|
Table of contents
Overview of religionsDifferences between religions regarding the afterlife
Covering the bases
Religions in order of size of population
ChristianityIslam
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism
Atheism, agnosticism
Others
Christianity
Christians believe that through God's mercy, Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to earth to atone for our sins. As a result of His grace and mercy - depending on which denomination one examines - a believer will go to heaven either after death or on the day of judgement, or in the rapture. In order to go to heaven (a place where there is no sorrow), one must accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Those who do not commit to Jesus will spend eternity in a lake of fire where there will be great moaning and gnashing of teeth (Hell). As a result of this commitment to Jesus, one will live a life of 'good deeds' since one is to love all peoples.Islam, Muslims
Muslims believe in The Day of Judgment when people will be judged on the basis of their deeds while on earth, and will either attain reward of Heaven or punishment in Hell. They do not believe that Jesus or any other individual can atone for another person's sin. Hell is where unbelievers and sinners spend eternity. Paradise is a place of physical and spiritual pleasure where the sinless go after deathHindusim, also called Sanatana Dharma, Vaidika Dharma, Vaishnavaism, or Shivaism
Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara. Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives.Buddhism
Buddhism supports the idea that our experiences in life are a result of our previous deeds, good deeds leading to happy states and bad deeds leading to suffering. Buddhism teaches that life is - until we reach enlightenment - a place of suffering and that nothing ultimately is worth clinging to because all things are impermanent. It urges us to lead a good moral life; failure to do so only leads to further suffering. It also emphasizes two key virtues which are loving-kindness and compassion. Caring for others in an all-inclusive way is something that Buddhism seeks to engender in its followers.Judaism
In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs. Traditional Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence. However, because Judaism is primarily focused on life here and now rather than on the afterlife, Judaism does not have much dogma about the afterlife, and leaves a great deal of room for personal opinion. It is possible for an Orthodox Jew to believe that the souls of the righteous dead go to a place similar to the Christian heaven, or that they are reincarnated through many lifetimes, or that they simply wait until the coming of the messiah, when they will be resurrected. Likewise, Orthodox Jews can believe that the souls of the wicked are tormented by demons of their own creation, or that wicked souls are simply destroyed at death, ceasing to exist.Atheism, agnosticism
Althogh these beliefs are not the same, they do believe basically the same thing about the after-life - there is none. What happens to you in this life is the result of how you live it.Others
Just about all other religions and beliefs, be they animism, shintoism, mormonisam, jehovah's witnesses, or even satanism, believe that what happens to you in this life and/or the next life is the result of how you live in this life.Differences between religions / beliefs
There are miriad differences between each of the religions and beliefs, everything from there is a God to their isn't, from the after-life is heaven or hell, to reincarnation, to there's nothing after this life. However all beliefs hold that the result of this life, or the next one, is determined by your actions, except Christianity. In Christianity your actions are a result of your commitment to Jesus Christ, the after-life is dependant upon your following Jesus.How does one cover the bases?
Or What if I've chosen the wrong religion? or How do I know which belief is right? Obviously I'm biased, but let's look at this logically. We live in this life 100 years if we're lucky, but the after-life is forever. If you believe there is no after-life, aren't you taking a risk? Shouldn't you consider that there might be one, just in case? Logically, why not do a risk analysis of beliefs? A risk analysis is the comparison of risks and rewards. Ask yourself what if a belief different to the one you hold is correct. One way to do this would be to compare each of the beliefs to the others, which is the least risky? Which has the greatest reward?For example, assume that one is a Jew, but Hinduism turn out to be correct. Because you live a 'good life' you will be reincarnated on a higher plane.
Or if one is a Hindu and it turns out Judaism is correct. Once again, because you live a 'good life' you will go to heaven. I believe that the rewards are about the same for most beliefs, but when you get to comparing Christianity you'll find just about the only real difference in risk. By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and subsequently living a 'good life', there are no risks since all the other beliefs are based on how you live your life. But that's just my opinion, you should compare each of them yourself and come to your own conclusion.
About the Christian fish symbol
About tolerance
The differences between beliefs and religions
What if I've chosen the wrong religion?
Christianity and Abortion
+†+
