Life after death

The Eleusinian Mysteries celebrates Persephone's rebirth into the world. A ritual following Demeter's actions, this celebration was meant to give hope for the afterlife. The followers of this cult ritual would shout obscenities, fast and drink the special kykeon mixture. They did all of these things to become gods themselves and perhaps escape the prison of death. (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/e/eleusinian_mysteries.html)

In some way or another, I think all people want to have immortal power or become a god. I always think of the Batman with Val Kilmer and Jim Carrey, and how the Riddler says, "If knowledge is power, than a god am I!" We all want that power to help us in the afterlife, but I don't think it would really help. Persephone was immortal, as was Hades, and they were both stuck in Death Valley. If immortals couldn't even escape the land of the dead, why be one?

I have heard of a Christian belief that when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they meant to be gods, so they were banished to earth to dwell until they reflected/became like their creator. Thus, humankind's goal in life is to be as an enlightened, godlike being--to one day be as a god.

The big difference I see between the Christian belief and the Greek belief is that the Christians embraced death as a means of rebirth-- like shedding the old skin and becoming something new. Mortals in the Greek belief feared death, seeking godliness as a way to escape. I could be very wrong on this point, but so it goes.