Roman Catholic

Website:

http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s817512.htm

http://www.patheos.com/Library/Roman-Catholicism

http://www.patheos.com/Library/Roman-Catholicism/Beliefs/Afterlife-and-Salvation

• Roman Catholic Church believe that they are the New Testament era w/ the Bishops of Rome 
• The Pope is considered the first leader of the apostles the successor of St. Peter 
• Considered " Western" rather than " Eastern" 
• Orthodox 
• The churches form a undivided Christian church for over a thousand years 
• Roman Catholic Churches are found is Australia 
• Catholic Churches were found in Western Europe 
• Catholicism created a new Christian churches outside the Popes jurisdiction 
• Catholic celebrate a festival called Saints Day 
• Sacred Text: The Bible 
• Origin: Roman- Latin Empire 
• 1.1 billion followers
• Follows the history of Jesus of Nazareth in a period of Roman occupation 
• Sacred Texts: The Roman Catholic Church includes in the Old Testament several deuterocanoncial books that Protestants rejected. The New Testament is the same as that used by Christians everywhere

Key Beliefs:

• There are seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, penance, communion, holy orders, marriage and the sacrament of the sick.


• The Mass is the centre of the sacramental system, and Catholics are obliged to attend Mass every week.


• In the sacrament of communion at the Mass, bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation).


• Catholics affirm that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus was conceived miraculously through the power of the Holy Spirit, and not through sexual relations with her husband Joseph. They also teach that Mary remained a virgin "before, during and after" the birth of Jesus, and that he remained her only child. The church also teaches that at her own conception, Mary herself, by virtue of being the "mother of God" was conceived without original sin. This is referred to as her "Immaculate conception. They also believe in Mary’s “bodily assumption” – that she was taken directly to heaven at the end of her life and enthroned as Queen of Heaven.


• Catholics place great emphasis on the tradition of church interpretation of the Bible, as distinct from either individual or literal scriptural interpretation.


• Catholics believe that saints, created through the process of canonisation, can intercede with God on behalf of people who are alive today and petition for their memory.


• Catholics acknowledge the primacy and the authority of the Bishop of Rome, called the Pope, traditionally regarded as Christ’s representative on Earth.

Afterlife and Salvation: 

• Catholics believe in Corporate Salvation 
• God grants salvation through all that participates in church 
• Those who do not receive communion can not be saved 
• God have forgiven human sins through Jesus Christ 
• Traditionally Catholics believe that they have individuality beyond death 
• They experience 3 states: Heaven, purgatory and hell 
• Heaven is a place of peace and joy - they join the angels and have direct knowledge of God praising him
• Believe that most souls are not clean enough of sins; instead these souls will enter a place called Purgatory 
• Through the death of Christ humans receive salvation and enter the gates of Heaven ( their souls remain of sins they have committed) 
• In order to be pure and rid of sins they endure severe punishment and be cleanse of sins 
• Spending some time in purgatorial fire 
• Souls that are too full of sin , disobedient and hatred toward God until death cant be cleanse - they will go to hell 
• Hell is said to be a place of torment and suffering: instead Hell is a state of being remove of Gods presence 
• The soul is in endless sorrow for eternity 

Hinduism

Website:

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_death.asp

https://www.everplans.com/articles/hindu-funeral-traditions

Death and Afterlife in Hinduism 

• Believe in re-brith and re-incarnation 
• Souls are immortal and imperishable 
• The soul is a part of Jiva a limited being ( a person of impurities and attachment and karma ) 
• Death is a natural process of existence of Jiva, separate 
• Soul is liberated 
• Life and afterlife are not permanent 
• Recycling resources and energy 
• Can't have prejudice, likes, dislikes if one wants to be liberated 
• When a person dies his souls leaves the body 
• Get reunited with Ultimate God- Brhaman 

Sun and Moon Pathway

• Bhagavad-Gita two paths that a soul can travel after death 
• Path to the sun is a bright path, known as the path of The Gods 
• When a soul travels to the sun it never returns 
• Path of the moon is the dark path, the path of the ancestors
• When a soul travel to the moon the soul returns 

Suicide in Hinduism 

• At one stage was a tradition in Hinduism 
• The 'ritual' of suicide was permitted under circumstances 
• If one commits suicide they will be bad karma and complicate the liberation and re-brith process 
• If a person commits suicide the economy will suffer 
• Souls that committed suicide end up in a region called Punnama 

The Fate of the Individual person 

1. His previous deeds 
2. His state of mind 
3. The time of his death 
4. The activities of his children 
5. The grace of God 

Heaven and Hell 

• The purpose of heaven and hell is not to punish or reward souls 
• The purpose is to remind them of true existence 
• Souls to temporarily to heaven or hell 
• Jiva goes to heaven 
• Soul that fall into hell will experience horrors 
• The purpose of heaven and hell is to have balance and impart wisdom and detachment 

Funeral Rites

• Hindus are not buried 
• Hindus are cremated 
• They return to the source of death 
• Children below a certain age are buried 
• When a person dies, they are given a final bath 
• Ashes are scattered in various places
• Preparation begin immediately 
• Traditional the funeral begins at dusk or dawn 

Buddhism PP/ Internet source

Website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/bhavachakra/


Main Concept:

• Re-birth
• Karma 
• Enlightment 
• Tibetan book of the Dead ( The text guides a person to the dead)
• Tibetan Wheel of Life~called Bhavachakra in Sanskrit ( Dipicts 6 realms) 
• There is no God ( mental/ physical energy) 

Tibetan Wheel Of Life 

• At the centre of tradition 
• Endless cycle of birth and death known as Samsara 
• Held by the Lord of Death and the determiner of Life 
• A machine turns the wheel
• The wheel consist of ignorance, desire and hatred : it is represented by a pig's cockerel and a snake 
• Symbolic through the birth as a human and the individual can move beyond hell, ghost and animal life form 
• Six realms: Yama, The three fires, The realm of humans, The realm of God, The realm of hungry ghost and The realm of animals. 
• Including: Heaven 

What happens when we die? 

• Buddhist think that when we die we will become re-incarnated 
• Individuals are re-born and continue the cycle of birth until they reach Nirvana (enlightenment) 
• Reincarnation- They will be re-born into a human body 
• They can also be born into a non-human form ( animals, trees, plants) 

Thoughts of a dying person?

• The end stages of life are very important to a Buddhist 
• Thoughts, feelings and behaviours are expresses during this time as a source of grieving 
• Emphasis on peace to make dying an easy and peaceful journey 
• Family members, close friends are important in helping with the grieving process ( this is important part of the spiritual journey) 

 Karma

• Believe that the destination of mental and physical energy after death is determined by the state of mind 

Re-born into physical and mental energy link to current life, actions and conduct 

Where to from here? 

• Hell is transitory ( not permanent) - it is a period that experiences punishment and purification 
• Life after re-brith or re-incarnation when one has experience enlightenment 
• Nirvana  spiritual enlightenment and transcend beyond time and space ~ No longer need to be reborn 

Observations Cemetery visit 11/8/16

• Section for different religions but all in the one cemetery 
• Jewish tombstones are all similar 

• People already have their tombstone prepared next to their loved ones 
• There are already built tombstones that families have reserved with the family name engraved in it
• Orthodox burial ( below)

• Most messages are similar 
• Chinese have very grand burials 

• There is a cremation garden with a plaque of the names of the deceased 
• Some people can't afford a proper burial, instead they plant a cross on top of where their family member is buried 

• The Islamic graves have the same messages " To Allah we belong and to him we return" 
• Allah determines every aspect of life 

• Some of the deceased are little children from the ages of 11 and 15 
•  The Jewish tombstones have rocks laid on top 

• There is a memorial for the Jewish Holocaust victims 

• Some of the tombstones aren't well maintained 

• There are many tombstones where flowers can be placed in the steel circle 

• Families members or friends place little gifts ( ex. teddy bears, statues etc.) on top of the grave 
• Some graves are very well decorated 

Interview Questions

Summary of different religions ( ex 3) and focus specifically on 2 people interviewing 

Hypothesis:

People are fearful of death. People hope for something more pass the life there are currently living.


Interview:

My Grandpa: Wilfred Vun ( Christian)
Friend: Gayatri Naidu ( Hindu)




Questions:

1. Where do you think we go when we pass away? 
2. What is your understanding of the process which follows death? 
3. What is your opinion on heaven and hell? 
4. What determines if a person goes to heaven or hell? 
5. What impact do past actions have on a future in heaven or hell? 
6. Where do your beliefs on the afterlife and death stem from?
7. What do you think of the concept of reincarnation or rebirth? If so, explain.  
8. Do you believe in a judgement day? 
9. What do you make of the concept of judgement day? 
10. What is your personal experience of loved ones passing away? 
11. What spiritual experience have you had if any that may connect with the afterlife? 
12. Is death a permanent state or do we go someplace else?

Judaism Overview: Cont.

• The Messiah will come and bring in a new world 
• The believe that after 2000 years the world will come to an end 
• The world will be dormant ( still)  for 1000 years 
• All souls will be relocated to the Realm of Souls, recharging the purpose of the Resurrection 
• At the end of the 2000 years the Resurrection will occur and the new world will begin and will last forever 
• Pharosise do not believe in ressurction 

Comparison: Judaism VS Christianity 

Judaism                    Christianity

Human are               Human are 

born with a               born at first

clean slate                 as a sin 

God loves                  

everyone even

non-Jews 

Punishment in 

the Jewish afterlife

is Not eternal 

Judaism Afterlife

• They respect the dead 
• Help people that are grieving 
• To express their grief mourners tear a bit of their clothing; this is an ancient tradition that is still continued today called Keri'ah
• Burial process is done fairly and made simple giving to priority or distinct difference between the rich and poor 
• Jews believe that " Death is not the end, but the start of the soul's entry to the World to come". It goes on a new spiritual journey where the body leaves the soul and removes fear 
• Judaism is built in relationships that involve agreement and promises made in life 
• Life after Death Jewish views: Soul leaves the body and returns to where is came from ( this process takes 1 year), While in the process the body/soul may come in contact with the living world, The Human soul is immortal and survives physical death of the body, The soul encounters: Olam Ha-Ba, Gan Eden and Gehenna

1. Olam Ha-Ba/ The world to come: A state of being higher than current existence 

* They prepare by studying the Torah and performing good deeds 

* Doesn't focus on how to get to heaven rather it focuses on current life and how to life it 

* They embrace the idea of heaven but, don't know how to describe it 

*They know that heaven is a wonderful place

2. Gan Eden ( The Garden of Eden) 

* Spiritual reward for the righteous
* Not the same place where Adam and Eve were
* It is a place of spiritual perfection
* The peace that one person feels is the pleasure of the after-life

3. Gehnna 

* People come to this spiritual place for punishment or purification
* Can be referred to as "She'ol
* Gehnnna is seen as severe punishment
* Gehnna is not "hell"
* It is a period in time where we can see our actions and the harm that we might have caused others, or the opportunities that we have missed
* This period does NOT exceed 12 months the person then ascends to take their place in Olam Ha-ba

The Messiah: The anointed one 

• A human that is especially anointed and specially empowered 
• The biblical figures have predicted the return of the Messiah since the destruction of the first temple in the year 586 B.C.E 
• The divine messenger who will come and herald God's message to the world 
• When all Jews perform Mitzvah  properly balance will be restored only then The Messiah will come 

The Messianic Age

• Theological term: Future time of peace and brotherhood on earth 
• Future time without war, crime and poverty 
• Many religions believe that this New age will come on day  

Doctrine of the Qu'ran :Eschatology

• Believe in an afterlife
• After death people go into the inter-world 
• Judgement Day 
• Paradise is an ideal/ physical place for a person 
• Hell has 7 levels and is far from Paradise therefore it is far from God 
• If a person is not a good Muslim 
• People go to Hell if they don't believe in God and they will burn in hell 
• We are made spirit and soul ( soul is mind and personality, spirit is a part of us that relates to God) 
• Soul's are rejoined with their body. Christian view: Soul will be placed into a different body 
• Purgatory : Period of suffering prior to being with God ( Christian view)
• Difference between Sunnis and Shiite: Sunnis believe that the soul is in rest/ Shiite believe the soul continues on awaiting resurrection 

Sunni-

Sunnis, in contrast, consider the human being a material compound of body and soul. Upon death, both body and spirit die and spend a certain period in the grave where they undergo a personal judgment by two angels and a divine judge. This personal judgment is followed by a second death, which is abrogated, however, for those who died in the name of God. Souls are then believed to vanish, and to appear again on Judgment Day when they rejoin their original bodies.

Shiites- Shiites hold that the human being is a spirit, the "ruh" (spiritual breath, which is immortal by nature), which uses the body as instrument. Upon death, the spirit, liberated from the body, can rediscover its true nature. The souls of those who believed in God live until the day of resurrection, enjoying the vision of God. On the day of resurrection, the bodies of the righteous will join their soul and will enter paradise forever, whereas the unbelievers' souls will suffer until the last day and, once rejoined with their bodies, will suffer eternal punishment.

• People that get into paradise are those that believe in a God and do good deeds 
• Polytheist are Hindus, Atheist and non-followers of the Abrahamic faith will NOT be accepted into Paradise because of their lack of beliefs. 
• Islam doesn't believe in a Satan but they believe in a Jinn which is a person with evil within 

Levels of HELL:

1. Jaheem - the shallowest level of Hell. It is reserved for those who believed in Allah and His Messenger (S.A.W.), but who ignored His commands.
2. Jahanam - a deeper level where the idol-worshippers are to be sent on the Day of Judgement.
3. Sa'ir - is reserved for the worshippers of fire.
4. Saqar - this is where those who did not believe in Allah will be sent on the Day of Judgement.
5. Ladha - will be the home of the Jews.
6. Hawiyah - will be the abode of the Christians.
7. Hutama - the deepest level of Hellfire. This is where the religious hypocrites will spend eternity. The worst of Allah's creation are the Munafiqeen (Hypocrites), wether they be mankind or Jinn, for they outwardly appear to accept, but inwardly reject Allah and His Messenger (S.A.W.). 

Term 3 : Field of Study ( Cemetery Visit) Assignment

• Interview people about death and afterlife 
• Two people possibly of different religious background 
• Critically analyse information 
• Compare responses by the two people 
• 1200 w response