Do you have to believe in an afterlife to mean it when you say, "rest in peace?"

[Bertha Venation]

Hmm...

[jobycom]

1. I don't.

It's more of a condolence to those left behind, implying all his troubles are at rest now.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. +1

[elleng]

3. No, its an expression of good will, AND

'afterlife' or not, ones DO REST SOMEWHERE; peaceful would be nice. (Me, I want to push up daisies!)

[rug]

4. Literally, yes. Corpses experience neither rest nor peace.

[Brickbat]

5. No, I often feel like it means that their memory -- the memory we have of them -- can now rest

peacefully.