Yes...the principle of conservation of energy does apply...at least in our 4 dimensional universe. This may or may not be true for higher or other dimensions (and we are looking at 11 now as the number needed to balance out all the equations...or so I'm told).

"I don't know that I agree about us returning to the see upon death. Are you using sea as an illustration for universe?"

Yes. Absolutely. You cannot be seperated from the universe...at least not at this stage. The concept of mind or personality being a construct of the universe at a quantum level instead of at a molecular one has finally started to catch on with the scientific community....since we now have M-theory. This only makes sense...and recent studies in NDE seems to confirm this.

JH

Thank you. I assumed as much but thought it more prudent to ask.

To clarify my position on the matter of spirituality, I believe that spirituality is a natural and positive (for the most part) aspect of humanity stemming out of our intelligence and curiousity concerning the universe. Although I'm a non-religious person, I am a spiritual person. However, I decided long ago that rather than follow the doctrines of an organized religion, I'd come to my own conclusions concerning the universe and my place in it. In a way, I feel that organized religion clouds spirituality within an individual. With it, one no longer tries to seek out the truth within themselves because the truth is written in a book, manuscript, or some other religious text. Not to mention, the texts that we read today have been rewritten thousands of times by priests and scholars and kings to fit the political realities of the day.

So, in summary, I'm simply saying that religion and spirituality are two separate entities and are often mutually exclusive.