Ninth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Knowledge of death in various religions is regarded as an integral strategy for the ethical formation and spiritual development. The purpose of this research is to provide a comparative assessment of death in Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. In this study, after a brief introduction on death and its mystical connotations, the research evaluated the concept of death in Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. It identifies various understanding and provides a holistic categorization of various moral issues raised in the outlook on death in these religions. In order to establish a meaningful relationship in terms of moral, ethical and spiritual development envisioned through the belief in the soul’s existence in another world like Christianity, Islam, and many pagan belief systems, or in reincarnation like many forms of Hinduism and Buddhism. Moreover, there is also the belief that one’s status in the afterlife is a reward or punishment for their conduct during life on earth. A phenomenological, historical, theological and descriptive approach has been adopted to facilitate comprehensive assessment. An overall evaluation of death in these religions shows that death is not seen as an end and that the experience of death by humans has influences on various religious practises and rituals.