What Happens After We Die? Millennials and Nonreligious Outlooks on Death and Afterlife

Abstract

The exponential growth of the nonreligious population in Canada presents new social, ethical, and institutional challenges that require scholarly attention. Despite this rapid growth, relatively little is known about this group and their perspectives on the afterlife. Far less is known about how these perspectives reflect broader ethical, moral and lifestances on death and dying. Among all demographic cohorts in Canada, millennials are the first generation for whom identifying as "nonreligious" constitutes a majority (36% identify as nonreligious). As they age and continue to consolidate their position as a leading demographic group within Canadian society, their beliefs, moral frameworks, and existential orientations will increasingly shape broader cultural, institutional, and policy landscapes.

This thesis explores the intersection between the nonreligious millennial demographic, death and afterlife by asking: how do the nonreligious millennial population in Canada experience and make sense of death, dying, and the afterlife? The research draws on 35 interviews conducted with Canadian individuals who identify as nonreligious. Their ages ranged between 28 and 43 years. Participants' feelings and perspectives on death, dying, and afterlife are presented in four chapters, each describing distinct aspects of a reflexive thematic analysis.

My analysis lays the groundwork for future research that can begin to address the emerging needs of a growing nonreligious population. What nonreligious individuals value can inform the provision of care and policy decisions surrounding illnesses and death. And beyond practical considerations, this study shows how examining emerging afterlife narratives can also help bridge the gap between immanent and transcendent ways of understanding life and finitude, as well as demonstrates that nonreligious populations maintain deep and structured moral stances. In sum, this thesis examines how nonreligious millennials experience and perceive the afterlife. In doing so, it sheds light on broader questions of morality, identity formation, and meaning-making outside religious frameworks.