Table of contentsReligious representations of the afterlifeChristianityIslamJudaismConclusionSocrates said: “For all that men can say, death may be the greatest good that can happen to them; but they fear it as if they knew it very well. that it was the greatest evil” (Proverbia 2017). It’s true, no one knows what is beyond death; and for some, it's inherently scary. Religion is a place where people seek comfort from the idea of ​​death and the unknown. Approximately 87% of the world's population belongs to one of the three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (Flesher 2015). The Abrahamic religions all present, in varying styles, an image of the afterlife; and emphasize, as part of the religion's fundamental beliefs, the importance of the afterlife. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Religious Portrayals of the Afterlife Christianity The Christian version of the afterlife is probably the image that most people are familiar with. The soul of the deceased is judged and directed either to Heaven or to Hell. However, as there are multiple denominations and sects of Christianity, there are also multiple variations of this concept. Some branches of religion, such as Catholicism, believe that there is also a third potential destination called Purgatory. Purgatory is considered an intermediate place for the purification of dead believers before absolution; and after purification, the soul ascends to heaven (Religionfacts.com 2016). Another divergence is noted regarding what is expected to access Heaven. Some faiths attest that repentance from sin and submission to God are required; other branches believe that merit alone is enough to gain access to heaven (Grey 2017). Another controversy between faiths is apparent regarding when a soul is transferred from Earth to the afterlife realms. While all sects believe that the soul is ultimately judged and sent to either heaven or hell, when this judgment actually occurs is debated. Some branches of Christianity believe that there will be a day of judgment at the end of time; during this period, the dead will be resurrected as spiritual, uncorrupted bodies (ReligionFacts.com 2017a). This essentially means that all souls, living and dead, will be presented to God for judgment, at the same time, at the end of time. Other factions hold the more common belief that judgment occurs immediately after death (Grey 2017). This idea means that when physical life ends, your place in the afterlife begins immediately, with no waiting period in between. Christianity's emphasis on the afterlife is multifaceted. One facet is that it provides some sort of leverage to drive conversions. By relaying the imagery of souls trapped in hell compared to those in paradise, the evangelists not only spread the notion of God's love, but also the idea of ​​fearing his perpetual abandonment in the afterlife (Grey 2017). Additionally, life after death also serves as the reward promised to the righteous. Often in Christianity, we observe that earthly suffering is our scourge to bear because of “original sin”; and that in some way it purifies us and brings us closer to God (Grey 2017). Heaven is seen as the reward for those who keep faith in God and for the burdens we carry on Earth. Finally, it serves to warn followers against disobedience to God's laws. Following the rules laid out in the religion guarantees a placeto heaven instead of a place in perpetual torment. Islam Similar to Christianity, Islam emphasizes an afterlife in which the soul goes to heaven or hell. However, there is no divergence in Islamic beliefs; life after death begins with the resurrection and judgment of souls after the end of time (ReligionFacts.com 2017b). It is believed that at that time everyone will be condemned to an afterlife corresponding to their worldly behavior, paradise for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked and unbelievers. Furthermore, it should be noted that Islam states that during the period between death and resurrection, souls remain attached to the body awaiting judgment (Mufti 2015). This belief is similar to the less common Christian belief, and in some ways echoes purgatory, as those headed to hell are also subject to trouble during this intervening period. Islam provides a more in-depth description of the afterlife than the other two Abrahamic beliefs. religions. Furthermore, Islam asserts that there are several levels of heaven and hell (Mufti 2015). Heaven is described as a place of endless happiness, free from all suffering; and Hell is vividly described as eternal suffering and punishment, filled with fire and torture (Mufti 2015). The painted images of both clearly influence the audience as to which direction they prefer to take. Belief in the afterlife is one of the main pillars of Islam, which is a large part of why there is so much emphasis on it. Imam Kamil Mufti also explains in his article “Belief in Life After Death” that due to the correlation between behaviors in life and placement in the afterlife, maintaining this belief helps Muslims to behave appropriately according to the teachings of Islam (2015). Having faith in the afterlife also reinforces the concept of accepting religious law instead of indulging in human desires, as it reinforces that failure to abstain during life will result in punishment after death. judgement. JudaismJudaism is much less categorical regarding the afterlife than the other Abrahamic religions discussed. . Additionally, life after death is inherently vaguer in describing what it is and when it is achieved. It is also notable that most beliefs regarding the afterlife in Judaism do not come directly from the Torah, but originated much later (MJL 2018). Just as in Christianity, there is significant debate regarding the resurrection; it's mainly about who will be resurrected and when. Some groups believe that the resurrection will apply to everyone, while others believe it only affects the righteous (MJL 2018). Regarding when the resurrection occurs, there are three main beliefs: it occurs at the return of the Messiah, it occurs after the return of the Messiah, or it occurs immediately after death. Life after death in Judaism has many differences from other religions. Judaism recognizes that the pious of all religions will have access to Paradise, considered the Garden of Eden (MJL 2018). Another key difference is that, in Jewish belief, those sent to Gehunnom (Hell) are only condemned there for 12 months, during which they receive punishment for purification, and then ascend to heaven (ReligionFacts.com 2017c). This is a stark difference as both Islam and Christianity affirm that where one is sent in the afterlife is unchangeable. The emphasis on the afterlife is not as crucial in Judaism as in other religions. There are many reasons for this...