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The concept of religious heaven, hell and spiritual spheres

All the world's religions, since ancient times, have sought to answer fundamental questions about the meaning of life, the nature of death, and what awaits after it. Heavenly, hell and spiritual realms Concepts are fundamental to many belief systems, providing a moral and ethical framework that shapes people's behavior and worldview.

In this article, we will examine how different religions conceive of alternative realities, such as heaven, hell, and the spiritual realms. We will discuss the main characteristics of these concepts, their significance in the lives of believers, and their cultural impact.

Christianity

Sky

Sky In Christianity, there is a place of eternal life where righteous believers are reunited with God after death.

  • Features:
    • The presence of God: Heaven is the place where God lives, and believers can experience his closeness.
    • Eternal life: Without suffering, pain or sadness.
    • Communion with the Saints: Union with angels and other righteous people.

Hell

Hell is a place reserved for those who reject God and live in sin.

  • Features:
    • Separation from God: The greatest suffering is to be separated from the love of God.
    • Punishable by fire: Often depicted as a place of fire and suffering.
    • Eternal punishment: In some faiths, hell is eternal, in others it is temporary.

Purgatory (in the Roman Catholic Church)

  • Features:
    • Cleaning location: Souls that are not completely clean but not worthy of hell are purified before entering heaven.
    • Temporary status: Souls can be liberated through prayers and repentance.

Islam

Jannah (Gardens of Paradise)

Jana is a place of paradise where believers experience God's grace.

  • Features:
    • Gardens with rivers flowing through them: Described as a wonderful place with gardens, rivers and pleasures.
    • Eternal joy: Without pain or suffering.
    • Reward for faith and good works: The importance of faith and good works is emphasized.

Jahannam (Hell)

Jahannam is a place reserved for unbelievers and sinners.

  • Features:
    • Fire and suffering: Described as a place with burning fire and other punishments.
    • Seven levels: Everyone is destined for different sins.
    • Possible release: In some cases, the soul can be liberated through repentance.

Judaism

Gan Eden (Gardens of Paradise)

Gan Eden is a blessed state after death for the righteous.

  • Features:
    • Spiritual joy: Souls experience the closeness of God and spiritual satisfaction.
    • Not a physical location: More of a spiritual state than a physical place.

Gehinnom (Hell)

Gehinnom is a place of purification after death.

  • Features:
    • Temporary status: Souls spend up to 12 months here.
    • Cleaning: Souls purify their sins before entering Gan Eden.

Hinduism

Svarga (Heavenly areas)

Important is heavenly areas where souls can temporarily reside after death.

  • Features:
    • Ruled by gods such as Indra.
    • Temporary stay: After the exhaustion of karma, the soul returns to earth for reincarnation.

Naraka (Hell) areas)

Hell is hell areas where souls suffer punishment for sins.

  • Features:
    • Many levels: Everyone is destined for different sins.
    • Temporary status: After punishment, the soul reincarnates.

Reincarnation and Samsara

  • Samsara: The endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
  • Karma: The consequences of actions that determine future living conditions.

Buddhism

Samsara

  • Infinite cycle: Birth, death, and rebirth caused by desire and ignorance.

Nirvana

  • Liberation: The state in which the cycle of Samsara is terminated.
  • Complete peace: All desires and suffering are eliminated.

Six existences spaces

  1. Spaces of the Gods: Happiness, but still dependent on Samsara.
  2. Demigod spaces: Jealousy and competition.
  3. People's spaces: The best place to reach Nirvana.
  4. Animal spaces: Ignorance and instinctive life.
  5. Ghost spaces: Unsatisfied desires.
  6. Hellish spaces: Suffering and punishments.

Sikhism

Sachkhand (The Real Region)

  • Final state: Unity with God.
  • Spiritual perfection: Attained through direct knowledge of God and meditation.

Daoism

The quest for immortality

  • Alchemy and practices: The aim is to achieve physical or spiritual immortality.
  • Spiritual areas: Higher beings and immortals exist.

Ancient Egyptian religion

Aaru (Reed Fields)

  • Paradise place: Righteous souls live here forever after death.
  • Weighing of the Heart: The heart of the soul is weighed against the feather of Maat.

Duat (The Underworld)

  • Journey after death: The soul must overcome trials to reach Aaru.

African traditional religions

Ancestor worship

  • Ancestral spirits: An important part of life that can influence the lives of living beings.
  • The concept of spiritual worlds: The worlds of the living and the dead are closely connected.

Native American religions

Spiritual realms and spiritual journeys

  • Shamanism: Shamans travel to spiritual worlds for healing and wisdom purposes.
  • The Great Spirit: The unified energy of the universe that can be contacted.

Shamanism

Upper, middle and lower worlds

  • Underworld: The abode of spirit animals and ancestors.
  • Middle World: Earth Spirits and the Present Time.
  • Upper world: Spiritual guides and higher beings.

Religious concepts of heaven, hell, and the spiritual realms reflect humanity's desire to understand the nature of existence, the meaning of life, and what awaits after death. While details and beliefs vary, most religions emphasize the importance of morality, ethics, and spiritual development.

These concepts not only shape the worldview of believers, but also influence culture, art, literature, and social norms. By understanding various religious interpretations, we can gain a deeper understanding of the commonalities and differences between people, as well as enrich our own perspective on existence.

Literature and sources:

  1. "History of Religions" – Mircea Eliade.
  2. "Theology of Christianity" – Alistair E. McGrath.
  3. "Introduction to Islam" –Karen Armstrong.
  4. "The Essence of Hinduism" – RC Zaehner.
  5. "Basics of Buddhism" – Walpola Rahula.
  6. "The Spirit of Sikhism" – Pashaura Singh.
  7. "The Way of Taoism" – Laozi, "Dao De Jing".
  8. "Ancient Egyptian Religion" – E.A. Wallis Budge.
  9. "African Traditional Religions" – John S. Mbiti.
  10. "Shamanism: Archaic Techniques for Ecstasy" – Mircea Eliade.

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