Death and the Afterlife

Info
Research the main Christian/Catholic beliefs about death and the afterlife and
compare these to the main beliefs of two of the listed World Religions.
Hinduism
Islam
Buddhism
Judaism
Include burial customs, funeral rites, beliefs and if possible scripture/religious texts
that they use to support their beliefs and practices.
 Introduction
Death is a normal part of life. Many Religions and groups have different
ideas and view on death and the Afterlife such as Valhalla for the Norse,
Heaven and hell in Christianity, The Underworld in Greek and
Reincarnation in Buddhism. From these you can see that everyone has a
different view and idea on what happens after our lives ends.
 Christianity
In the Christian Religion most people believe that there is place after death
called Heaven in which the deceased enjoy the presence of God and loved
ones for eternity and Hell were unrepentant sinners go after death. The idea
of the afterlife plays the biggest part of the Christian religion as Christians
follows rules and make sure to live life as free off sin as they can
 Burial and funeral rites
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid.
-John 14:27

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church a Funeral is

The Christian funeral is a liturgical celebration of the Church. The ministry of the Church in this instance aims at
expressing efficacious communion with the deceased, at the participation in that communion of the community
gathered for the funeral, and at the proclamation of eternal life to the community.

If someone is on their deathbed, a minister will prepare them for death. Often, the deceased will have left
information in their will concerning what they want to be included in the funeral service and will also say
whether they wanted to be buried or cremated.
In most case the Funeral is held one week after the death and usually follows a procedure.
The Vigil for the Deceased, Introductory rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Final commendation
and the Rite of Committal
 Hinduism
As a man casts off his worn-out clothes and takes on other new ones, so does the embodied soul cast off his
worn-out bodies and enters other new.
Bhagavad Gita 2:22

Hinduism teaches that any attempt to find permanent happiness in this world is maya
(an illusion). Hindus believe that a person's atman (spirit) is permanent and cannot
change while the physical body is not permanent and can change. The atman is reborn
many times, this is samsara (reincarnation).

Death is a natural event so that the atman can move nearer the ultimate release from
rebirth.
 Hindu Funeral
When a Hindu is approaching death, a priest should be contacted and the priest and the family should gather
to be with the dying person. Those present should chant mantras(a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in
meditation) or play a recording of mantras being chanted. When death seems imminent, the body should, if
possible, be transferred to a grass mat on the floor. A small amount of water from the Ganges River should be
placed in the dying persons mouth. If this is not possible before death, then these actions should take place
immediately following the death.
When the person died those gathered will avoid unnecessary touching of the body, as it is seen as impure. The
funeral preparation begin immediately and the funeral usually takes place by the next Dusk or Dawn
Hindus generally hold a brief wake before cremation. The body should be displayed in a simple, inexpensive
casket and Ash or Sandalwood should be applied to the fore head of a man and turmeric on the forehead of a
women
A garland of flowers should be placed around the neck, and holy basil should be placed in the casket. During
the wake, family and friends gather around the casket and may recite hymns or mantras. At the end of the
wake, before the body is removed for cremation, many Hindus place rice balls near the casket. At the end of
the wake, the casket is removed feet-first and brought to the place of cremation.
 Hindu Funeral Rites
Most Hindus are Cremated
Lamp is placed by the head of the body
Prayers and hymns are sung
Rice balls are placed in the coffin
Water is sprinkled on the body
A mala (necklace of wooden beads) may be put around the dead persons
neck as may garlands of flowers
Ashes of the deceased are sprinkled on water. (usually the Ganga in India)
After the funeral the widow or widower will wear white as a sign of
mourning. The close family may mourn for twelve days.
On the thirteenth day the Reincarnation ends with the ritual of Kriya.
during this, rice balls and milk are offered to the deceased to show the
gratitude of the family for the life of that person.
 Buddhism
The Buddha said,
Life is a journey.
Death is a return to earth.
The universe is like an inn.
The passing years are like dust.
Regard this phantom world
As a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream,
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp a phantom and a dream. *
-Vairacchedika 32.

Buddhists commonly believe that life and death are a part of a cycle known as samsara, in which ones
actions in this life and all previous incarnations of life lead to further reincarnation. The ultimate goal for
many Buddhists is to free oneself from all desires and all notions of self. In doing so, one liberates
oneself from samsara, at which point one will attain enlightenment and reach the state of nirvana.
 Death and Funeral
In Buddhism death is regarded as an occasion of major religious significance, both for the
deceased and for the living. For the deceased death marks the transition of a new existence,
which happens after the karmic forces that the dead person has accumulated becomes active
and determines the next rebirth. For the living death is a reminder of the Buddhas Teaching on
Impermanence.

Peace and serenity are characteristics of a Buddhist Funeral. An altar is set up to display the
deceaseds portrait, along with offerings of candles, incense, flowers, and fruit and a portrait of
Buddha is placed on the on the alter. A Monk will deliver a sermon and perform Buddhist rites.

At a traditional Buddhist funeral, the family will wear white or cover their clothing with a
traditional white cloth, along with a headband or armband. After the body will usually be
cremated or buried
 Bibliography
Jackson, Wayne. "The Biblical View of Death." ChristianCourier.com. Access date: May 16, 2017.
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/850-biblical-view-of-death-the

VICTOR J ZAMMIT. 2001. How different religions view the Afterlife.. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.victorzammit.com/articles/religions3.html. [Accessed 9 May 2017].

BBC - GCSE Bitesize. 2014. Hinduism: beliefs about life after death. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/death/hindubeliefrev2.shtml. [Accessed 9 May 2017].

Everplans. 2017. Hindu Funeral Traditions. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.everplans.com/articles/hindu-

funeral-traditions. [Accessed 9 May 2017].

Funeralwise. 2017. HINDU FUNERAL CUSTOMS AND RITUALS. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://www.funeralwise.com/customs/hindu/. [Accessed 9 May 2017].

thebuddhistsociety. 2017. Buddhist Funerals. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/page/buddhist-funerals. [Accessed 9 May 2017].