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Heaven

Heaven

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	Heaven may refer to the physical heavens, the sky Atmosphere An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, by the gravity of the body, and are retained for a longer duration if gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low.... or the seemingly endless expanse of the universe Universe The universe is defined as everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and physical constants that govern them.... beyond. This is the traditional literal meaning of the term in English, however since at least AD 1000, it is typically also used to refer to an afterlife Afterlife The afterlife is the concept of a continued existence for the soul, spirit or mind of a being after biological death. The major views on the afterlife derive from religion, esotericism and metaphysics.... plane of existence (often held to exist in another realm Realm A realm is a dominion of a monarch or other sovereign ruler.The Old French word reaume, modern French royaume, was the word first adopted in English; the fixed modern spelling does not appear until the beginning of the 17th century.... ) in various religion Religion A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of myth, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendence quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power or truth.... s and spiritual Spirituality Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity.... philosophies Philosophy Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, justice, validity, mind, and language.... , often described as the holiest SACRED SACRED was a Cubesat built by the Student Satellite Program of the University of Arizona. It was the product of the work of about 50 students, ranging from college freshmen to Ph.... possible place, accessible by people according to various standards of divinity Divinity Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems ? and even by different individuals within a given faith ? to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power, or its attributes or manifestations in the world.... , goodness, piety Piety In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue. While different people may understand its meaning differently, it is generally used to refer either to religion or to spirituality, or often, a combination of both.... , faith Faith Faith is the confident belief in the truth of or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. It is also used for a belief, characteristically without proof.... etc. Etymology The modern English English language English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa... word Heaven derives from the word heven around 1150, which developed from the Old English heofon around 1000 referring to the Christianized Christianization The historical phenomenon of Christianization, the religious conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once, also includes the practice of converting native Paganism practices and culture, pagan religious imagery, pagan sites and the pagan calendar to Christian uses, due to the Christian efforts at Ch... "place where God dwells" but earlier meaning "sky, firmament" (attested from around 725 in Beowulf Beowulf *Beowulf* is an Old English language heroic Epic poetry of unknown authorship, dating as recorded in the Nowell Codex manuscript from between the 8th to the early 11th century, and relates events described as having occurred in what is now Denmark and Sweden.... ); this is cognate with other Germanic languages Germanic languages The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European languages language family. The common ancestor of all the languages in this branch is Proto-Germanic, spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Pre-Roman Iron Age.... - Old Saxon Old Saxon Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German , is the earliest recorded form of Low German, documented from the 9th century until the 12th century, when it evolved into Middle Low German.... heban ("sky, heaven"), Middle Low German Middle Low German Middle Low German is a language that is the descendant of Old Saxon and is the ancestor of modern Low German. It served as the international lingua franca of the Hanseatic League.... heven ("sky"), Old Icelandic Old Norse Old Norse is a North Germanic languages that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300.... himinn ("sky, heaven"), Gothic Gothic language Gothic is an extinct language Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from Codex Argenteus, a 6th century copy of a 4th century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic languages with a sizable corpus.... himins, and possibly with the addition of an -l suffix; Old Frisian Old Frisian Old Frisian was the West Germanic languages spoken between the 8th and 16th centuries by the people who had settled in the area between the Rhine and Elbe on the European North Sea coast in the 4th and 5th centuries.... himel, himul ("sky, heaven"), Old Saxon Old Saxon Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German , is the earliest recorded form of Low German, documented from the 9th century until the 12th century, when it evolved into Middle Low German.... himil, Middle Dutch Middle Dutch Middle Dutch is a collective name for a number of closely related West Germanic dialects which were spoken and written between 1150 and 1500. There was at that time as yet no overarching standard language, but they were all mutually intelligible.... and modern Dutch Dutch language Dutch is a West Germanic languages spoken by over 22 million people as a first language, and about 5 million people as a second language."1% of the EU population claims to speak Dutch well enough in order to have a conversation." Outside the European Union the number of second language speakers of Dutch is very small. Most native... hemel, Old High German Old High German The term Old High German refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. Coherent written texts do not appear until the second half of the 8th century, and some treat the period before 750 as 'prehistoric' and date the start of Old High German proper to 750 for this reason... himil and modern German German language German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union.... Himmel, all of which derive from the reconstructed Linguistic reconstruction Linguistic reconstruction is the practice of establishing the features of the unattested ancestor of one or more given languages. There are two kinds of reconstruction.... Proto-Germanic *Hemina-. Basic concepts While there are abundant and varied sources for conceptions of Heaven, the typical believer's view appears to depend largely on his religious tradition and particular sect. Some religion Religion A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of myth, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendence quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power or truth.... s conceptualize Heaven as pertaining to some type of peaceful life after death related to the immortality of the soul. Heaven is generally construed as a place of happiness Happiness Happiness is a state of mind or feeling such as contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. A variety of Philosophy, Religion, Psychology and Biology approaches have been taken to defining happiness and identifying its sources.... , sometimes eternal Eternity While in the popular mind, eternity often simply means existing for a limitless amount of time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside of time.... happiness. A psychological reading of sacred religious texts across cultures and throughout history would describe it as a term signifying a state of "full aliveness" or wholeness. In ancient Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... , the belief in Heaven and afterlife was connected with that of Sheol Sheol *Sheol* , in Hebrew ???? , is the "abode of the dead", the "underworld", or "pit". Sheol is the common destination of both the righteous and the unrighteous dead, as recounted in Ecclesiastes and Book of Job.... (mentioned in Isaiah Book of Isaiah The Book of Isaiah is a book of the Bible traditionally attributed to the Prophet Isaiah, who lived in the second half of the 8th century BC. In the first 39 chapters, Isaiah prophesies doom for a sinful Judah and for all the nations of the world that oppose God.... 38:18, Psalms Psalms Psalms is a book of the Hebrew Bible , included in the collected works known as the "Writings" or Ketuvim.... 6:5 and Job Book of Job The Book of Job is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job , his trials at the hands of Satan, his theological discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, and finally a response from God.... 7:7-10). Some scholars asserted that Sheol was an earlier concept, but this theory is not universally held. One later Jewish sect that maintained belief in a Resurrection of the dead Resurrection of the dead Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all variously describe a resurrection of the dead, usually of all people to face God on Judgment Day.... was known as the Pharisees Pharisees The word Pharisees comes from the Hebrew language ?????? perushim from ???? parush, meaning "separated" . The Pharisees were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era .... . Opposed to them were the Sadducees Sadducees The Sadducees were members of a Jewish sect and were rivals of the Pharisees , founded in the 2nd century BC. They ceased to exist sometime after the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem in 70AD.... who denied the doctrine of Resurrection (Matt. 22:23). In most forms of Christianity Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... , belief in the afterlife is professed in the major Creeds, such as the Nicene Creed Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christianity liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Iznik by the first ecumenical council, which met there in 325.... , which states: "We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come." Examples of the different terminology referencing the concept of "heaven", in the Christian Bible are: the kingdom of heaven Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom of Heaven may refer to:* Kingdom of God* Kingdom of Heaven , a 2005 film, directed by Ridley Scott... (Matthew 5:3), the kingdom of the Father (Matthew 13:43), life (Matthew 7:14), life everlasting (Matthew 19:16), the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21), great reward (Matthew 5:12), the kingdom of God (Mark 9:45), the kingdom of Christ (Luke 22:30), the house of the Father (John 14:2), city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebr., xii), the holy place (Hebrews 9:12; D. V. holies), paradise (2 Corinthians 12:4), incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25), crown of life (James 1:12), crown of justice (II Timothy iv, 8), crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) In Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal.... there are several heavens, all of which are still part of Samsara Samsara 'Samsara' or refers to the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other related religions.According to these religions, one's karma "account balance" at the time of death is inherited via the state at which a person is reborn.... (illusionary reality). Those who accumulate good karma Karma Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies.... may be reborn in one of them. However, their stay in the heaven is not eternal—eventually they will use up their good karma Karma Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies.... and will undergo a different rebirth Rebirth (Buddhism) Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the Consciousness of a person , upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates which make up that person, becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new group of skandhas which may again be conventionally considered a person or individual.... into another realm, as humans, animals, or other beings. Because Heaven is temporary and part of Samsara Samsara 'Samsara' or refers to the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other related religions.According to these religions, one's karma "account balance" at the time of death is inherited via the state at which a person is reborn.... , Buddhists focus more on escaping the cycle of rebirth and reaching enlightenment Nirvana In sramana thought, Nirvana is the state of being free from both dukkha and the cycle of rebirth. It is an important concept in Buddhism and Jainism.... (Nirvana). In the native Chinese China China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia.... Confucian traditions Heaven (Tian Tian *Tian* is one of the oldest Chinese terms for the cosmos and a key concept in Chinese mythology, Chinese philosophy, and Religion in China. During the Shang Dynasty the Chinese called god Shangdi or Di , and during the Zhou Dynasty Tian "heaven; god" became synonymous with Shangdi.... ) is an important concept, where the ancestors reside and from which emperors drew their mandate to rule in their dynastic propaganda, for example. Some faiths teach that one enters heaven at the moment of death, while others teach that this occurs at a later time. Some of Christianity along with other major religions maintain that entry into Heaven awaits such time as, "When the form of this world has passed away." () Two related and often confused concepts of heaven in Christianity are better described as the "resurrection of the body", which is exclusively of Biblical origin, as contrasted with "the immortality of the soul", which is also evident in the Greek tradition. In the first concept, the soul does not enter heaven until the last judgement or the "end of time" when it (along with the body) is resurrected and judged. In the second concept, the soul goes to a heaven on another plane immediately after death. These two concepts are generally combined in the doctrine of the double judgement where the soul is judged once at death and goes to a temporary heaven, while awaiting a second and final physical judgement at the end of the world.(, also see eschatology Eschatology Eschatology is a part of theology and philosophy concerned with what is believed to be the final events in the history of the world, or the ultimate destiny of All humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world.... , afterlife Afterlife The afterlife is the concept of a continued existence for the soul, spirit or mind of a being after biological death. The major views on the afterlife derive from religion, esotericism and metaphysics.... ) In some early religions (such as the Ancient Egyptian faith Egyptian mythology Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in ancient Egypt over at least 3,000 years, from the Predynastic Egypt until the adoption of Coptic Christianity in the early centuries Common Era.... ), Heaven was a physical place far above the Earth in a "dark area" of space where there were no stars, basically beyond the Universe. Departed souls would undergo a literal journey to reach Heaven, along the way to which there could exist hazards and other entities attempting to deny the reaching of Heaven. One popular medieval view of Heaven was that it existed as a physical place above the clouds and that God and the Angels were physically above, watching over man. Heaven as a physical place survived in the concept that it was located far out into space, and that the stars were "lights shining through from heaven". Several works of written and filmed science fiction Science fiction Science fiction is a broad genre of fiction that often involves speculations based on current or future science or technology. Science fiction is found in books, art, television, films, games, theatre, and other media.... have plots in which Heaven can be reached by the living through technological means. An example is Disney The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company is the largest media and entertainment corporation in the world. Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy O.... film The Black Hole The Black Hole *The Black Hole* is a 1979 science fiction film directed by Gary Nelson for The Walt Disney Company. It stars Maximilian Schell, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Anthony Perkins, and Ernest Borgnine.... , in which a manned spacecraft found both Heaven (or another dimension) and Hell Hell In many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear Divinity history often depict Hell as endless .... located at the bottom of a black hole Black hole In general relativity, a black hole is a region of space in which the gravitational field is so powerful that nothing, including electromagnetic radiation , can escape its pull after having fallen past its event horizon.... . In Christianity it is believed that Heaven is a spiritual place, unreachable by humans and only to be entered after death, although it can hold physical things, such as the Ascension or Assumption. Many of today's Biblical scholars, such as N. T. Wright, in tracing the concept of Heaven back to its Jewish roots, see Earth and Heaven as overlapping or interlocking. Heaven is known as God's space, his dimension, and is not a place that can be reached by human technology. This belief states that Heaven is where God lives and reigns whilst being active and working alongside people on Earth. One day when God restores all things, Heaven and Earth will be forever combined into the 'New Heavens' and 'New Earth'. Entrance into Heaven Religions that teach about heaven differ on how (and if) one gets into it, typically in the afterlife. In most, entrance to Heaven is conditional on having lived a "good life" (within the terms of the spiritual system). A notable exception to this is the 'sola fide Sola fide *Sola fide* , also historically known as the doctrine of Justification by faith, is a doctrine that distinguishes most Protestantism denominations from Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Christianity, and most Restorationists in Christianity.... ' belief of many mainstream Protestant sects, which teaches that one does not have to live a perfectly "good life," but that one must accept Jesus Christ as his/her savior, and then Jesus Christ will assume the guilt of his/her sin Sin Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation.... s; believers are believed to be forgiven regardless of any good or bad 'works' one has participated in. Many religions state that those who do not go to heaven will go to a place "without the presence of God", Hell Hell In many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear Divinity history often depict Hell as endless .... , which is eternal (see annihilationism Annihilationism Annihilationism is the minority Christian doctrine that sinners are destroyed rather than tortured forever in "hell" or the lake of fire. It is directly related to the doctrine of conditional immortality, the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless it is given eternal life.... ). Some religions believe that other afterlives exist in addition to Heaven and Hell, such as Purgatory Purgatory Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for heaven.... . One religion, universalism Universalism Universalism refers to theological religion, theology and philosophy concepts with universal application or applicability. It is a term used to identify particular doctrines as considering of all people in their formation.... , believes that everyone will go to Heaven eventually, no matter what they have done or believed on earth. Some forms of Christianity, including Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationism, Millenarianism Christianity religious movement. Sociology of religion have classified the group as an Adventism sect.... , believe Hell to be the termination of the soul. People who come close to death and have near death experiences report meeting relatives or entering "the Light" in an otherworldly dimension, which share similarities with the religious concept of Heaven. Even though there are also reports of distressing experiences and negative life-reviews, which share some similarities with the concept of Hell, the positive experiences of meeting or entering 'the Light' is reported as an immensely intense feeling state of love, peace and joy beyond human comprehension. Together with this intensely positive feeling state, people who have near death experiences also report that consciousness or a heightened state of awareness is at the heart of the experience of 'Heaven'. In the Bahá'í Faith The Bahá'í Faith Bahá'í Faith The 'Bah?'? Faith' is a monotheism religion founded by Bah?'u'll?h in nineteenth-century Persian Empire#Persia and Europe , emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.... regards the conventional description of heaven (and hell) as a specific place as symbolic. The Bahá'í writings Bahá'í literature Bah?'? literature, like much religious text, covers a variety of topics and forms, including Religious text and inspiration, interpretation, Bah?'? history and biography, introduction and study materials, and Apologetics.... describe heaven as a "spiritual condition" where closeness to God is defined as heaven; conversely hell Hell In many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear Divinity history often depict Hell as endless .... is seen as a state of remoteness from God. Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'u'lláh Bah?'u'll?h , born M?rz? usayn-`Al? Nuri , was the founder of the Bah?'? Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of B?bism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shia Islam, but in a broader sense claimed to be a Manifestation of God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatology expectations of Islam, Christianity, and other major rel... , the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, has stated that the nature of the life of the soul in the afterlife is beyond comprehension in the physical plane, but has stated that the soul will retain its consciousness and individuality and remember its physical life; the soul will be able to recognize other souls and communicate with them. For Bahá'ís, entry into the next life has the potential to bring great joy. Bahá'u'lláh likened death to the process of birth. He explains: "The world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother." The analogy to the womb in many ways summarizes the Bahá'í view of earthly existence: just as the womb constitutes an important place for a person's initial physical development, the physical world provides for the development of the individual soul Soul In many religions and parts of philosophy, the soul is the immaterial part of a person. It is usually thought to consist of one's thoughts and Personality psychology, and can be synonymous with the spirit, mind or self.... . Accordingly, Bahá'ís view life as a preparatory stage, where one can develop and perfect those qualities which will be needed in the next life. The key to spiritual progress is to follow the path outlined by the current Manifestations of God, which Bahá'ís believe is currently Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh wrote, "Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved." The Bahá'í teachings state that there exists a hierarchy of souls in the afterlife Afterlife The afterlife is the concept of a continued existence for the soul, spirit or mind of a being after biological death. The major views on the afterlife derive from religion, esotericism and metaphysics.... , where the merits of each soul determines their place in the hierarchy, and that souls lower in the hierarchy cannot completely understand the station of those above. Each soul can continue to progress in the afterlife, but the soul's development is not entirely dependent on its own conscious efforts, the nature of which we are not aware of, but also augmented by the grace of God, the prayer Prayer Prayer is the act of communicating with a deity or spirit in worship. Specific forms of this may include praise, requesting divine providence, confessing sins, as an act of reparation or an expression of one's emotional expression.... s of others, and good deeds performed by others on Earth in the name of that person. In Buddhism According to Buddhist Buddhism Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal.... Cosmology Buddhist cosmology Buddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist Tripitaka and commentaries.... the universe is undergoing cycles and beings are spread over a number of existential "planes" in which this human world is only one (though important) "realm" of life. In Buddhism the gods are not immortal, though they may live much longer than the earthly beings. They also are subject to decay and change, and the process of becoming. The intensity and the manner in which these processes take place however may be different and involve longer periods of time. But like any other beings, they are with a beginning and an end. However, all heavenly beings are regarded as inferior in status to the Arhats who have attained Nirvana Nirvana In sramana thought, Nirvana is the state of being free from both dukkha and the cycle of rebirth. It is an important concept in Buddhism and Jainism.... . The gods were also from the lower worlds originally, but slowly and gradually graduated themselves into higher worlds by virtue of their past deeds and cultivation of virtuous qualities. Since there are many heavens and higher worlds of Brahma, these gods may evolve progressively from one heaven to another through their merit or descend into lower worlds due to some misfortune or right intention. One notable Buddhist paradise is the Pure Land of Pure Land Buddhism. The gods of Buddhism are therefore not immortal. Neither their position in the heavens is permanent. They may however live for longer durations of time. One of the Buddhist Sutra Sutra Sutra , literally means a rope or thread that holds things together, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism , or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual.... s states that a hundred years of our existence is equal to one day and one night in the world of the thirty three gods. Thirty such days add up to their one month. Twelve such months become their one year, while they live for a thousand such years. In Christianity Historically, Christianity Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... has taught "Heaven" as a place of eternal life Eternal Life "Eternal Life" is a song composed by Jeff Buckley and is track #9 on his album Grace . It also has a video. It is believed to have been influenced by a long-time love for Led Zeppelin's music and a wish to emulate them in this song.... , in that it is a shared plane to be attained by all the elect (rather than an abstract experience related to individual concepts of the ideal). The Christian Church has been divided over how people gain this eternal life. From the 16th to the late 19th century, Christendom Christendom Christendom usually refers to Christianity as a territorial phenomenon. It can also refer to the part of the world in which Christianity prevails.... was divided between the Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population.... view, the Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago.... view, the Coptic view, the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church The Syriac Orthodox Church is an autocephaly Oriental Orthodox church based in the Middle East, with members spread throughout the world. It schism with Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism over the Council of Chalcedon, which the Syriac Orthodox Church rejects.... view, the Abyssinian Abyssinian Abyssinian may refer to:* Abyssinian, Habesha people and things from parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea, formerly known as Abyssinia* Abyssinian , a cat breed... view and Protestant Protestantism Protestantism is a movement within Christianity that originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the three principal traditions of Christianity, together with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.... views. See also Christian denominations. Roman Catholics believe that entering Purgatory Purgatory Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for heaven.... after death (physical rather than ego death) cleanses one of sin Sin Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation.... (period of suffering until one's nature is perfected), which makes one acceptable to enter heaven. This is valid for venial sin Venial sin According to Roman Catholicism, a venial sin is a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God and eternal damnation in Hell.... only, as mortal sin Mortal sin Mortal sin, according to the beliefs of Roman Catholicism, and some Protestant denominations, is a sin that, unless confessed and absolved , condemns a person's soul to Hell after death.... s can be forgiven only through the act of reconciliation and repentance while on earth. Some within the Anglican Communion Anglicanism Anglicanism is a tradition of Christianity faith. Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs, worship and church structures.... , notably Anglo-Catholics, also hold to this belief, despite their separate history. However, in the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, it is only God God God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism.... who has the final say on who enters heaven. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, heaven is understood as union (Theosis Theosis In Christianity theology, particularly in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches theology, theosis is the process of a believer in emulating the life example of Jesus Christ and of following the gospel of Christ in one's daily life; the process of seeking to become more holy.... ) and communion with the Triune God (reunion of Father and Son through love). In Protestant Protestantism Protestantism is a movement within Christianity that originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the three principal traditions of Christianity, together with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.... Christian sects, eternal life depends upon the sinner receiving God's grace Divine grace In theology, grace may be described as 'enabling power sufficient for progression'. In Christianity, grace divine is an "unmerited favour" of God, indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion, and without God's grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults mankind cannot... (unearned and undeserved blessing stemming from God's love) through faith Faith Faith is the confident belief in the truth of or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. It is also used for a belief, characteristically without proof.... in Jesus Jesus Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation .... ' death for their sins, see atonement Atonement The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. It describes how sin can be forgiven by God. In Judaism, Atonement is said to be the process of forgiving or pardoning a transgression.... , his resurrection as the Christ, and accepting his Lordship (authority and guidance) over their lives. Some Protestant sects also teach that a physical baptism, or obligatory process of transformation or experience of spiritual rebirth, is further required. Also, Protestantism is divided into groups who believe in the doctrine of eternal security (once a person becomes a Christian, s/he remains one forever, also referred to by the slogan "once saved, always saved") and those who believe that a person who sins continually without any repentance or penetance was never saved in the first place. Some sects do believe that those who continually sin can lose their salvation, though it is generally believed that it shows that the individual was not fully committed in the first place. According to the controversial website "Religioustolerance.org", "Conservative and mainline Protestant denominations tend to base their belief in heaven on the literal interpretation of certain passages of the Bible, and symbolic interpretations of others. They arrive at very different beliefs because they select different passages to read literally." Early Christian writing From the early second century, we have a fragment of one of the lost volumes of Papias Papias Papias was one of the early leaders of the Christianity church, canonization as a saint. Eusebius of Caesarea calls him "Bishop of Hierapolis" which is 22km from Denizli and near Colossae , in the Lycus river valley in Phrygia, Asia Minor, not to be confused with the Manbij.... , a Christian bishop Bishop A bishop is an ordination or consecration member of the Clergy#Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight.... , who expounded that "heaven" was separated into three distinct layers. He referred to the first as just "heaven", the second as "paradise", and the third as "the city". Papias taught that "there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce a hundredfold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold". In the 2nd century CE, Irenaeus Irenaeus Saint Irenaeus , was a Catholic Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, then a part of the Roman Empire . He was an early church father and apologist, and his writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology.... (a Greek bishop) wrote that not all who are saved would merit an abode in heaven itself. In Orthodox Christianity The teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago.... and Oriental Orthodox communions regarding the Kingdom of Heaven, or Kingdom of God, is basically taken from scripture, and thus many elements of this belief are held in common with other scriptural faiths and denominations. Some specific descriptions of this Kingdom as given in the canon of scripture include— (this list is by no means comprehensive): Peaceful Conditions on a New Earth—Is. 2:2–4, 9:7, 11:6–9, 27:13, 32:17–18, 33:20–21, 60:17–18, Ez. 34:25–28, 37:26, Zech 9:10, Matt. 5:3–5, Rev. 21 Eternal Rule by a Messiah–King—Ps. 72, Jer 31:33–34, Zech 2:10–11, 8:3, 14:9, Matt 16:27, Rev 21:3–4 an heir of David, Is. 9:6–7, 11:1–5 Bodily perfection—No hunger, thirst, death, or sickness; a pure language, etc. – Is. 1:25, 4:4, 33:24, 35:5–6, 49:10, 65:20–24, Jer. 31:12–13, Ez. 34:29, 36:29–30, Micah 4:6–7, Zeph. 3:9–19, Matt 13:43 Ruined cities inhabited by people and flocks of sheep—Is. 32:14, 61:4–5, Ez. 36:10,33–38, Amos 9:14 Eastern Orthodox cosmology Eastern Orthodox cosmology Cosmology Cosmology is study of the Universe in its totality, and by extension, humanity's place in it. Though the word cosmology is recent , study of the Universe has a long history involving science, philosophy, esotericism, and religion.... perceives heaven as having different levels , the lowest of which is Paradise Paradise Paradise is an idealized place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness.... . At the time of creation Creation Creation may refer to:In religion and philosophy:Creation myth, a supernatural mytho-religious story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth, life, or the universe.... , paradise touched the earth at the Garden of Eden Garden of Eden The Garden of Eden* is a location described in the Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam , and his wife, Eve , lived after they were created by God.... . After the Fall of man, paradise was separated from the earth, and mankind forbidden entry, lest he partake of the Tree of Life Tree of life The concept of a many-branched tree illustrating the idea that all life on earth is related has been used in tree of life , religion, philosophy, mythology and other areas.... and live eternally in a state of sinfulness . At his death on the Cross, the Orthodox believe Jesus opened the door to Paradise to mankind again , and the Good Thief was the first to enter. Various saint Saint A saint in Christianity is a human being who has been called to holiness. The term is used differently by various denominations, with some, such as the Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans distinguishing between Saints and saints.... s have had visions of heaven . The Orthodox concept of life in heaven is described in one of the prayers for the dead Prayer for the dead Wherever there is a belief in the afterlife of man's personality through and after death, religion naturally concerns itself with the relations between the living and the dead.... : "…a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing are fled away." In Roman Catholicism The Roman Catholic Church bases its belief in Heaven on some main biblical passages in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures (Old and New Testaments) and also the books of the apocrypha Apocrypha Apocrypha are texts of uncertain authenticity, or writings where the authorship is questioned.When used in the specific context of Judeo-Christian theology, the term apocrypha refers to any collection of scriptural texts that falls outside the Biblical canon.... and collected church wisdom. Heaven is the Realm of the Blessed Trinity Trinity In Christianity doctrine, the Trinity is the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in monotheism. The doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, or in the Greek hypostasis , but one being.... , the Blessed Virgin Mary (also called the Queen of Heaven Queen of Heaven Queen of Heaven is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Christians, mainly Catholics and Eastern Christianity, to whom the title is a consequence of the Council of Ephesus, where the Virgin Mary was proclaimed Mother of God.... ), the angels and the saints. According to the dogma of Assumption of the Virgin Mary Assumption of Mary The Roman Catholic Church teaches as Dogma that the Mary , "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." This means that Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united.... , the Virgin Mary Blessed Virgin Mary The Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes shortened to The Blessed Virgin or The Virgin Mary, is a traditional title used by most Christians and most specifically used by liturgical Christians such as Roman Catholics, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, and some others to describe Mary, mother of Jesus, the mother of... "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory", which implies that heaven must have some facility to support human bodies as well as souls or that the experience of heaven is to be understood as a spiritual (soul) experience while still on earth. The essential joy of heaven is called the beatific vision Beatific vision In Christian theology, the beatific vision is the eternal and direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven, imparting supreme happiness or blessedness.... , which is derived from the vision of God's essence. The soul rests perfectly in God, and does not, or cannot desire anything else than God. After the Last Judgment Last Judgment In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Judgment Day, or End time is the judgment by God of all nations.... , when the soul is reunited with its body, the body participates in the happiness of the soul. It becomes incorruptible, glorious and perfect. Any physical defects the body may have laboured under are erased. Heaven is also known as paradise in some cases. The Great Gulf separates heaven from hell Hell In many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear Divinity history often depict Hell as endless .... . The Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population.... teaching regarding Heaven is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church Catechism of the Catholic Church The *Catechism of the Catholic Church* or *CCC, is an official exposition of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It was first published in Latin and French in 1992 by the authority of Pope John Paul II.... : "Those who die (generally understood as physical death as opposed to "body level," ego identity) in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified, live forever (defined as immortality of the body as opposed to eternal aliveness in the psychological sense). This perfect (divine) life with [God] (Father Deity rather than concept of "perfect goodness") is called heaven. [It] is the ultimate end and fulfilment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness, full aliveness. The Catholic Church teaches that only those baptized by water (symbol of purification/internal cleansing), blood (symbol of martyrdom), or desire (explicit or implicit desire for purification) may enter heaven and those who have died in a state of grace may enter heaven. Upon dying, each soul goes to what is called "the particular judgement" where its own afterlife is decided (i.e. Heaven after Purgatory, straight to Heaven, or Hell Hell In many religious traditions, Hell* is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear Divinity history often depict Hell as endless .... .) This is different from "the general judgement" also known as "the Last judgement" which will occur when Christ returns Second Coming In Christian theology, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus from Heaven to earth, an event to fulfill aspects of Claimed Messianic prophecies of Jesus, such as the general resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment of the dead and the living and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth , including the Messianic... to judge all the living and the dead. It is a common Roman Catholic belief that St. Michael the Archangel carries the soul to Heaven. The belief that Saint Peter meets the soul at the "Pearly Gates" is an artistic application of the belief that Christ gave Peter, believed by Catholics to be the first Pope Pope The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005.... , the keys to Heaven. As Heaven is a place where only the pure are permitted, no person who dies in a state of sin can enter Heaven. "Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they "see Him as he is," face to face." (Catechism of the Catholic Church §1023) "Those who die in God's grace and friendship imperfectly purified, although they are assured of their eternal salvation, undergo a purification after death, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church §1054) If one were baptized Baptism In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered.... validly and then died, one would go directly to heaven (in the Roman Catholic belief, the sacrament of baptism Baptism In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered.... dissolves the eternal and temporal punishment of all sins). If one never committed a mortal sin Sin Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation.... and were absolved of all his venial sins just before death, one would go directly to Heaven. Most people who would enter Heaven do so through Purgatory Purgatory Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for heaven.... (or "process of purification"). In Purgatory, a soul pays off all temporal punishment one deserved for the sins he committed in life. This does not always happen though. If one receives the Sacrament of Penance Penance Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Catholic and Orthodox Christian Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession.... validly, as well as gains a plenary indulgence, and dies, one would directly go to heaven. There are many ways to get an indulgence, in various Papal decrees or publications. To receive a plenary indulgence, one must receive the sacrament of Confession validly, do one's penance, validly receive Communion, say some specified number of Lord's Prayer Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father or Pater noster, is probably the best-known prayer in Christianity. On Easter Sunday 2007 it was estimated that 2 billion Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christians read, recited, or sang the short prayer in hundreds of languages in houses of worship of all shapes and size... s, Angelic Salutations and Minor Doxologies for the intentions of the Pope, and then perform some act of gaining the indulgence. Of course, one must remain free from all sin, mortal and venial, while doing all these things. In Protestant Christianity The intermediate state (between death and the resurrection) is understood in diverse ways in Protestant Christian thought (see the article on soul sleep), but the following is generally concluded about the eternal life which Jesus promised those who believe in him: The term Heaven (which differs from "The Kingdom of Heaven" see note below) is applied by the Biblical authors to the realm in which God currently resides. Eternal life, by contrast, occurs in a renewed, unspoilt and perfect creation, which can be termed Heaven since God will choose to dwell there permanently with his people, as seen in . There will no longer be any separation between God and man. The believers themselves will exist in incorruptible, resurrected and new bodies; there will be no sickness, no death and no tears. Some teach that death itself is not a natural part of life, but was allowed to happen after Adam and Eve Adam and Eve Adam and Eve are the First man or woman created by God in the Hebrew creation story told in Genesis 1-2.... disobeyed God God God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism.... (see original sin Original sin Original sin is, according to a doctrine in Christian theology, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. While the Old Testament and the New Testament, which frequently speak of the sinfulness of humans, do not contain the terms "original sin" or "ancestral sin", the doctrine expressed by these terms is claimed to be based on t... ) so that mankind would not live forever in a state of sin Sin Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation.... and thus a state of separation from God. Many evangelicals understand this future life to be divided into two distinct periods: first, the Millennial Reign of Christ (the one thousand years) on this earth, referred to in ; secondly, the New Heavens and New Earth, referred to in Revelation 21 and 22. This millennialism (or chiliasm) is a revival of a strong tradition in the Early Church that was dismissed by Augustine of Hippo and the Roman Catholic Church after him. Not only will the believers spend eternity with God, they will also spend it with each other. John's vision recorded in Revelation describes a New Jerusalem New Jerusalem In The Bible, the New Jerusalem , is a literal city that is a completely new dwelling for the Saints. Others may believe that it is a physical reconstruction, spiritual restoration, or divine recreation of the city of Jerusalem.... which comes from Heaven to the New Earth, which is a seen to be a symbolic reference to the people of God living in community with one another. 'Heaven' will be the place where life will be lived to the full, in the way that the designer planned, each believer 'loving the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind' and 'loving their neighbour as themselves'(adapted from Matthew 22:37-38) —a place of great joy, without the negative aspects of earthly life. (The Greek "hê basileia ton ouranon", usually translated as "the Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom of Heaven may refer to:* Kingdom of God* Kingdom of Heaven , a 2005 film, directed by Ridley Scott... ", is indeed more literally "the rule of the skies (or heavens)", with "the skies (or heavens)" being a codeword for God God God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism.... , reflecting the respect shown for God's name in first century Judaism.) Within Christianity, there are several notable belief structures on the means by which Man may enter heaven. See: Arminianism Arminianism Arminianism is a school of Soteriology thought within Protestant Christianity based on the Christian theology ideas of the Netherlands Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic followers, the Remonstrants.... Calvinism Calvinism Calvinism is a theology system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things. It was developed by several theologians, but it bears the name of the French Protestant Reformation John Calvin because of his prominent influence on it and because of his role in the confessional and ecclesiastical debates t... Seventh-day Adventist The Seventh-day Adventist Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Christianity Religious denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance of Saturday, the original Days of the week of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath and Seventh-day Adventism.... understanding of heaven is based on Biblical writings which set out the following: That heaven is a material place where God resides. That earth and all the animate and inanimate things therein and within its celestial space are products of God's creative work. That God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to earth to live as a human being, but who "perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God's power and was attested as God's promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf." . That Christ promises to return as a Saviour at which time He will resurrect the righteous dead and gather them along with the righteous living to heaven. The unrighteous will die at Christ's second coming. . That after Christ's second coming there will exist a period of time known as the Millennium during which Christ and His righteous saints will reign and the unrighteous will be judged. At the close of the Millennium, Christ and His angels return to earth to resurrect the dead that remain, to issue the judgements and to forever rid the universe of sin and sinners. . "On the new earth, in which righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love, joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy will be ended, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love; and He shall reign forever." . It is at this point that heaven is established on the new earth. Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationism, Millenarianism Christianity religious movement. Sociology of religion have classified the group as an Adventism sect.... hold the belief that Heaven is the dwelling place of Jehovah God Jehovah Jehovah, also Yehovah, is an English reading of , the most frequent form of the Tetragrammaton , the principal and personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible .... and all of His spirit creatures, the seat of His power as Sovereign of the Universe, and the place where 144,000 chosen faithful followers of Christ will reside ruling over the resurrected Earth alongside the anointed King, Jehovah's son Jesus Christ. Revelation 14:1, 3: And I saw, and look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads..... And they are singing as if a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from earth. Not all good people go to heaven and the ones who remain on earth can look forward to a happy life in the future. Acts 2:34: “David [whom the Bible refers to as being ‘a man agreeable to Jehovah God’s heart’] did not ascend to the heavens.” Matt. 11:11: “Truly I say to you people, Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is.” (So John did not go to heaven when he died.) Ps. 37:9, 11, 29: “Evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth . . . The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” Rev. 21:1-4: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’” Mic. 4:3, 4: “They will not lift up sword, nation against nation, neither will they learn war anymore. And they will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble; for the very mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken it.” Matt. 5:5: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” Matt. 6:9, 10: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The view of heaven according to the Latter-Day Saint movement is based on Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the continuous revelation scripture biblical canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.... as well as 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 in the King James version of the Bible Bible The Bible is the central religious text of Judaism and Christianity. The exact Books of the Bible is dependent on the religious traditions of specific denominations.... . The afterlife is divided first into two levels until the Last Judgement; afterwards it is divided into four levels, the upper three of which are referred to as "degrees of glory" that, for illustrative purposes, are compared to heavenly bodies. Before the Last Judgment, spirits separated from their bodies at death go either to Paradise or to Spirit Prison Spirit Prison Spirit prison is believed by some Christians including, most notably, Latter-day Saints, to be a place where people who have not had the opportunity to learn and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ while living will be able to receive it in the afterlife, after death and before Last Judgment.... based on their merits earned in life. Paradise is a place of rest while its inhabitants continue learning in preparation for the Last Judgement. Spirit Prison is a place of anguish and suffering for the wicked and unrepentant; however, missionary efforts done by spirits from Paradise enable those in Spirit Prison to repent, accept the Gospel and the atonement Atonement The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. It describes how sin can be forgiven by God. In Judaism, Atonement is said to be the process of forgiving or pardoning a transgression.... and receive baptism through the practice of baptism for the dead Baptism for the dead Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptism a living person on behalf of an individual who is dead; the living person is acting as the deceased person's wiktionary:proxy.... . After the resurrection and Last Judgement, people are sent to one of four levels: The Celestial Kingdom is the highest level, with its power and glory comparable to the sun. Here, faithful and valiant disciples of Christ who accepted the fullness of His Gospel and kept their covenants with Him through following the prophets of their dispensation are reunited with their families and with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. Those who would have accepted the Gospel with all their hearts had they been given the opportunity in life (as judged by Christ and God the Father) are also saved in the Celestial Kingdom. Latter-Day Saint movements do not believe in the concept of original sin Original sin Original sin is, according to a doctrine in Christian theology, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. While the Old Testament and the New Testament, which frequently speak of the sinfulness of humans, do not contain the terms "original sin" or "ancestral sin", the doctrine expressed by these terms is claimed to be based on t... , but believe children to be innocent through the atonement Atonement The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. It describes how sin can be forgiven by God. In Judaism, Atonement is said to be the process of forgiving or pardoning a transgression.... . Therefore, all children who die before the age of accountability inherit this glory. Men and women who have entered into celestial marriage Celestial marriage Celestial marriage is a doctrine unique to Mormonism, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and branches of Mormon fundamentalism.... are eligible, under the tutelage of God the Father, to eventually become gods and goddesses as joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. The Terrestrial Kingdom's power and glory is comparable to that of the moon, and is reserved for those who understood and rejected the full Gospel in life but lived good lives; those who did accept the Gospel but failed to keep their covenants through continuing the process of faith, repentance, and service to others; those who "died without law" (D & C 76:72) but accepted the full Gospel and repented after death due to the missionary efforts undertaken in Spirit Prison. God the Father does not come into the Terrestrial Kingdom, but Jesus Christ visits them and the Holy Spirit is given to them. The Telestial Kingdom is comparable to the glory of the stars. Those placed in the Telestial Kingdom suffered the pains of Hell after death because they were liars, murderers, adulterers, whoremongers, etc. They are eventually rescued from Hell by being redeemed through the power of the atonement at the end of the Millennium. Despite its far lesser condition in eternity, the Telestial Kingdom is described as being more comfortable than Earth in its current state. Suffering is a result of a full knowledge of the sins and choices which have permanently separated a person from the utter joy that comes from being in the presence of God and Jesus Christ, though they have the Holy Spirit to be with them. Perdition, or outer darkness, is the lowest level and has no glory whatsoever. It is reserved for Satan, his angels, and those who have committed the unpardonable sin. This is the lowest state possible in the eternities, and one that very few people born in this world attain, since the unpardonable sin requires that a person know with a perfect knowledge that the Gospel is true and then reject it and fight defiantly against God. The only known son of Perdition is Cain, but it is generally acknowledged that there are probably more scattered through the ages. In Hinduism According to Hindu cosmology Hindu cosmology According to Hindu mythology and cosmology, the universe is cyclically created and destroyed. The life span of Brahma, the creator, is 100 years of Brahma.... , above the earthly plane are six heavenly planes: Bhuva Loka Loka Loka , a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world, dimension, plane, abode, and/or place or Plane .... Swarga Loka Loka Loka , a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world, dimension, plane, abode, and/or place or Plane .... , a heavenly paradise Paradise Paradise is an idealized place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness.... of pleasure, where all the 330 million Hindu gods (Deva Deva Deva can refer to:A religious concept:* Deva , Hindu deity or deities* Deva , a superhuman being in traditional Buddhist cosmology* Deva , spiritual forces or beings behind nature... ) reside along with the king of gods, Indra. Mahar Loka Loka Loka , a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world, dimension, plane, abode, and/or place or Plane .... Jana Loka Loka Loka , a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world, dimension, plane, abode, and/or place or Plane .... Tapa Loka Loka Loka , a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world, dimension, plane, abode, and/or place or Plane .... Satya Loka Loka Loka , a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world, dimension, plane, abode, and/or place or Plane .... Below the earthly plane are seven nether planes: Atala Vitala Sutala Talatala Mahatala Rasatala Pataal Below these are 28 hellish planes (according to Bhagavata Purana Bhagavata purana The Bhagavata Purana is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hinduism literature, and is Sanskrit for "The Book of God". Its primary focus is the process of bhakti yoga, which is Sanskrit for "Union with God through devotion for Him", in which Krishna is unequivocally declared to be Svayam Bhagavan.... ), below which is the Garbhodaka ocean with waters of devastation. Depending on good and bad activities (karma Karma Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies.... ) on an earthly plane, a soul either ascends up to enjoy heavenly delights or goes down to fiery hellish planes depending on sins performed which are judged by the god of death & justice, Yama Yama Yama , also known as Yamaraja in India, Yanluowang or simply Yan in China, and Enma in Japan, is the lord of death, first recorded in the Vedas.... , who presides along the 28 hells. After the results of good and bad deeds (karma Karma Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies.... ) are delivered, souls return to the earthly plane again as human or animal depending on desires and karma Karma Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies.... . Thus the cycle of birth and death. Eternal liberation or freedom from the cycle of birth and death is called Moksha Moksha In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence.... , which can be obtained only in human life by turning attention inwards for uniting the soul with the Supreme Being (Parabrahman, Bhagavan Bhagavan Bhagavan, also written Bhagwan or Bhagawan, from the Sanskrit nt-stem literally means "possessing fortune, blessed, prosperous" , and hence "illustrious, divine, venerable, holy", etc.... , Ishvar, Krishna Krishna Krishna is a deity worshiped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. While many Vaishnava groups recognize him as an avatar of Vishnu, other traditions within Krishnaism consider Krishna to be svayam bhagavan, or the supreme being.... ) through Yoga Yoga Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in both Buddhism and Hinduism.... - Karma Yoga Karma Yoga Karma yoga , or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty while remaining detached from the reward.... , Jnana Yoga Jnana yoga Jn?na yoga or "path of knowledge" is one of the types of yoga mentioned in Hindu philosophies. Jnana in Sanskrit means "knowledge".As used in the Bhagavad Gita, the Advaita philosopher Adi Shankara gave primary importance to jn?na yoga as "knowledge of the absolute" , while the Vishishtadvaita commentator Ramanuja regarded knowledge only a... , Bhakti Yoga Bhakti yoga Bhakti Yoga is a term within Hinduism which denotes the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are nine forms of bhakti-yoga.... etc. Liberation (Moksha Moksha In Indian religions, Moksha or Mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth or reincarnation and all of the suffering and limitation of worldly existence.... ) is of five types as described in Puranas: Sayujya: Merging into the oneness with the impersonal aspect of the Lord, and hence freedom from all material anxiety. Salokya: Attaining residence in the eternal abode of the Lord, called Vaikuntha, beyond material universal creation, beyond the six material heavens, a place where only surrendered devotees of the Lord go. Saristi: Attaining same opulences as the Lord in His abode. Sarupya: Attaining same beautiful form as the Lord in His abode. Samipya: Attaining close association of the Lord in His abode. This abode of Lord is briefly described in the Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita is an important Sanskrit Hindu scripture. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important religious classics of the world.... (15.6), "That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world". Further descriptions of Vaikuntha are in the Puranas where the Lord's devotees reside eternally in loving relationship with the Lord. Furthermore, Vaikuntha residency has following categories: Shanta Rasa: In neutral relationship of great awe, reveration and constant thinking of the Lord. Dasya Rasa: Serving the Lord personally to please the Lord as master and soul as servant. Sakhya Rasa: Serving the Lord as an intimate friend (formal, informal, and many other types). Vatsalya Rasa: Serving the Lord from a superior position as a caretaker (like motherly or fatherly relations). Madhurya/Sringara Rasa: Serving the Lord as an intimate conjugal lover including all previous rasas, the most sweet of all, with many further categories. The Lord lovingly relates to every soul in a multitude of modes and varieties of relationships as desired by the soul. The Lord from there sometimes descends into material universe, along with His associates, to redeem suffering souls and perform His pastimes. He comes either Personally (Svayam Bhagavan Svayam Bhagavan Svayam Bhagavan , "The Lord" or Lord Himself, is a Sanskrit theological term. The term refers to the concept of absolute representation of the monotheistic God as Bhagavan within Hinduism.... ) or as His part incarnations (kala, amsha) or sends His messengers/prophets. There are many incarnations of the Lord mentioned in scriptures, 10 of which are famous, the most popular ones are Rama RAMA *Rama* is a first-person adventure game developed and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1996. The game is based on Arthur C. Clarke's books Rendezvous with Rama and Rama II and supports both DOS and Microsoft Windows 95.... Avatar Avatar Avatar or Avatara , often translated into English as incarnation, literally means descent and usually implies a deliberate descent from higher spiritual realms to lower realms of existence for special purposes.... and Krishna Krishna Krishna is a deity worshiped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. While many Vaishnava groups recognize him as an avatar of Vishnu, other traditions within Krishnaism consider Krishna to be svayam bhagavan, or the supreme being.... Avatar Avatar Avatar or Avatara , often translated into English as incarnation, literally means descent and usually implies a deliberate descent from higher spiritual realms to lower realms of existence for special purposes.... . In Islam The Qur'an Qur'an The Qur?an is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe the Qur?an to be the book of divine guidance and direction for mankind, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final revelation of God.... contains many references to an afterlife in Eden for those who do good deeds. Heaven itself is commonly described in the Qu'ran in verse 35 of Surah Al-Ra’d: "The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised! Beneath it flow rivers. Perpetual is the fruits thereof and the shade therein. Such is the End of the Righteous; and the end of the unbelievers is the Fire." Since Islam rejects the concept of original sin Original sin Original sin is, according to a doctrine in Christian theology, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. While the Old Testament and the New Testament, which frequently speak of the sinfulness of humans, do not contain the terms "original sin" or "ancestral sin", the doctrine expressed by these terms is claimed to be based on t... , Muslims believe that all human beings are born pure. In Islam, therefore, a child who dies automatically goes to heaven, regardless of the religion of his or her parents. The highest level of heaven is Firdaws- Pardis Pardis Pardis is a new planned city in the Tehran Province of Iran. The new Pardis satellite city has absorbed over 9,775 inhabitants in 2001. The city has room for 200,000 residents.... , which is where the prophets, the martyrs and the most truthful and pious people will dwell. Although sharing some similarities, the concept of heaven in Islam Islam Islam is a Monotheism, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure.... is different in many respects to that found in Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... and Christianity Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... . Chiefly, Heaven (Jannat) is described in physical terms, using jewellery, and food. The Islamic texts describes life for its immortal inhabitants, one that is happy — without hurt, sorrow, fear or shame — where every wish is fulfilled. Traditions relate that inhabitants will be of the same age (32 years for men as the same age when Jesus ascended), and of the same stature. Their life is one of bliss including: wearing costly robes, bracelets, perfumes; partaking in exquisite banquets, served in priceless vessels by immortal youths; reclining on couches inlaid with gold or precious stones. Other foods mentioned include meats, scented wine and clear drinks bringing neither drunkenness nor rousing quarreling. Inhabitants will rejoice in the company of their parents, wives, and children (provided they were admitted to paradise) — conversing and recalling the past. Texts also relate "pure consorts" (houris), created in perfection, with whom carnal joys are shared — "a hundred times greater than earthly pleasure". Name and level of Heaven: Firdaus Firdaus Firdaus or ????? is an Arabic name derived from the word firdaws, the word for the highest paradise that can be attained in afterlife. The word firdaws is borrowed from Middle Persian and is related to the word paradise, which is derived from the Avestan form pairidaeza.... or Paradise Paradise Paradise is an idealized place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness.... 'Adn Na'iim Na'wa Darussalaam Daarul Muaqaamah Al-Muqqamul Amin Khuldi In Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... Judaism offers no clear teaching about the destiny which lies in wait for the individual after death and its attitude to life after death has been expressed as follows: "For the future is inscrutable, and the accepted sources of knowledge, whether experience, or reason, or revelation, offer no clear guidance about what is to come. The only certainty is that each man must die - beyond that we can only guess." While the concept of heaven (malkuth hashamaim ????? ?????, the Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom of Heaven may refer to:* Kingdom of God* Kingdom of Heaven , a 2005 film, directed by Ridley Scott... ) is well-defined within the Christian Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... and Islam Islam Islam is a Monotheism, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure.... ic religions, the Jewish concept of the afterlife Jewish eschatology Jewish eschatology is concerned with the Jewish messianism, afterlife, and the Resurrection of the dead. Eschatology, generically, is the area of theology and philosophy concerned with the final events in the history of the world, the ultimate destiny of humanity, and related concepts.... , sometimes known as olam haba, the World-to-come, is not so precise. The Torah Torah The term "Torah" , or Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, refers to the entirety of Judaism's founding Halakha and ethical religious texts.... has little to say on the subject of survival after death, but by the time of the rabbis two ideas had made inroads among the Jews: one, which is probably derived from Greek thought, is that of the immortal soul which returns to its creator after death; the other, which is thought to be of Persian origin, is that of resurrection. The Mishnah Mishnah The Mishnah or Mishna is a major work of Rabbinic literature, and the first major redaction into written form of Jewish oral traditions, called the Oral Torah.... says, "This world is like a lobby before the World-To-Come. Prepare yourself in the lobby so that you may enter the banquet hall." Jewish writings refer to a "new earth" as the abode of mankind following the resurrection of the dead. Originally, the two ideas of immortality and resurrection were different but in rabbinic thought they are combined: the soul departs from the body at death but is returned to it at the resurrection. This idea is linked to another rabbinic teaching which is not found in the Bible, that men's good and bad actions are rewarded and punished not in this life but after death, whether immediately or at the subsequent resurrection. In Kabbalah Jewish mysticism Jewish mysticism Kabbalah Kabbalah is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mysticism aspect of Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings that are meant to explain the relationship between an infinite, eternal and essentially unknowable Creator deity with the finite and mortal universe of His creation.... recognizes seven heavens Seventh Heaven In some religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam the universe is Categorised to Seven Heavens or Realms.... . In order from lowest to highest, the seven Heavens are listed alongside the angel Ángel *?ngel* is the third single from Belinda Peregr?n's debut album: Belinda. It was a massive hit in Mexico and an international hit for Belinda.... s who govern them: Shamayim: The first Heaven, governed by Archangel Archangel Archangels are members of the second choir of angels. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.... Gabriel Gabriel In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an angel who serves as a messenger from God. He first appears in the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. In some traditions he is regarded as one of the archangels, or as the angel of death.... , is the closest of heavenly realms to the Earth; it is also considered the abode of Adam and Eve Eve (Bible) Eve was, according to the Book of Genesis, the First man or woman created by God, and an important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Her husband was Adam, from whose rib God created her to be his helpmate.... . Raquie: The second Heaven is dually controlled by Zachariel and Raphael Raphael (archangel) Raphael is the name of an archangel of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, who performs all manner of healing.... . It was in this Heaven that Moses Moses Moses is a Hebrew Bible Hebrews religious leader, lawgiver, prophet, to whom the Mosaic authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed. Also called Moshe Rabbeinu in Hebrew , he is the most important prophet in Judaism, and also an important prophet of Christianity, Islam, the Bah?'? Faith, Rastafari movement, Chrislam and many ot... , during his visit to Paradise, encountered the angel Nuriel Nuriel Nuriel, an angel in Jewish mythology, translates as "fire of the lord" and is the angel responsible for hailstorms.In Jewish legend, Moses encountered Nuriel in the 2nd heaven, when he issues from the side of Hesed , Nuriel manifests in the form of an eagle, an eagle that, when issuing from the side of Geburiah , is Uriel.... who stood "300 parasang Parasang The parasang is a historical Iranian peoples unit of itinerant distance comparable to the League .In antiquity, the term was used throughout much of the Middle East, and the Iranian languages from which it derives can no longer be determined .... s high, with a retinue of 50 myriads of angels all fashioned out of water and fire." Also, Raquia is considered the realm where the fallen angels are imprisoned and the planets fastened. Shehaqim: The third Heaven, under the leadership of Anahel, serves as the home of the Garden of Eden Garden of Eden The Garden of Eden is a location described in the Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam , and his wife, Eve , lived after they were created by God.... and the Tree of Life; it is also the realm where manna Manna Manna , sometimes or archaically spelt mana, is the name of a food which, according to the Bible, was eaten by the Israelites during their travels in the desert.... , the holy food of angels, is produced. The Second Book of Enoch Second Book of Enoch The Second Book of Enoch is a pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament. It is usually considered to be part of the Apocalyptic literature. Late 1st century CE is the dating often preferred.... , meanwhile, states that both Paradise and Hell are accommodated in Shehaqim with Hell being located simply " on the northern side." Machen Machen Machen is a large village 3 miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly within the Historic counties of Wales of Monmouthshire .... : The fourth Heaven is ruled by the Archangel Michael Michael (archangel) Saint Michael is an archangel in Christian and Islamic tradition. He is viewed as the field commander of the Army of God.He is mentioned by name in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation.... , and according to Talmud Talmud The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Halakha, Jewish ethics, customs, and history. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism.... Hagiga 12, it contains the heavenly Jerusalem Jerusalem Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and its List of Israeli cities in both population and area, with a population of 747,600 residents over an area of if Positions on Jerusalem East Jerusalem is included.... , the Temple, and the Altar. Machon Machon :For information about the program in Israel, see Machon L'Madrichei Chutz La'AretzMachon was a playwright of the New Comedy.... : The fifth Heaven is under the administration of Samael Samael Sorry, no overview for this topic , an angel referred to as evil by some, but who is to others merely a dark servant of God. Zebul Zebul Zebul , ruler of Shechem under AbimelechHe informed his master of the intention of the people of Shechem to transfer their allegiance to the Hivite tribe of Hamor.... : The sixth Heaven falls under the jurisdiction of Sachiel Sachiel In Kabbalah and Christianity angelology, Sachiel is an archangel of the order of Cherubim. The meaning of his name is given as "the covering of God" and he is associated with the zodiac sign Sagittarius , the weekday Thursday, wealth and charity.... . Araboth Seventh Heaven In some religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam the universe is Categorised to Seven Heavens or Realms.... : The seventh Heaven, under the leadership of Cassiel Cassiel Cassiel is the Latin name of an angel in post-biblical Judeo-Christian mythology, particularly that of the Kabbalah. Unlike many other angels, Cassiel is known for simply watching the events of the cosmos unfold with little interference.... , is the holiest of the seven Heavens provided the fact that it houses the Throne of Glory attended by the Seven Archangels and serves as the realm in which God dwells; underneath the throne itself lies the abode The guf In Jewish mysticism, the Chamber of Guf also called the Otzar is the Well of Souls, located in the Seventh Heaven. Every human soul is held to emanate from the Guf.... of all unborn human souls. It is also considered the home of the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Hayyoth. In Polynesia Polynesia Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean.... In the creation stories of Polynesian mythology Polynesian mythology Polynesian mythology is the Oral_tradition of the people of Polynesia a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian triangle together with the scattered cultures known as the Polynesian outliers.... are found various concepts of the heavens and the underworld. These differ from one island to another. What they share is the view of the universe as an egg or coconut that is divided between the world of humans (earth), the upper world of heavenly gods, and the underworld. Each of these is subdivided in a manner reminiscent of Dante DANTE DANTE is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various National Research and Education Networks in Europe and surrounding regions.... 's Divine Comedy, but the number of divisions and their names differs from one Polynesian culture to another. Maori Maori The Maori are the indigenous people Polynesian people of Aotearoa . The group probably arrived in south-western Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300.... Among the Maori, the heavens are divided into a number of realms. Different tribes number the heaven differently, with as few as two and as many as fourteen levels. One of the more common versions divides heaven thus: Kiko-rangi, presided over by the god Toumau Waka-maru, the heaven of sunshine and rain Nga-roto, the heaven of lakes where the god Maru Maru Maru can refer to* Maru is a surname in Kutch, Gujarat, India.* Maru is a Maori war god.* Tumatauenga, the Maori god of war.* Maru - a Romanian village.... rules Hau-ora Hauora The Hauora, is a Maori philosophy of health and well-being unique to New Zealand. It deals with four aspects of the mind and body. Physical, mental, social, and Spirituality.... , where the spirits of new-born children originate Nga-Tauira, home of the servant gods Nga-atua, which is ruled over by the hero Tawhaki Kaha'i Kaha'i is a handsome Polynesian demigod whose exploits were popular in many Polynesian mythologies.... Autoia, where human souls are created Aukumea, where spirits live Wairua, where spirit gods live while waiting on those in Naherangi or Tuwarea, where the great gods live presided over by Rehua Rehua In Maori mythology, Rehua is a very sacred personage, who lives in Te Putahi-nui-o-Rehua in Rangi-tuarea, the tenth and highest of the underworld in some versions of Maori lore.... The Maori believe these heavens are supported by pillars. Other Polynesian peoples see them being supported by gods (as in Hawai'i). In one Tahiti Tahiti O Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward Islands group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean.... an legend, heaven is supported by an octopus Octopus The octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda that inhabits many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. The term may also refer to only those creatures in the genus Octopus .... . Tuamotus Tuamotus The Tuamotus or the Tuamotu Archipelago are a chain of atolls in French Polynesia and the largest chain of atolls in the world, spanning an area of the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of Western Europe.... The Polynesian conception of the universe and its division is nicely illustrated by a famous drawing made by a Tuomotuan chief in 1869. Here, the nine heavens are further divided into left and right, and each stage is associated with a stage in the evolution of the earth that is portrayed below. The lowest division represents a period when the heavens hung low over the earth, which was inhabited by animals that were not known to the islanders. In the third division is shown the first murder, the first burials, and the first canoes, built by Rata Laka In Hawaiian mythology, Laka is the name of a popular hero from Polynesian mythology. . Lengthy legends of his exploits extend throughout the islands, and the kings of Tahiti and Hawai'i claimed him as their ancestor.... . In the fourth division, the first coconut tree and other significant plants are born. Heaven in fiction Works of fiction, especially in the modern fantasy Fantasy Fantasy is a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of Plot , Theme , and/or Setting . Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of technological and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three .... genre, have included numerous different conceptions of Heaven and Hell. C. S. Lewis offers one example of Heaven at the end of his Narnia sequence in the 'Last Battle'. Piers Anthony in his series 'Incarnations of Immortality' portrays examples of Heaven and Hell via Death, Fate, Nature, War, Time, Good-God and Evil-Devil. Robert Heinlein offers in his book 'Job' a Yin-Yang version of Hell where there is still some good within. Heinlein also offers the Schrödinger-type of Heaven, Hell and Universe which is entirely the creation of the mind and thereby infinitely changeable in 'The Cat who walks through Walls' and others. Lois McMaster Bujold suggests five Gods 'Father, Mother, Son, Daughter and Bastard in her 'Chalion' series with a mention of Heaven and a more graphic version of The Bastard's Hell as formless chaos. Michael Moorcock is one of many who offer Chaos-Evil(-Hell) and Uniformity-Good(-Heaven) as equally unacceptable extremes which must be held in balance; most evidently in the Elric and Eternal Champion series. Criticism of the belief in Heaven Atheists Atheism Atheism is the absence or rejection of belief in deity, or the explicit view that Existence of God.Many list of atheists are Skepticism of all supernatural beings and cite a lack of empiricism evidence for the existence of deities.... reject the existence of heaven. Some atheists have viewed the notion of heaven as an "opiate of the masses"—tool employed by humans to cope with their lives' misery—or "opiate for the masses"—a tool employed by authorities to bribe their subjects into a certain way of life by promising a reward after death. The anarchist Emma Goldman Emma Goldman Emma Goldman was an anarchism known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century.... expressed this view when she wrote, "Consciously or unconsciously, most atheists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell; reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience Obedience The term Obedience can refer to:* Obedience * Vow of obedience as an evangelical counsel* Obedience training for dogs* Obedience trial, a dog sport... , meekness and contentment Contentment Contentment is the neuro-physiological experience of satisfaction and being at ease in one's situation, bodymind , body, and/or mind.... ." Many people consider George Orwell George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an England author. His work is marked by a profound consciousness of social injustice, an intense dislike of totalitarianism, and a passion for clarity in language.... 's use of Sugarcandy Mountain Sugarcandy Mountain Sugarcandy Mountain is a fictional country from Animal Farm by George Orwell. Its name is clearly a combination of the words sugar, candy, and mountain; this can be compared to the fictional land described in the USA ballad "Big Rock Candy Mountain." Thematically, the myth can be compared to the idea of Heaven in many religio... in his novel Animal Farm Animal Farm *Animal Farm* is a novel by George Orwell. Published in England on 17 August 1945 in literature, the book reflects events leading up to and during the History of the Soviet Union before World War II.... to be a literary expression of this view. In the book, the animals were told that after their miserable lives were over they would go to a place in which "it was Sunday seven days a week, clover Clover Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes on mountains in the tropics.... was in season all the year round, and lump sugar Sugar Sugar is a class of edible crystalline substances, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose. Human taste buds interpret its flavor as sweet. Sugar as a basic food carbohydrate primarily comes from sugar cane and from sugar beet, but also appears in fruit, honey, sorghum, sugar maple , and in many other sources.... and linseed cake grew on the hedge Hedge Hedge may refer to:Hedge or hedgerow, line of closely spaced shrubs planted to act as a barrierHedge , investment made to limit lossHedge , intentionally non-committal or ambiguous sentence fragments... s". Fantasy author Phillip Pullman echoes this idea in the fantasy series His Dark Materials His Dark Materials His Dark Materials* is a trilogy of fantasy literature by Philip Pullman comprising Northern Lights , The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass .... , in which the characters finally come to the conclusion that people should make life better on Earth rather than wait for heaven (this idea is known as the Republic of Heaven). Some atheists have argued that a belief in a reward after death is poor motivation for moral behavior while alive , arguing that "It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think the Creator of the Universe wants you to do it, or will reward you for doing it, or will punish you for not doing it. [The] problem with this linkage between religion and morality is that it gives people bad reasons to help other human beings when good reasons are available." Others have further argued that an irrational belief in heavenly rewards may actually motivate believers to do horrible things while on Earth. Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins Clinton Richard Dawkins, Royal Society#Fellowship, Royal Society of Literature is a United Kingdom ethology, evolutionary biology and popular science author.... summed up this view by stating "Promise a young man that death is not the end and he will willingly cause disaster." In his television programme The Root of All Evil? The Root of All Evil? *The Root of All Evil?* is a television Documentary film, written and presented by Richard Dawkins, in which he argues that humanity would be better off without religion or theism.... Dawkins states, ...there are would-be murderers all around the world who want to kill you and me and themselves because they are motivated by what they think is the highest ideal [...] the suicide bomber believes that in killing for his god he will be fast tracked to special martyrs’ heaven. Print Barnhart, Robert K. Robert Barnhart Robert K. Barnhart was an United States lexicographer and editor of various specialized dictionaries. He was co-editor, with his father Clarence Barnhart, on some editions of the Thorndike-Barnhart dictionaries and The World Book Dictionary.... (1995). The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology. HarperCollins HarperCollins HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company.... ISBN 0062700847 Bunyan, John. The Strait Gate: Great Difficulty of Going to Heaven Liskeard, Cornwall: Diggory Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1846856716. Bunyan, John. No Way to Heaven but By Jesus Christ Liskeard, Cornwall: Diggory Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1846857805. Craig, Robert D. Dictionary of Polynesian Mythology. Greenwood Press: New York, 1989. ISBN 0313258902. Page 57. Ginzberg, Louis. Henrietta Szold (trans.). The Legends of the Jews. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1909–38. ISBN 0801858909. Hahn, Scott. The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. New York: Doubleday, 1999. ISBN 978-0385496599. Jorgensen, Rene. "Awakening After Life - A Firsthand Guide through Death into the Purpose of Life". BookSurge, 2007, ISBN 1-4196-6347-X / ISBN-13 978-1419663475 Moody, D.L. Heaven. Liskeard, Cornwall: Diggory Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1846858123. Young, J.L. "The Paumotu Conception of the Heavens and of Creation", Journal of the Polynesian Society, 28 (1919), 209–211. Documentaries . A&E Network A&E Network A&E is a cable television and satellite television television network with headquarters in Manhattan and offices in Stamford, Connecticut, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London.... . () Mysteries of the Bible Mysteries of the Bible *Mysteries of the Bible* is a 1994-1998 Documentary film television series about Bible mystery produced by FilmRoos for the A&E Television Networks .... : "Heaven and Hell". A&E Network. External links What the Bible says. Explanation of Catholic teaching about Heaven, Hell & Purgatory. Seven Steps rising to the heavens. from In Our Time (BBC Radio 4).