And this is where the confusion comes in.  Comparing what a sentient human being can and can't do whilst still alive is totally different to your claim that someone can refine themselves once dead.

That is because it is only the physical body that  actually dies (physical elements returning to the earth) - so in effect it is a continuous existence Andy because the soul/spirit/that which is 'us' cannot die - we cannot die for the life of us! The refinement does continue.

For one thing, where are they going to refine themselves (I don't believe in the idea of purgatory, either)?

They/Us  (that includes all of us BTW) refine ourselves mainly in other spiritual realms (as I think has been mentioned before).

 

As far as I am aware, any such refining has to be within the context of living amongst human beings: not amongst the 'half-dead', for want of a better phrase (I'm in a hurry as I have to exit ze house in 5 minutes' time).

'half dead' ??? - lol - It has often been said that those who are on the other side feel more alive now than what they where when living on the Earth plane.

oooh I had to edit due to a typing error - bad bad Jan!    Gotta go too now for my tea - Steve cooking pizza n chips