G7: Belief Systems: The Afterlife

The great tragedy of existence, from a Buddhist point of view, is that it is both endless and subject to impermanence, suffering and uncertainty.

Buddhists believe that when someone dies, they will be reborn again as something else.

Most Christians strongly believe that death is not the end.

Before entering heaven or hell Christians face judgement.

Many Christians believe that at the end of time there will be a Day of Judgement when all souls (regardless of religion) will be judged by God.

Some Christians believe that this judgement will happen when they die. Others believe that there will be a Day of Judgement at the end of time

In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This single sentence neatly summarizes the Christian doctrine of atonement,

After death, most Muslims believe that the soul will enter Barzakh, a state of waiting, until the Day of Judgement.

Muslims believe that there are different levels in Paradise (Heaven). The more righteous a person, the more good he does, the higher his place in Paradise.

How Jews live their lives on Earth is considered to be more important than a possible afterlife.

Traditional Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence

Judaism is famously ambiguous about what happens when we die.

In Hinduism, all life goes through birth, life, death, and rebirth and this is known as the cycle of samsara.

Most Hindus believe that humans are in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara. When a person dies, their atman (soul) is reborn in a different body.