Some Jews believe that there is a spirit world into which all souls will go immediately after death. They believe that God would not allow death to be the end, and cannot accept the idea of the Last Day and recreation of the Earth.
All Jews believe that what happens to people when they die is determined by how they have lived this life. So jews are expected to make a death-bed confession is possible and there is a special prayver in the Jewish Prayer Book for people to say if they know they are dying.
Jewish cemeteries are called the House of Life symbolising the Jewish belief that death is not the end and that the Almighty will look after his faithful servants beyond the grave.
3) Why do Christians believe in the resurrection of the body?
Christians believe in life after death because Jesus rose from the dead. All gospels record that Jesus was crucified and buried in a stone tomb. Clearly, if Jesus rose from the dead there must be a resurrection of the body. As all the gospels suggest that Jesus’ body was resurrected, this shows that this is an important part of the Christian believe and suggests that resurrection is a major part of the Christian faith.
The major creeds of the church teach that Jesus rose from the dead and that there will be an afterlife. All Christians should believe in the creeds therefore believe in the resurrection of the body.
A religious upbringing may influence the belief in the resurrection of the body. If Christians are taught from a very young age that Jesus if the son of God and his body was resurrected then this will seem normal to them and they will believe this and carry on believing this. If a person was raised in an environment where everybody believes that Jesus was resurrected, they would believe this and influence others.
Many Christians believe in life after death and the resurrection of the body as it gives their life a meaning and a purpose. This makes people feel that when they die they will carry on living and that they are supposed to work hard in order to get to heaven. Christians try to do well in their life and follow the teachings as they will want to go to heaven. They realise that all deeds are repaid so will try not to commit sin.
4) ‘Once you’re dead, you’re dead and that’s the end of you’. Do you agree?
There are many different accounts and beliefs to life after death. Some believe there is a life after death and that they will be re united with God whereas some do not and believe life just ends.
Billions of people believe in a life after death for many reasons. These people are usually theist and can believe in God because they have had a religion upbringing or they believe they have personally encountered God in their life.
There are many arguments to support the fact that even when you die there is some sort of afterlife. For example there are near death experiences where people seem to have been going to heaven or hell. There is the feeling that there is something greater than you. If God existed then surely there would be some sort of after life. Religious people say that God is testing us therefore he will not come before our eyes and that you must have faith to get to heaven.
However, some believe that once you die your life is completely ended. These are usually atheists and also some agnostic people. This argument can be understood as there is still no scientific proof of the existence of God therefore all arguments are possible.
In my personal opinion, I believe that there is an after life as this gives my life some sort of purpose and i believe in God. The Guru Granth Sahib says that all men will be judged after death and I too believe this. Most people believe that there is a life after death however people are allowed to believe what they want and there is no proof so all opinions should be allowed and accepted.
