Afterlife Beliefs Across Religions
How the world's major religions understand what happens after death, from heaven and hell to reincarnation and nirvana.
How the world's major religions understand death and what follows
Judgment after death; eternal life with God (heaven) or separation from God (hell). Some traditions include purgatory.
Day of Judgment; deeds weighed on a scale. Paradise (Jannah) for the righteous; Hellfire (Jahannam) for the wicked.
Cycle of rebirth (samsara) governed by karma. Ultimate goal: moksha (liberation from the cycle).
Rebirth without a permanent soul. Six realms of existence. Ultimate goal: nirvana (cessation of suffering).
Relatively less emphasis on afterlife. Concepts include resurrection, the World to Come, and temporary purification (Gehinnom).
Cycle of rebirth governed by karma. Liberation (mukti) through devotion to God and divine grace.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; comparative religion scholarship.
The data behind the chart
| Religion | Central concept | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | Heaven & Hell | Judgment after death; eternal life with God (heaven) or separation from God (hell). Some traditions include purgatory. |
| Islam | Jannah & Jahannam | Day of Judgment; deeds weighed on a scale. Paradise (Jannah) for the righteous; Hellfire (Jahannam) for the wicked. |
| Hinduism | Reincarnation & Moksha | Cycle of rebirth (samsara) governed by karma. Ultimate goal: moksha (liberation from the cycle). |
| Buddhism | Rebirth & Nirvana | Rebirth without a permanent soul. Six realms of existence. Ultimate goal: nirvana (cessation of suffering). |
| Judaism | Olam Ha-Ba | Relatively less emphasis on afterlife. Concepts include resurrection, the World to Come, and temporary purification (Gehinnom). |
| Sikhism | Reincarnation & Mukti | Cycle of rebirth governed by karma. Liberation (mukti) through devotion to God and divine grace. |
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Source
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; academic consensus from comparative religion scholarship.