Death In Religion

1455 Words3 Pages

Intro
Death is a mystery to the living. It is an inevitable truth, but it is viewed differently depending on your location and religious beliefs. The answer to what happens after we die is one that has been debated since the beginning of time. This debate has brought to attention how this perception of death, especially in religions, has influenced cultures worldwide. However, to focus on all the religions and their perspectives in the world is absurd. The world’s largest religion is currently Christianity, with an estimated 2.2 billion followers. The world’s oldest religion is Hinduism, which dates back to approximately 5500 BCE. This sparks a question between the oldest religion and the largest - How does the perception of death in Christianity …show more content…

There is an afterlife, albeit different versions of it. The basis of these religions are related to creation and destruction - life and death - and the fact that there is a greater power that oversees all of this. However, these religions are both forefronts of two subcategories of religion - the Dharmic and Abrahamic religions.
The Dharmic religions were formed mostly in the Indian subcontinent region. The main four are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Each believe in some form of reincarnation or rebirth. Dharmic is derived from the term “dharma,” which can be translated to religion, law, duty, order, or ethics. It is the social order of the Hindu world. Hindus and followers of these other Dharmic religions believe in the concept of reincarnation. They perceive death not as an end, but as the next step of a cycle that will not end until Nirvana is reached and they become one with the Supreme Soul. In addition to an endless cycle of rebirth, they also believe in the importance of good and bad karma - that the actions in this life will affect the life after this. Bad karma can build up and result in consequences in the next life, but good karma can take you one step closer to Moksha, the end of the cycle. This constant striving towards this overarching goal motivates Hindus and those with similar religious beliefs to live their life for this ultimate destiny. Because India is 79.8% Hindu, according to religious census data from 2011, Hinduism has a substantial influence over India and its

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