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__What Really Lies Beyond?__

Have you ever looked at the clouds in the sky and asked, “Is there something else beyond that?”. If you have, you’re not the only one. For centuries, people from all around the world have asked the exact same thing, and have wondered the same thing. For the answer to that question, some have turned to science for a supposedly practical answer. But others have turned to religion. One thing that religion explains about what is “beyond” is the afterlife. Different religions have different views on the afterlife. While some religions may believe that the afterlife is a place of eternal peace and harmony, others may believe that the afterlife is nothing at all. This brochure will introduce you to the 5 viewpoints of the afterlife of 5 different religions. While describing the beliefs of each religion, it will also try to help you decide for yourself, what really lies beyond.

__Religion of Ancient Egypt:__ Ancient Egypt was a world full of wealth, intelligence, culture and wonder. As far as religion, theirs was one of Polytheism. This means that they believed in many gods. As well as believing in many gods, the Ancient Egyptians believed strongly in the after life. The Ancient Egyptians believe that in order for a person to cross over in to the afterlife, their body and personality must be preserved. This is also shown in the picture above of Howard Carter- who discovered the preserved body of King Tut. This picture shows the state of a body once it has been prepared to cross over in to after life. “ Most important for full participation in the afterlife was the need for an individual's identity to be preserved. Consequently, the body had to remain intact…” This shows that the Egyptians value their life just as much as their value their death. To pass over, the Ancient Egyptians’ bodies must be buried with their they belongings and personal items; for all of things are remnants of the persons’ life. Overall, the afterlife to the Ancient Egyptians was where everyone wanted to be, therefore, the life of that person had to be sustained in order for a person to cross over. Overall, they believed that the afterlife was to be the same as their lives on earth.

__ Buddhism: __ Buddhism- a religion that is largely based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama about varied topics of peace and achieving a good state of mind- had a special view of the afterlife. “A Buddhist's life is practice for death  - cultivating positive, happy virtuous states of mind and abandoning non-virtuous, harmful, suffering states of mind.”  For the life of the Buddhist, they spend the entirety of their lives preparing for death. For them, death is the ultimate state of mind. This state of mind represents happiness, virtue, and overall appreciation of the life that they have; even knowing the uncertainty of its length. Buddhists try to see the positive views of everything their lives that they can. Seeing the peaceful side of things is way to a stress-free ensured life. Also, Buddhists believe in reincarnation. “Death is the separation of body (physical form) and "mind" formless, clear, luminous and knowing. (Only the most subtle level of mind transmigrates.)” For them, the afterlife is not only the soul leaving that body, but also the soul transferring to another. Once, more trying to do good deeds in one’s life and achieving a good, and virtuous state of the mind is the key to a good rebirth. Buddhists ultimately use the power of the human mind to its fullest. Meditation is used when trying to achieve that ideal state of mind for a fortunate reincarnation- therefore strengthening the human mind. Overall, for Buddhists, the afterlife is passing over into another body with the same soul. So, it can be safely concluded to them, one never actually ceases to exist- there most powerful object- the mind and spirit carry on.

__Islam:__ Islam- a religions that follows the teachings of Muhammad- view’s on the afterlife is slightly similar to that of Christianity. In Islam, the afterlife is split into two places in which the soul leaves the body and travels to either Jannah (Heaven) or Jahannuhm (Hell).

__Religion of the Existentialist:__ Here is where I will explain the afterlife from the view of the Existentialist.

__Judaism:__ Here is where I will explain the views of the afterlife of those who follow Judaism.

__How each relates?__ This is where I will make comparisons between the religions and beliefs that I interpreted. I will talk about how some relate to each, but also note the key differences that each have between one another. I will note the location and each, and reference them to one another.

__Thematic:__ Here is where I will discuss the occurring themes among the religious groups, and even the themes are distinguished to certain religious groups.

__Significance:__ Here is where I will explain what has been stated, what was learned, and overall why it is important to not only the world, but also the reader.