Death and rebirth from Hinduism to Christianity

13-Dec-2009

It is a fact of life that everyone is born, and everyone dies. In between these two events is ones life,

where it is expected to work, and participate in the religion born into. In the different religions, each

has their own ideas on the major questions of what happens after one dies, and your afterlife state. This

thesis paper will focus primarily on the difference between the Christian beliefs of death, afterlife and

fate against Hindu beliefs of death, rebirth, and fate.

Fate, or destiny, is defined as an event or a course of events that will inevitably happen in the future.(1)

The opposite of fate is free will. Doing what one chooses and not accepting a predefined plan.

Hinduism believes God has a set plan for the world and everything that happens in it(2). Man has free

will, and assumes responsibility over his own actions, but nothing happens without God's knowledge or

consent(2). Christianity on the other hand, rejects the belief of fate(3). In believing everything that

happens is planned and unchangeable, then man cant be held against the sins he committed(3). At the

same time God has given man free will, God has a divine plan for creation that will eventually be

fulfilled(3).

Understanding the roll of fate in each religion, what is the desired way to live a life to make it to the

final destination? In Christianity one is born into sin.(4) Infants are born into a world of sin and filth

with their ears and eyes wide open.(5) From being born into sin, nobody is good enough for heaven.(6)

Even through performing good deeds in ones life, one may not achieve heaven(7). The repenting of all

sins in ones life along with treating others with love as Christ died for the souls of those he would never
know, and living off the teachings of Christ from being modest to being honest and true(8), one can be

accepted into Heaven. Nirvana in Hinduism, is the release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle

of rebirths.(9) Hindus believe there are three possible ways to achieve moksha, or salvation. The first of

these is karma yoga, which is liberation being obtained by fulfilling family and social duties,

overcoming bad karma to throw one back into the “wheel of life”.(9) The second way to achieve moksha

is the way of knowledge or jnana yoga .(9) In this path, the cause of being stuck in the cycle is

ignorance. Ignorance consists of the mistaken belief that one is an individual, and not Brahman, or one

with the divine.(9) Salvation is brought from attaining a level of consciousness that one can realize their

identity with Brahman through deep meditation.(9) The third path of moksha is way of devotion, or

bhakti yoga. This is achieved through worship, temple rituals, pilgrimages and self surrender of one of

the many gods and goddesses of Hinduism.(9)

Knowing now how to make it to Heaven in Christianity, What is heaven, who is in heaven, what

happens if you don't make it to heaven? In Christianity, Heaven is the place where the soul goes when

the physical body dies. It is described as a joyful place(10) where the righteous can rest, and praise the

Lord.(11) There will be no pain, sorrow, or sadness in heaven(12) as there is joy in the presence of God.

Christians believe in a second coming of their lord, where he will take all the faithful and righteous to

heaven, leaving all the sinners and non-christians on earth to live amongst demons and the anti-christ.

Though no one knows when or where the second coming will happen(13) or who the anti-christ is, even

though there are several names thrown around in this modern age. In Hinduism, Nirvana is the supreme

state free from suffering and individual existence.(14) Often referred to as self-recognition, is it the end

of the seemingly endless rebirth cycle.(14) Nirvana is called eternal bliss among Hindus, and unlike

Christianity with heaven, cannot be described but only experienced directly.(14) Achieving nirvana is

when the soul breaks out of the cycle of rebirth and becomes one with Brahma.
What is to happen for those who die and don't make it to heaven or don't achieve nirvana. Hell in

Christianity is a place of eternal punishment.(15) Hell is a place of fire(16), in the center of the earth.(17) It

is a place where those not accepted into heaven are sent to pay for their life of sinning and not being

faithful to God. In Catholicism, they believe in a third place called purgatory. Purgatory is a place

where those who fall short of heaven can repay their sins in with limited torment(18), while still being

able to be accepted into heaven. Opposite of Christianity, Hindus do not necessary believe in hell. If

one does not break free from the wheel of rebirth, they are reborn into the world, as a person, animal, or

plant. Punishment in a Hinduism for not fulfilling the life goals set forth, is reincarnation in a lower

caste than the current caste. Even if fulfillment of the life goals and proper worship does not achieve

nirvana, one may be placed in a higher caste to accomplish more.

The differences between how Hinduism and Christianity views on death, afterlife, fate and rebirth are

on all sides of the board. Looking at what heaven is and means to Christians and what Nirvana is for

Hindus are the same concept, but different means to achieve it. Hell is something Christians fear, and

strive to stay away from, as Hindus effort to not fall in their life on the caste system. Fate plays a roll in

every life, mixed with free will. Hindus reject free will, yet accept the personal free will. Christians

believe in free will, because God can not make you sin.