Chalfen_Andrew


 * __The After Life of Religion__**

**__Research Question__** What similarities and differences are there in the afterlife of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hindu?

**__Introduction__** The differences in religion have caused countless wars throughout history. What differences are the people fighting about? What makes the afterlife so important? How does the afterlife relate to everyday society? These are all questions I will have answered in my "interpretation section." The view of the after life is almost entirely different in the four religions I have researched. Each has their own view and rules or laws to obtain or be denied access to their afterlife choice. While their are many differences when you look closer you are also able to find similarities. What I did was outline these and compare and contrast the similarity and differences. For example Hindu text states that all sins will be punished immediately through karma, where christens don’t believe in individual sins but as all the sins you create in your life will build up and eventually be punished with an eternity in hell. Personally I would much rather Karma.

**__Interpretation & Analysis__** Christianity was founded in Palestine. Christianity is probably the most practiced religion in the world. Christianity has been the dominant religion since the time it started. The world has changed so much and Christianity has been right there at the core of so many changes, wars, politics, domesticty almost everything has been affected by Christianity in some way shape or form. Christianity believes in heaven and hell. Once your physical body dies your soul is sent to god for judgment on which afterlife area you are sent to. If you were a good Christian you will be sent to heaven where you are surrounded by happiness but if you sin you will be sent to hell a place of hurt and torture.

Judaism started in Israel and was founded by Abraham. Judaism has been tortured through out time they were slaves in Egypt until Moses freed them (Not to say they were the only religion who have been tortured or treated wrongly!!!) Judaism is a monotheistic religion and has many different sub sections of Judaism the main sub sections are orthodox, conservative, and reform. Orthodox is the most strict about belief and law then conservative and then reform. Judaism gives you a choice of which after life you personally believe in. What this means is you pretty much determine your own afterlife and can believe and practice it with in the already existent laws of Judaism.

Islam was founded in Mecca by profit Muhammad who was a trade merchant from Arabia. Islam main holy book is the Koran and their main language is Arabic. The Subsections are the Sunni, and the Shiity. Islam warships in a Mosque and is extremely strict about following the Koran probably more so than any other religion. Islam also has five pillars of life that are very important to follow.The Profession of Faith, The Five Daily Prayers, Almsgiving, Pilgrimage to Mecca, and Fasting. Islam believes that when the world ends the messiah will rise and pass judgment on all souls. This is called the day of reckoning. If you have followed the Koran and not sinned you will get and eternal resting place if happiness much like heaven. If you were bad though you will be sent to a place much like hell.

Hinduism was founded in India and is the third largest practiced religion in the current world. Hindus speak the language of Sanskrit and Pantheism which means they believe in more than one god. Hindus are led by a guru in a temple or shrine when practicing their religion. Hindus have many holy books they are the Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. The purpose of Hindu life is to attain liberation through the cycle of reincarnation. Hindu does not believe in a an afterlife only karma and reincarnation. Karma is where you are immediately punished for your sins or rewarded for you good behavior. Reincarnation is when you die and your soul is resurrected into a new body. Determining on how positive you were in your last body you will be sent to either a good or bad new body.

The main difference is Judaism. In Judaism they can believe in any other afterlife where as the others are set in stone (literally). Other than Judaism Islam and Christianity both believe in judgment from god and a good and bad afterlife area.Their are many examples of differences between the religions but few similarities. I think that all of the religions share one common belief and that is the belief of following gods will. That's single belief brings every religion together in some way and unites them. What is religion if not the following of all mighty gods will and what is life if not a test for gods acceptance. Even if all the religions have such differences that they feel the need to war over these differences you cant group individuals into a religion. What I'm trying to say is that everyone celebrates their religion in their own way, and even if someone may view a religion as wrong they cannot say that the individual persons BELIEFS are wrong because who can judge anthers beliefs other than god himself/ herself.

**__Final thoughts, reflections, and insights about the issue__** There are many different qualities of each religion. I’ve learned that the afterlife is different for all religions but they all have similarities. In my intro page I stated that each religion has their own way of attaining their afterlife through religious laws, karma, or judgment. I’ve learned that each of those categories posses hidden meaning. Each is a symbol of judgment in their own perspective way.

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/beliefs.html http://en.loadtr.com/Islam_mosque-418635.htm

http://godssabbathrest.us/id14.html

http://www.mrdowling.com/605-judaism.html