2007-08-20 06:15:50 · 7 answers · asked by Calchas 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
No. Certain forms of Hinduism and Buddhism do not believe in the existence of an ultimately eternal personal soul. In monistic Hinduism, the soul merges into the Divine Ground ("Godhead," the ultimate and absolute Cause). In Buddhism, the soul is an interdependently arising product that becomes liberated and empty upon attaining Nirvana, ie "extinction." The idea in both systems may be construed to be the same--the soul returns to its source but it does not have individuality or personality in the way the soul is thought of in JudeoChristian religions.
2007-08-20 06:29:23 · answer #1 · answered by philosophyangel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The allure of afterlife is commonly used to draw people to follow a religion, or at least I think so. A prime example of this is Christianity. In the middle ages, they struck fear of death into people with tales of purgatory or hell, and then told them that if they were to pay the church, they would be guarenteed a spot in heaven. I don't think it's required, but most major religions seem to utilize the fear of the unknown (what happens after death) to draw in followers. In response to the first answer, I think Judaism does have some sort of afterlife, though more obscure than the easily conceived idea of Heaven.
2007-08-20 15:38:32 · answer #2 · answered by Sara 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think that is what all the people want to hear. that death isn't the end. It is a very pleasant thought for most. A religion that doesn't qoute this wouldn't be much use. Why would you waste time on a religion, if you are going to die and disappear for ever? No ticket to heaven, no reincarnation. Then why would there be a god?
2007-08-20 13:23:10 · answer #3 · answered by saskia r 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that one of the main reasons religion even exists is to give people hope against the idea of dying, of ceasing to exist. I don't think that religions *require* an afterlife, but its probably harder to sell a religion without one.
2007-08-20 13:37:16 · answer #4 · answered by Pip 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know Jehovah's witnesses believe that when they die, they cease to exist (absolute nothingness), but God can bring them back (if God wants to because they were good) as the exact same person but in another date and time.
2007-08-20 13:23:02 · answer #5 · answered by Master C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
uh no, I believe there is no afterlife in Judaism.
2007-08-20 13:21:52 · answer #6 · answered by RapidCycler 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
no..
2007-08-20 13:23:55 · answer #7 · answered by bbsmokoloko 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋