Concepts of Afterlife


 

Concepts of Afterlife

In world religions and beliefs concepts of the afterlife

are perplexing and shrouded in mystery 

Faith traditions have beliefs that range

from bodily resurrection, the survival of the soul, judgment,  

merging of consciousness, heaven and hell,

reincarnation to animals, insects, and plants;

Moksha, or salvation in Hinduism, Enlightenment, and nirvana in Buddhism 

 

The Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

believe in the resurrection, judgment, heaven, and hell;

while Indian religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism

embrace karma (good or bad actions),

some form of rebirth, or transmigration

based on the Samara doctrine of the cycle of life and death

 

But what path must an interfaith believer pursue?

Myths and teachings about salvation have to be put into perspective

It makes no sense to follow blindly a faith tradition

A believer’s approach calls for prayer, study, and intuition

So, let your basis in finding a path be through religious literacy

 

“Eternal Spirit, give us the wisdom and insight to understand the tenets of afterlife.  Help us to grapple with these concepts in deciding our rightful path.”

Amen  

 

 

      


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Black Portrait

Image
  A Black Portrait Why can’t the races get along? There has been a long history That explains this urgent problem Slavery was rampant in America. Blacks were abused. Jim Crow was alive and well. And for years many Blacks Lived in fear in America   There was lynching, emancipation, Followed by the suppression of the vote There was a lack of educational opportunities. A lack of jobs that permeated the Black society. Families were separated and abused. Many Blacks migrated from the South. They headed North where the opportunities Were better for them in finding jobs   For years Blacks lived separated from Whites Eventually they were integrated in the U.S. Army Civil Rights fights led to some gains Still discrimination pervaded the land As Black voices accentuated their struggles The NAACP was formed to champion their cause A lot changed in the 1960s When there were riots in the land   But change continued to be slo...
Read more

Devotions on Ailments

Image
  Devotions on Ailments Devotions on Ailments: Physical & National Ills by Erwin K Thomas is available at Amazon.com. It addresses diverse problems of everyday lives. Health issues that often spiral out of control.   There are no easy answers.   People may be unable to fix them, and can be a thorn in their side.   Yet, they are faced with these dilemmas. These matters take on new meanings, and challenges exist while they grapple with uncertainties.   They are in the very DNA of our lives at the physical, and national level.   Many experience, these disruptions of all kinds of illnesses that linger beneath the surface of their existence.   Everyone deals with their problems differently, but the main goal is to find the right solution in solving them.   What follows are examples of these calamities. Part Ⅰ – Life & Hope deals with the vicissitudes of living.   It examines society – senior coffee hour, learning in schools, LGBTQ r...
Read more

Keys of Faith

Image
  Keys of Faith Keys of Faith: Fifty-Two Meditations for Living by Erwin K Thomas is available at Amazon.com. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).   Each meditation has been carefully crafted. It was realized in Isaiah 7:9, “if you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all.” Included in this text are essays of topics on the keys for living well. Life began in Genesis 2:7 when “the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”   From that time people faced challenges, trials, and tribulations. “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).   There is hope despite these admonitions. Romans 5:21 reminded believers “just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life thr...
Read more