Just A Few Questions . . . .

[my_innersanctum]

I have just a few questions.  Two actually.  It will also help me to know if you're at the level of laity or clergy when you give your answer.  It will also help me to know what your religious preference is.

1.  What do Jews/Christians/You believe about the afterlife, heaven, hell, etc?
2.  How does the judgement day unfold with respect to Jew/

Comments

[sunflower_sky]

Judaism tends to focus on this life, not the next, so there are a variety of opinions about what happens after we die. The mourning and burial customs we keep fit with the following ideas

[my_innersanctum]

thanks. this was very helpful.

Question 1

[dungeonwriter]

Degree in Judaic studies, have studies it on a graduate level and did fellowships in it

Re: Question 1

[dungeonwriter]

Jewfaq, apologies!

http://www.jewfaq.org/olamhaba.htm

Full discussion, which matches up to what Sunflower says!

And yeah, day of Judgement not a Jewish concept.

But here are some handy verses from said website which talk about end of days.

Before the time of the mashiach, there shall be war and suffering (Ezekiel 38:16)

The mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5). He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15).

Re: Question 1

[my_innersanctum]

i figured that's what you meant. hee, hee.

Re: Question 1

[ohhellsyeah]

Hee. I'm not one to usually notice typos but that really raised my eyebrows!

[making_up]

I am a lay person.
I spoke on this subject with a conservative rabbi and with an orthodox rabbi. The conservative rabbi told us that belief in after-life is optional. It is not important for Judaism.

The orthodox rabbi told me that when a righteous person dies, his soul is attached to God. When less- than- righteous person dies, his soul will get back to Earth in some other person body, until he will deserve to be attached to God.

I am a Conservative Jew.

Why do not you tell us what you believe about after-life? For example, do you believe in 12 virgins, a martyr will get after his death? What if a martyr is a woman? What will she get in after-life?

[my_innersanctum]

thank you. you're right. i've been outta pocket and shd edit my post with that information. part of the problem is i wd like ot cite a few sources.

[making_up]

No answer... OK. Then, there are more questions: As far as I know, Muslims expect different treatment for Muslims and unbelievers (non-Muslim) after death. Am I right? Do you believe it? How important is it for you what will happen to you after your death?

If you are proud of your faith (and you are!), then why do not you want to tell us about it? Is it because, in America, it would be considered rude and arrogant to call people of all different faiths infidels?

[shakingthetree]

I'm a Jewish convert with a real crazy-quilt faith history but always a living, breathing, wonderful relationship with G_d.

I generally fall in line with the Jewish concept of olam ha-ba as described in the Jewfaq article - it was actually one of the main reasons I converted. For some reason, I just couldn't believe in a G_d that would consign souls to hell for eternity. It seems... a waste, to me. I would think that if G_d bothered to create a soul to begin with, no matter how rotten or distant from G_d while engaged in mortal life on this planet, it would still have meaning and value to G_d.

But that's just my own very human rationale. :)

[my_innersanctum]

thank you. i appreciate the information.

[my_innersanctum]

sorry for being away for so long, but i will update with the beliefs muslims hold for the afterlife. thanks for your patience and input.