All religions teach that nasty things happen to non-believers when they die. So what happens to non-Buddhists.

Question

Are they doomed to everlasting hell-fire, or does Buddha send them back as worms?

Answer 1

What's wrong with being a worm, or a rock for that matter? I doubt a worm would consider its life as 'lesser'. It simply goes on about its business, living as it was created to do. The only ones who might think of it as 'lesser' are people and it wouldn't have any awareness about that. Certainly a worm might be very happy as a worm.

Answer 2

Buddhism encourages the world religions to share views and develop peace together for the whole world.
It is often one’s commitment after taking refuge to respect other religions and philosophies. Buddhism does not view the followers of other religions as the mis-guided disciples of a devil.
since there are different mental dispositions of sentient beings there are different religions. It is like walking down a street and recognizing there are many different restaurants because everyone has a different taste or attitude; some restaurants do serve more nutritious food than others, but the fact remains that they are all present so everyone is equally
satisfied.
There are some very striking similarities among the world religions.
Even so, all religions do not possibly lead to the same goal or enlightenment. If one were to travel east and your friend were to travel west, both of you would find similar rocks, trees and probably some mountains. There would be many striking similarities, but your destination and result would be different. Therefore, even though the various religions do have similarities that we must all uphold and honor, we cannot expect to obtain the same benefit from any religion or path.

What decides where we will be reborn?
The most important factor, but not the only one, influencing where we will be reborn and what sort of life we shall have, is karma. The word karma means action and refers to our intentional mental actions. In other words, what we are is determined very much by how we have thought and acted in the past. Likewise, how we think and act now will influence how we will be in the future.
The gentle, loving type of person tends to be reborn in a heaven realm or as a human being who has a predominance of pleasant experiences. The anxious, worried or extremely cruel type of person tends to be reborn in a hell realm or as a human being who has a predominance of painful experiences. The person who develops obsessive craving, fierce longings, and burning ambitions that can never be satisfied tends to be reborn as a hungry ghost or as a human being frustrated by longing and wanting. Whatever mental habits are strongly developed in this life will continue in the next life. Most people, however, are reborn as human beings.

Answer 3

Hinduism, which has a recorded history that spans over 4,500 years, has always maintained that ALL religions lead to God. With well over 1 billion followers today, it has never had any need to either coerce, bribe, or frighten anyone into converting to a Hindu !
Buddhism, which is NOT a 'religion' in the accepted sense of the term, as it venerates NO God, is but an offshoot of Hinduism - and also has a broadminded outlook towards others' ways of worship.
...It is only those half-baked and immature 'religions', that were set-up in more recent times, that need to 'con' their own flocks, by threatening 'non-believers' with 'everlasting hell-fire', or 'rebirth as worms' - because of the insecurity of their own lack of worthwhile spiritual tenets, and a worthy historic heritage.

Answer 4

If you don't take proactive steps to better your karma you will come back as a lesser lifeform, worm or even a rock in some branches of the religion. Just because you don't believe though should not effect this too much but you cannot achieve release from the suffering of this world until you accept the teachings and live an ascetic life free from desire.

Answer 5

Nasty things are already happening here it only becomes eternal when u hv forsaken ur saviour Jesus Christ. Forget all these religious cults.Buddha is already in hell fire, there are no transformations after death only judgement.
Accept Jesus Christ as ur Lord & saviour and follow Him all the way, the Bible & the Holy Spirit being ur guide and not forsaking the gathering of the brethren in christ.
God is faithfull. He keeps His promises.... the manna is still falling until we cross the jordan.
As for the guy who thinks "God is a jerk" u will soon realise that they dont speak American jargon when u cross the jordan.
wish u well

Answer 6

my religion doesn't say anything of the sort , i am spiritualist and as such don't believe in eternal damnation for anyone , i believe that each and every person is entitled to find what makes sense to them and if i am correct and there is eternal life after death then that is open to all and not just a select few
i say if because as much as i have had my own personal proof , i don't want to try and convince anyone otherwise as that's not my place to do so

Answer 7

I believe hell has gotten a bad slant.
I believe that hell is just a place where those people will be seperated from God.
All those forked tails and horns come from urban legand of the time.
Most of heaven is from fairy tales trying to explain a glorious place. I believe it will be totally different from here

Answer 8

The same nasty things that happen to Buddhist, if those non-Buddhist are not Christians. I did not make the rules---God did.

Answer 9

Lifejounery is right on....

Buddha isn't God and never said he was. (he said "i am not god"
Buddhism teaches taht no one can help you with your sin problem. You are condemned unless you follow a very strict set of rules and still there is no guarentee....a sad state indeed.

Answer 10

They are "convincing" you there is only one way...and it happens to be their way (coincidence?)...and therefore you "need" them. This will whip you into shape very quickly. Fear is a strong Motivator...but Love is a thousand times more powerful! When you know you are loved...you want to do better...for now it is worth it...and most of us don't want to hurt or shame the Source of our love. We usually know a good thing when we see it.