What do the Major Religions Think of the Afterlife by Angela Guzman l Religous Beliefs l Afterlife Proof l Life After Death l Rebirth l Near Death Experiences

Judaism

Traditional Judaism 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 specific theories about the afterlife.

Since there is room for speculation it is possible to have an Orthodox Jew who believes that the souls of the righteous dead go to a place similar to heaven. It is also feasible that other Jews believe an individual can be reincarnated throughout many lifetimes. Similar to Christians and their belief in Hell, Orthodox Jews can also believe that the souls of the wicked are tormented by demons or that evil souls are destroyed at death and cease to exist.

Hinduism

The Upanishads believe in a changeless core of the self called as the "Atman." Untouched by the variations of time and circumstance, the Atman was entrapped in the world of "samsara" (the cycle of death and rebirth). Unlike western ideals of reincarnation, life in this world means suffering.

An individual is trapped in the samsaric cycle because of the law of karma. In its simplest form, this law operates impersonally like a natural law, ensuring that every good or bad deed eventually returns to the individual in the form of reward or punishment commensurate with the original deed.

Coming back in another lifetime also allows karmic forces to reward or punish one through the circumstances. Therefore, an individual who was generous in one lifetime may be reborn as a wealthy person in the next incarnation.