It is very rare to hear Buddhist talks in English about what happens after death.

[Rambutan]

Are those in the formless realm dead?

Are they alive?

It depends on how you define life.
When I said “what we refer to as life” I was referring to the human realm specifically but it also applies to animals and who knows what.

They are alive, yes. Life without the physical. Consciousness without the physical.

So then, are you saying that
1. consciousness is alive?
2. consciousness defines life?
Are there things that are alive
that don’t possess consciousness?

[Gwi II]

Most western Buddhist think that religion is not real because it can't be proven. So they only focus on the here and now of meditation and all of that.

They prefer EBt. Many of their beliefs
are weak (full of doubt; skepticism).

Wiki (Ind version:) A skeptic would say: "I don't think that's true. I'll check it out."