In Christian and Islamic religions, there is an afterlife.

The Afterlife in Christianity and Islam

The term “afterlife” refers to what happens to humans after they die. It involves the dualism viewpoint, which emphasizes the potential of living without the real body and emphasizes the contingent nature of human bodies, which are limited to laws that can be broken by God (Stanford University). This believe in the hereafter is consistent with the ideas held by various religions regarding what the afterlife is. The goal of this study is to discuss the afterlife in light of the Christian and Islamic religions.

Christianity’s Belief in Afterlife

To begin with, regardless of religion, Christianity recognizes an afterlife. This is based on the Bible teachings that call for believers to believe in God’s son, Jesus, as a way of ensuring they obtain everlasting life as indicated by John 3:16 (King James Bible). These verses indicate that one who subscribes to the teachings and practices of what the Bible indicates to be expected behavior shall live even after death as Isaiah 26:19 (King James Bible) indicates, and even after death there is everlasting life according to Daniel 12:2 (King James Bible). As aforementioned, the laws that govern the afterlife are dictated by God who will allow for departed spirits to be brought back to life and it is He who will dictate the Afterlife as per Isaiah 26:19 (King James Bible).

For Christianity, the belief of afterlife and whether someone will go to heaven, purgatory or hell are enshrined and pegged on the actions that an individual commits when alive. Just as Jesus resurrected after death on the third day, Christianity calls for virtuous actions based on the bible and church teachings that will allow for the spirit to commune with God after death and will only occur after judgment. Those who do not will be judged and will either go to purgatory to await atonement or go to hell. No specific details exist in the bible that describes these three states of the afterlife (BBC).

Islam’s View of Afterlife

The Islamic view of afterlife does have a number of similarities and differences to those held in Christianity. To begin with, the creator, Allah, holds the power over everything that happens as indicated in Surah 3:145 and he has given free will to humankind and it is their decisions and actions that lay the foundation for their afterlife. Unlike Christianity which consists of different denominations that teach different elements of the afterlife, Islam holds one primary view. This is based on Surah 39:70, 3:115, and 3:116 (Quran.com) which indicate that Allah will pass judgment by balancing the good and bad things an individual commits in life. This judgment day is when all the Muslims will be raised from their grave after the destruction of earth and face judgment based on their actions and intentions.

Unlike Christianity that has purgatory and lacks descriptions of places aligned to afterlife, Islam teaches that afterlife will either be in paradise (Jannah) or in hell (Jahannam) which the Quran describes. In 47:15 Jannah is described as a place with rivers of water, milk, and wine that are beyond imagination, silken garments and raised thrones and a great delight and dominion,76:12-21, that Allah will give to those he judges to go to Jannah (Quran.com). for those who are sent to Jahannam, the description as per 9:63, 3:192, and 3:131 indicate that it is already created and will inflict pain through fire.

The paper has discussed aspects of afterlife in light of Christianity and Islam. It is evident that both subscribe and preach aspects of afterlife that are pegged on doing good deeds so as one will go to heaven or Jannah. Those who go against this teachings will go to hell of Jahannam and thus both call for a life that reflects the obedience to the creator as well as good deeds towards others. Based on the faith that an individual subscribes to, the aspect of afterlife differs and aligns to the teachings of that religion.

Works Cited

BBC. Religious Studies: Christianity: beliefs about life after death. 2014. Web. 11 April 2017. .

King James Bible. King James Bible. 2017. Web. 11 April 2017. .

Quran.com. The Noble Quran. 2016. Web. 11 April 2017. .

Stanford University. Afterlife. 18 December 2014. web. 11 April 2017.