I suppose we would have to define death. To me, death is only about the vehicle ceasing to function and breaking down into its base components. But what happens to the consciousness that collected all the data, that processed the data and stored it. Does that die or is it capable of ceasing to function. Where does all that data go? What was the point of collecting the data in the first place if it ceases to exist when the vehicle that collected it ceases to function?
Life, to me, is the biosphere, the medium that gives animation to the collection of beings that are the sum of its parts. We are like a cell of that living mass. That living mass has its own consciousness, which is beyond our finite minds to comprehend. But many people have had an experience of being connected to the all encompassing consciousness, of having ceased to exist as their body and ego, of becoming one with all there is. Some call it a spiritual experience. It really has nothing to do with gods or goddesses and everything to do with our connection to the greater whole of life. We are one with all that is.
The way I see it is that the tunnel of light that some say they have seen when they have a near death experience is the conduit that connects us to the life force of the biosphere, Mother Earth.
I think that what all the debate is about is not who is right or wrong but how we, as individuals, relate to life and its mysteries. I don't believe anybody is wrong, just that we each have a unique way of expressing our relationship to life. I would think that if the Universe has a consciousness (it being so far beyond our capacity to even imagine, but we call it god for convenience) it would want to have as much variety as possible in its experience so as to grow and learn. I think we are a microcosm of that process. Therefore, I conclude that there is no right or wrong way to view life, but that the variety of views is necessary for consciousness to expand infinitely.
There is no such thing as death, just energy constantly transforming and collecting data.