Devotional Poetry

The Afterlife: Variations on the Theme

The Afterlife:
Variations on the Theme

Judaism

The concept
of the afterlife
is to give hope!

Hop
that there is something more
to living.

In the afterlife
there is both paradise
and the nether world.

However,
neither condition is permanent.

At the end of time,
at the final judgment
evil will be incinerated.

The idea
is to serve the master
without though of the world to come.

Christian

Sin,
constitutes death,
a breaking away from ?God.

Death was transformed by
Jesus Christ.

salvation,
the negative of death,
begins with
baptism from death.

Eternal salvation
(Is not a reward!)
comes with church membership;
awaits the general resurrection.

Latter Day Saints

All
will be resurrected!

Resurrection
through Jesus Christ
is a physical resurrection
with the perfect body.

Judged
according to its works,
either good or evil,
the spirit
is taken home to God:
The good
are received into paradise;
The evil
are cast into outer darkness.

The sinful are punished,
but when they have atoned
receive the kingdom of glory.

Janism

Birth
and rebirth occur
until karma is paid;
liberation
is achieved;
the cycle is broken.

We must
do our karma;
pay for what we do.

We must
have an opportunity
to become enlightened.

The soul
is eternal;
the present life important.

Isalm

We go
from stage to stage;
life after death
is a natural conclusion.

From the instant
of death
there are two stages:
the first stage
last
from the moment
the body is put into the grave
until the day of judgment;
the second stage lasts
from the day of judgment
unto eternity.

The next life
is similar to this life,
but not exactly like it.

Baha'i
There is
life after death!

In this world
we
are like the embryo
in the mother's womb.

In this world
our responsibility
is to develop spiritual qualities.

Qualities of the spirit
help us cope
in the world to come.

Progression
of the soul is eternal;
here we have a choice.

Poet's Note: ▼

I wrote this in 149 B.E. It was inspire by an interreligious panel discussion on the afterlife.