Sacred Art of Dying the Thesis

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On the other hand, Christianity also stipulates a hell for those who do not believe its teachings. In the Christian tradition, a person's body is separated from his or her soul upon death. The soul is then judged, and can be sent to heaven, hell, or purgatory, though some Christian faiths do not believe in purgatory. In addition, Christians believe that they will be reunited with changed bodies in heaven, and that a judgment will take place on earth at the end of days. Though Christians look at death joyously, they are also understand the necessity of praying for forgiveness and reiterating their beliefs as death approaches.

Thus, Christianity's view of death is similar to Judaism's in some ways. Both believe that death is the result of sin. Some Jews even believe in a similar heaven and hell, and both religions share a God that has created these things. The two religions part ways, however, when it comes to the importance of death. For Christians, everlasting life is the core of their spirituality, especially since it was for this that Jesus sacrificed himself. For the Jewish people, however, the question is still greater than the answer. Similarly, Christians' beliefs about death are different than Chinese beliefs, as Christians see death as punishment, as well as a process that will end with the final judgment. Chinese people, however simply see death as a natural process that ends only to begin again.

My personal beliefs regarding death combine features from all of these belief systems. Like Jews, I'm not exactly sure what's out there, though I do believe in something. I'm interested in finding the answer to this question, although it does not consume a great deal of my time or my thoughts. Like Christians and some Jews, I believe in a heaven or a hell. However, I do not believe in heaven as a physical location, a belief that I share with many Christians. Instead, I believe it is simply a place where people are rewarded for their good deeds.

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Hell, on the other hand, is where people are punished for their evil deeds, though I do not believe in a traditional hell featuring Satan, demons, and torture. Instead, I believe that hell is simply being unable to join others in experiencing the good that heaven, or the beyond, brings. Regardless, after death, I believe that the physical body is empty and the soul has traveled on, contrary to Chinese belief. A judgment then decides whether the soul moves to heaven or to hell. The only thing that I share with Chinese beliefs is that death does not have to be a punishment. I agree that it is a natural process, though I believe some allow it to serve as a punishment for them by engaging in activities that are immoral during life. In addition, like the Chinese belief in venerating ancestors, I do believe that honoring the dead person is the best way to undertake a funeral. I believe that sadness and mourning, though often felt deeply by others, is the best way to get over a person's death. Instead, I think that it is much easier for a person to overcome grief if he or she celebrates the life of the deceased.

Thus, different cultures have beliefs about death that both coincide and are contradictory. Some cultures, like the Chinese and Jewish cultures, do not see death as the most important part of life or spirituality. Others, like Christianity, see death as the ultimate ending, the most important aspect of religion. My ideas of death take into account some of those proposed by these religions, in addition to my own ideas. Through an examination of each of these cultures' views of death, it becomes clear how the views and practices associated with religion in different cultures is essential to the process of learning about different cultures….....

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