Different world religions have a variety of beliefs about death and the after-life. One of the main beliefs is reincarnation which speaks about “karma” and the “wheel of rebirths and suffering”. Karma is the factor which determines what happens at the time of death. The soul of the individual, at some point, passes on to another human or possibly an animal. Nothing can be done about this. There is no mercy, forgiveness or appeals.

Current teachers about reincarnation are, it seems, mystics who claim to have studied and determined that after death the soul, but not the personality, will inhabit another being soon after death. Or it could take long periods of time, perhaps hundreds of years or more. Some current teachers even believe that in the next incarnation the soul could even go to another world or even universe.

Originally, the belief in reincarnation began in the distant past in the Eastern World religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc. This belief, of course, continues to the present time.

There are other world religions which do not adhere to the belief in reincarnation. If you are a reader of this blog instalment, hopefully it will encourage you to research what will happen to you when you expire.

(What each world religion and other belief systems hold to, will be covered in the blog following this one).

Each of the founders of a world religion had a connection with spiritual beings or a deity. These spiritual entities influenced the religious teachers’ beliefs which were then passed on to the masses of people who are followers to the present time.

This brings up some important questions. The question is, who were and are these spiritual beings? Where did they come from? How did they come to exist? Where were they before our world and universe was created. (See previous blog about the Big Bang.) Did religious founders come to their belief with the help of spiritual entities such as in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Islam etc.? Were these spirit beings good or evil? Why are some spirits worshipped as idols?

Is this how the belief in reincarnation began with the teaching about “karma” and the “wheel of life” that it seems can go on and on without end? How many attain “enlightenment” which is their aim in life? Nobody seems to know.

A Pew Research organization went to the Eastern countries where reincarnation is believed and found that significant numbers of people did not any longer accept the belief in reincarnation.

History shows that world religions made their appearances at different times with great gaps between them. For example, why was Islam introduced to the world in a relative recent time in 610 AD. If Jehovah and Allah are the same God, what was the point of presenting Allah to the world. Jehovah had already in the distant past said who He was and said there was no other God, Isaiah 44:6-9.

In addition to “karma” and the belief in reincarnation and the troublesome process of the “wheel of rebirth and suffering”, which it seems can be endless, other world religions have other views about death and the after-life.

The next blog will, as succinctly, as possible, tell what other main religions believe. There are other options to become familiar with.

It should be clear that there are honorable people in every religious faith, but that is not the topic of this series of blogs, but rather about death and the after-life.

Thanks for visiting.