunity. The spiritual foundation of our cultures, primitive or otherwise, rests squarely upon a belief that we are more than flesh and bone. Lines are drawn by differences in these beliefs. For example, Judeo-Christians are happy with the concept of being reborn in heaven, to spend eternity as a spirit in heaven, but find ridiculous being reborn here.

There's no beer in heaven, my children. chance