When I was a kid, there was this joke.

A man goes to heaven. As he’s walking along the entrance hall with St Peter, he sees a closed door. He asks who’s in there. St Peter says, “Sssshhh, that’s the Plymouth Brethren* in there — they think they’re the only ones here.”

(* Insert obnoxious denomination of your choice)

As an adult, I heard a new version of the same joke.

A person goes to the Summerlands (Pagan afterlife). They walk around & greet people they knew in life. “Hi Mrs Singh. Hi Mr Choudhury. Hi Ms Cohen. Hi Mr Khan.”

Then they see a wall enclosing a large area. They ask a passing dryad who’s behind the wall. The dryad replies, “Oh that’s the Christians in there — they think they’re the only ones here.”

I also really like that story about the man and his dog and the road to heaven.

I also like the popular lore of the rainbow bridge where beloved companion animals who have died before us are waiting for us on the other side.

It’s interesting—and very telling—that the popular vision of the afterlife (and that of people who have had near death experiences) is much more inclusive than the official doctrine of many churches. In the popular version, other religions are welcome, animals are welcome, everyone’s welcome.