Originally posted by Aqil
There are three major religions in the world, Kemestry, and there are distinct differences between the three. For example:

Judaism, the religion of the Jews, advances the belief in a God that does not live in or near His creation.

Christianity, the religion of Protestants and Catholics, advances the belief in a God that created a human son who lived and died on this planet.

Islam, the religion of all Muslims, advances the belief in Allah (God), The Creator Of The Universe And All That Is Contained Therein, whose spirit is everywhere and in all of us. Aqil ... thanks for this list of clear, concise differences between the three major religions in the world. I realize you've been brief, but I have questions pertaining specifically to the above, so I've started a new thread, hope you don't mind.

1. Can you tell me briefly, do all three believe in an "afterlife?" Which ones do and/or don't?

2. In general, do the three above believe that the other two groups are "lost?"

Of course, folk may also debate whether these are, in fact, the three major religions (as well as any other thoughts they'd like to contribute).

Thanks :)

Of course I don't mind the inquiring female mind...:) :heart:

1. Can you tell me briefly, do all three believe in an "afterlife?" Which ones do and/or don't?

Christianity and Islam do. I am not familiar with the tenets of Judaism. A Muslim becomes a martyr if death occurs in defending Islam. It is believed that to be without life a split second is to be with Allah (God) in the next...

2. In general, do the three above believe that the other two groups are "lost?"

I don't think "lost" is the right word. Although the name of the Creator is different in the major religions, belief in one God is a common thread that binds all three. There are many gods in the Hindu and Buddhist belief systems, which is why they are considered non-religious by Christian, Jewish and Islamic theologians...

A WORD ABOUT THE WORD:

The word “religion” is derived from the Latin word “religo,” which means to tie, to fasten, or bind back. The words “ligament” and “legion” are also derived from the Latin root word “religo”...

Religion really means the scientific understanding of the Supreme Controller of the Universe; to understand the Supreme Controller and to obey His laws...

No religion – which is simply a set of externalized and formalized ideas – is indispensable. Only truth is indispensable, and truth shines with a light that is instantly and universally recognized. Unlike dogmatism, which is invariably divisive, truth has a unifying effect, because it is a manifestation of the oneness of life and being...

Thanks Aqil. Gosh, too bad we don't have someone contributing who is familiar with the beliefs of Judaism. Perhaps someone knowledgeable in this area will join in.

Okay, so we've got Christianity and Islam with an afterlife. Do those who are not in "good standing" upon death, in Islam, go to "hell," as in Christianity? What fate is promised those who do not believe the tenets of Islam?

The Basic Tenets of Judaism
I am a Jew because the promise of our faith is a universal promise.
Edmond Fleg (1874-1963), France

The essence of Judaism centers around three ideas or tenets: study of Torah, service to God, and deeds of lovingkindness.

TORAH


The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanach (in Hebrew) tells the story of the relationship of the One God to a small group of nomadic people known in history as Hebrews. The Torah, comprising the books of Genesis, Leviticus, Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, relates how a patriarchal figure named Abraham and his wife Sarah accepted One God and “no others” through a covenant or agreement with this One God. In return for their “loyalty”, Abraham and Sarah were chosen to be the leaders of a small “nation” of people who, through numerous difficulties, missteps, and temptations, remained true to that One God.

But the story as told in the Torah is not as simple as this summary. The epochal events of the Hebrew people and the story of Abraham and Sarah and those who follow them are full of deep and complex meanings that need perpetual questioning and study in order to grasp not only what happened then—thousands of years ago—but to understand what those events mean for us today. Therefore, an essential part of being Jewish means studying the story of being Jewish. And studying Jewish texts means not just knowing the “short answers” or facts, but questioning, pondering, discussing, explaining, and re-explaining.

SERVICE TO GOD
I am a Jew because the faith of the people of Israel places above humanity, image of the divine,the Oneness of God.


One God, of course, is at the epicenter of the Torah. God is special to the Jews because Jews made a covenant to accept One God who is holy. By this acceptance, Jews can become holy—not because they are better or more important than others—but because through holiness they will be “a light unto the nations.”
God expects that the Jews, for the gift of being holy, will never waver from their convenant that declares God to be One—Adonai Echad. Being holy, however, does not mean merely acceptance of One God. It requires service to God, expressed in many ways, but above all by observing God’s special gift—Shabbat—the day on which God rested and which God gave to humans for them to rest. Setting it aside as a day different from the other six days—Jews and all humans can rest from work and therefore have a special closeness to God on that day. Observing Shabbat—a “day” that begins with the sundown and ends Saturday night—is the first step in the service to God and in the acknowledgement of God’s unique gift to humankind.






DEEDS OF LOVINGKINDNESS
I am a Jew because for the Jew the world is not completed; people must complete it.



ObservingShabbat, however, is a personal expression of service to God. So while it is “good” for the individual, it may have no tangible benefit to others. Therefore, along with study of Torah and service to God, must be deeds of lovingkindness. For without good deeds, done without expectation of payment or reward, there can be no holiness. And although Torah study and service to God are stated before deeds of lovingkindness, one must also perform good deeds that help make another person’s life better, more fulfilled, or holier.

Thanks for joining in Imhotep and Kemetstry ...

Do either of you know whether Judaism teaches about an "afterlife?" If so, what happens to those that fail to "make it in?"

I'd also like to know do all three groups think the other two are spiritually lost (for lack of a better term)?

Christianity rose out of Judaism as Christ, Himself, was a Jew - from the line of Judah. In my mind, one outstanding difference or point of departure is the recoginition of Christ as the Messiah promised in the early Scriptures. Of course there are Messianic Jews who accept Christ as the incarnate Son of God. Others still look to Elijah to herald the Messiah. The New Testament is the founding 'papers' for Christians, who see John the Baptist as the herald of Christ, our Redeemer.
On the concept of "afterlife"...I attach the following:

Question

I've often wondered what Judaism has to say about hell?... or Heaven for that matter?...

Answer

The afterlife is a fundamental of Jewish belief!

The creation of man testifies to the eternal life of the soul. The Torah says, "And the Almighty formed the man of dust from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the SOUL of life" (Genesis 2:7). On this verse, the Zohar
states that "one who blows, blows from within himself," indicating that the soul is actually part of G-d's essence. Since G-d's essence is completely spiritual and non-physical, it is impossible that the soul should die. (The commentator Chizkuni says this why the verse calls it "soul of LIFE.")

That's what King Solomon meant when he wrote, "The dust will return to the ground as it was, and the spirit will return to G-d who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:17)

For anyone who believes in a just and caring G-d, the existence of an afterlife makes logical sense. Could it be this world is just a playground without consequences? Did Hitler get away with killing 6,000,000 Jews? No. There is obviously a place where good people receive reward and bad people get punished. (see Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith) The question of "why do bad things happen to good people" has a lot to do with how we look at existence. The way we usually perceive things is like
this: A "good life" means that I make a comfortable living, I enjoy good health, and then I die peacefully at age 80. That's a good life. Anything else is "bad."

In a limited sense, that's true. But if we have a soul and there is such a thing as eternity, then that changes the picture entirely. Eighty years in the face of eternity is not such a big deal.

From Judaism's perspective, our eternal soul is as real as our thumb. This is the world of doing, and the "world to come" is where we experience the eternal reality of whatever we've become. Do you think after being responsible for the torture and deaths of millions of people, that Hitler could really "end it all" by just swallowing some poison? No. Ultimate justice is found in another dimension.

But the concept goes much deeper. From an eternal view, if the ultimate pleasure we're going after is transcendence - the eternal relationship with the Almighty Himself, then who would be luckier: Someone who lives an easy life with little connection to G-d, or someone who is born handicapped, and despite the challenges, develops a connection with G-d. Who would be
"luckier" in terms of eternal existence? All I'm trying to point out is that the rules of life start to look different from the point of view of eternity, as opposed to just the 70 or 80 years we have on earth.

So what is the afterlife exactly?

When a person dies and goes to heaven, the judgment is not arbitrary and externally imposed. Rather, the soul is shown two videotapes. The first video is called "This is Your Life!" Every decision and every thought, all the good deeds, and the embarrassing things a person did in private is all replayed without any embellishments. It's fully bared for all to see. That's why the next world is called Olam HaEmet - "the World of Truth," because
there we clearly recognize our personal strengths and shortcomings, and the true purpose of life. In short, Hell is not the Devil with a pitchfork stoking the fires.

The second video depicts how a person's life "could have been..." if the right choices had been made, if the opportunities were seized, if the potential was actualized. This video - the pain of squandered potential - is much more difficult to bear. But at the same time it purifies the soul as well. The pain creates regret which removes the barriers and enables the soul to completely connect to G-d.

Not all souls merit Gehenom. It is for people who have done good but need to be purified. A handful of people are too evil for Gehenom, and they are punished eternally. Pharaoh is one example.

So what about "heaven?"

Heaven is where the soul experiences the greatest possible pleasure - the feeling of closeness to G-d. Of course not all souls experience that to the same degree. It's like going to a symphony concert. Some tickets are front-row center; others are back in the bleachers. Where your seat is located is based on the merit of your good deeds - e.g. giving charity, caring for others, prayer.

A second factor in heaven is your understanding of the environment. Just like at the concert, a person can have great seats but no appreciation of what's going on. If a person spends their lifetime elevating the soul and becoming sensitive to spiritual realities (through Torah study), then that will translate into unimaginable pleasure in heaven. On the other hand, if
life was all about pizza and football, well, that can get pretty boring for eternity.

The existence of the afterlife is not stated explicitly in the Torah itself, because as human beings we have to focus on our task in this world. Though awareness of an eternal reward can also be an effective motivator.

For further study, see Maimonides' Foundations of the Torah, "The Way of G-d" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto, and the commentary of Nachmanides to Leviticus 18:29.

May the Almighty grant you blessings, success - and eternal life!

Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com

Back to Ask the Rabbi Q&A Archives

There is no such thing as a jewish religion.The proper term is Hebrew Israelites (Hebrews).The so call Jews were one of the twelve tribes of Israel.Up
until relatively recent his-story, the Jew were not considered a race or religion.

Thank you Imhotep for sharing this information with us. I noticed that much of it was from the web site, www.aish.com. I visited there and wrote to them, asking permission if we could keep their content posted here (I am adamantly opposed to using content that belongs to someone else, without permission). This was their response:

Shalom,

Thanks for asking. That's fine, as long as it says the author and Aish.com (http://www.aish.com) as it does, then you can quote as much as you want.

Kol Tuv - All the best,

Benyamin Buxbaum
Aish HaTorah Internet
Jerusalem, Israel
http://aish.com/lists/ All our Lists
http://aish.com

:)

It seems that each of the "three major religions" believe/teach of an afterlife. Based on what I read above, the afterlife for those in the Jewish faith (who do not live "properly") is not nearly as bad as the afterlife of Christians, who are hell-bound, if they don't "make it in."

Aqil, what about the afterlife for Muslims who fail to live properly? Is there a "hell" for them? How is that place described?

Imhotep, why was it such a big deal that Sammy Davis, Jr. claimed to be Jewish? Are African Americans not normally Jewish too?

Dbaraka, Welcome! :wave:
So glad to see you joining in the discussion. Please continue to share your views with us.

You all are great, thanks for sharing with me. :)

hmmmm ... no one has responded to my question about all 3 groups thinking the other 2 are "spiritually lost." Too touchy a subject fellas? :look:

Thinking on this question a little deeper, it's obvious that the answer must be yes. I came to this position, based on the fact that within these groups (at least Christians and Muslims, as I don't know much about Judaism), many think their own are "spiritually lost." Therefore, it makes sense for me to believe that they'd think those completely outside their way of thinking would be lost.

Right?

Kemetstry ... thanks for repeating it.

Are you saying they are all the same? I'm not sure I understand your answer, would you elaborate a little please?

Thanks Destee for the reminder. I understand copyright laws, and internet rights. Any information will be duly noted with credit given to the creator of the information. If you prefer, I could simply imbed the hyperlink (if I only knew how!).

Christianity, Judaism and Islam all have common roots, and one would expect, common goals. Abram (or Abraham) is the Patriarch of all three. Clearly Ishmael received God's blessing as he was led out of the camp of Abraham with his mother, Hagar. It is commonly held that Ishmael represents the 'branch' that becomes Islam. The term 'Israel' is given to Jacob and his offspring - the twelve tribes. Jesus comes through the tribe of Judah. Christianity was the beginning of salvation for Gentiles [those who were not Israelites, benefactors of the covenants].
Paul teaches us not to criticize others for their religious views. God is at work at his own pace. So we do not pronouce condemnation on anyone who believes differently. There is always the opportunity of "last minute" conversion.
Christians tend to understand that there is no way to "earn" redemption. It is a gift, freely given through Christ and his sacrifice on Calvary. In my reading and rudimentary understanding of Judaism, God Himself made a promise to Abraham and his offspring. God never breaks His word. At some time, all Israel will be called back under His divine shelter - not so much that they earned, or deserve,...but because God said He would.
At the ultimate day of judgment, there will some who will be lost and some who will be saved. This will be a matter of one's choice, it seems, for there is ample time provided to claim Jesus Christ as one's savior and redeemer. It would be the wish of every true believer, no matter what variation, that all will be saved by coming to Christ. But most importantly, ours is not to judge nor to preempt one's journey in faith.

Thank You Imhotep! :)

Actually, I'd prefer a link rather than the actual copyrighted text. Even though the www.aish.com folk were very nice, if we simply add a link, I don't have to stop and ask them. Thanks too Imhotep for providing their web site address so I could even do that!

To add a link to a site is pretty easy. All you must do is copy and paste the URL into your message. Such as, if I were going to direct you to www.destee.com :wink: that's all I'd have to do, is include the URL. The forum will automatically make it a link.

I'm not trying to judge any one of the roads that might lead to salvation (in spite of the fact that it is my understanding that there is only one). God Forbid! I know very little about these things and am really trying to learn. I think having a basic understanding of the major differences will help me (and perhaps others) be able to see them more clearly. Certainly one of the overwhelming reasons for following any path is to receive just compensation at the end. If the ends are different, then that might make a difference on which path one chooses. Not only that, these are three of the major paths, if you will, and how each views the other may also help in making that decision.

Please, don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to be critical, just wanting to understand better.

Thanks for your contibutions. For True.

while this question does not pertain to the topic at hand, Imhotep brought up a good point in his last statement...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the ultimate day of judgment, there will some who will be lost and some who will be saved. This will be a matter of one's choice, it seems, for there is ample time provided to claim Jesus Christ as one's savior and redeemer. It would be the wish of every true believer, no matter what variation, that all will be saved by coming to Christ. But most importantly, ours is not to judge nor to preempt one's journey in faith.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My question is this: There are still parts of the world who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When judgement comes, what shall be their fate.

(PLEASE NOTE: This is a systematic Theology question, not a right or wrong concept. Just want to hear some views.)

[Imhotep, why was it such a big deal that Sammy Davis, Jr. claimed to be Jewish? Are African Americans not normally Jewish too?


Destee put forth the above query. To the best of my memory, Sammy Davis, Jr. converted to Judaism. There are many notable African Americans of Jewish faith. My son's roomate in college attended the Temple faithfully and his father was an official in a synagogue.
There is evidence that Judaism was practiced in Africa as well as Christianity. Some believe the Ark of the Covenant now lies in Africa. Of course, we all recall the airlift of Hasidic (sp?) Jews from Ethiopia to Israel and their subsequent maltreatment.
It was popular belief that Sammy was disappointed in the social climate, racism and the protestant churches of the time. There is an anecdote that suggests that Sammy now was doubly discriminated against. There were country clubs and golf courses that would not allow him to play because of his religion!
The Bible even states that Moses married a Cu****e woman - clearly an African, over the objections of his sister, Miriam.
Another account states that an African eunuch was baptised and tutored by Philip (Acts).
Interesting too, that in the days of early Christianity, the Jewish leaders insisted that before accepting Gentiles into the temple, they had to first be converted to Judaism - then Christians! (Judaizers)

I thought (the way folk talked) that it was simply unheard of ... a Black Jew! I spoke with Kemetstry briefly and he too said that there are many Black Jews. I guess since Sammy was so well-known, anything he did, got more attention.

I am really learning so much from you all. While I could try to pick up a million books and read up on all of this, having your wisdom open to me is much much nicer! Thank You. :)

Dnommo poses an interesting question. I have also thought about that. To be sure, I do not have a definitive, provable answer. But I will share my thoughts.

If we presume that it was God's will that we all return to Him in Heaven, He must have a plan. We are born with a 'sense' of God within us. This is on the most primal level, to be sure. I think it is entirely possible that one can live one's life in congruity with the will of God without formal exposure. Take for example an infant who dies during childbirth. God will surely have mercy on that soul. God can save whomever He pleases!
The spreading of the gospel, as done by missionaries from the time of Christ is still a work in progress. Scholars of eschatology say that all will be in the church of Christ at the time of the final judgment.
The same question arises with respect to all those people who died before the birth and ministry of Christ. I don't have a good answer. Will they receive a special dispensation?

:eek: ooooh you posed a good one there. What about those before Christ? Well there was the forgiveness of sins through the Tabernacle. The whole process, ( i find most miss) is that the Bible says "believers" more often than anything. To me that means those who hear. Those who do not hear? Well dependent upon their spiritual beliefs, i do feel that they are not condemned to Hell simply because they have not heard.

Imhotep, i will speak more on this tomorrow. I must go. Besides, i gotta pull some books on Bonhoffer and Calvin and see how they looked at it...

Ever notice the Pope wears a skull cap just like the Jewish people? This is symbolic of the way priests in the mystery schools used to shave the backs of their heads. The more formal headgear and ritual of Judaism and Christiany are also very similar because they originate from the same source and the Pope's mitre is the fish head symbol of Nimrod.

No matter what the religion, ever notice they all suppress the female, all the male heads who founded these religions all had visions or visitations with some angel?

All religions are the same created by the same source to control, to create conflict between people, and to divide and rule the masses.

hmmmm ... no one has responded to my question about all 3 groups thinking the other 2 are "spiritually lost." Too touchy a subject fellas? :look:

Thinking on this question a little deeper, it's obvious that the answer must be yes. I came to this position, based on the fact that within these groups (at least Christians and Muslims, as I don't know much about Judaism), many think their own are "spiritually lost." Therefore, it makes sense for me to believe that they'd think those completely outside their way of thinking would be lost.

Right?

It seems as if the answer to your question most certainly is YES and this also applies to those who profees religions outside of the THREE major religions in question.

Have you noticed a small group here who constantly badger those who DO profess or adhere ot Christianity or Islamic tenets?

The reality is none of us are as spiritually FOUND as we may believe or profess and if we were most likely we would not even be 'incarnated' at this moment in Time and Space.

Ever notice the Pope wears a skull cap just like the Jewish people? This is symbolic of the way priests in the mystery schools used to shave the backs of their heads. The more formal headgear and ritual of Judaism and Christiany are also very similar because they originate from the same source and the Pope's mitre is the fish head symbol of Nimrod.

No matter what the religion, ever notice they all suppress the female, all the male heads who founded these religions all had visions or visitations with some angel?

All religions are the same created by the same source to control, to create conflict between people, and to divide and rule the masses.

I've definately noticed this!
Even in some cultures as well.(suppressing of women)