Sarah Perry: What do you believe happens when we die?

The question

What do you believe happens when we die?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A recurring late-stage question in The Guardian Q&A, with materially different answers on publisher-hosted pages.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I have never been able to become an atheist and, even though I know it is completely irrational and cannot be backed up, I think when I die I’m going to glory.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 March 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

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Marcus Mumford

Disneyland x a million.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 February 2026 source ↗

Johannes Radebe

I would like to believe that you reunite with the people you love the most.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 March 2026 source ↗

Nigel Havers

That’s the 64-million-dollar question.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 August 2026 source ↗

Tom Burke

You reach a certain point in life and suddenly know a lot of dead people, and I’ve noticed you don’t stop getting to know people who are dead. Those relationships continue and I like that.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 May 2026 source ↗

More from Sarah Perry

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Question Which thinking habit do you wish you could break? Craft & work

I’ve a deplorable tendency to become entrenched in my own prejudices: If I dislike an artist, an art form, or an idea (jazz, ballet, certain kinds of fiction) it is extremely difficult to get me to change my mind, and all evidence presented to the contrary will be discarded and very likely mocked. Of course, nobody suffers but me.

Recorded Sean Illing, Vox, “9 questions” series, 26 August 2017 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

I’m monstrously judgmental. It’s like talking to the pope.