Having studied biology, chemistry and physics relatively extensively it seems to me that being dead is pretty much the same as not having been born yet. Only difference is I leave behind a sack of dead meat.

I have zero reasons to believe in some sort of "essence" or "spirit" that vast majority of religions do. In fact there is very good reason to think that cannot exist at all. For starters I suggest watching this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ypyVjSaj4w

If you have any further questions after that feel free to ask and I'll answer as well as I possibly can :)