Views of the Afterlife and Their Effects on Death Anxiety
...s as a means of dealing with the thought of their own mortality. Having the greatest belief in life, or lives, after death, and the lowest levels of death anxiety, one of the Hindus’ core beliefs is in the doctrine of karma, which means action. The doctrine of karma states that every thought and action results in certain consequences born by the actor or thinker. If a person lies or steals, he will be wronged in some way in the future. Hindus believe that all suffering is due to one's own past actions, in this or in a previous life. Most, however, believe that though our present is determined by our past, we can influence our future by conducting ourselves in a proper manner in the present. Another core belief of Hinduism is the doctrine of reincarnation, called samsara. Since it is impossible for all of a person's karma to be experienced in one lifetime, the Hindu scriptures state that after death individual souls are "reborn" in this world, in another body, human or in another living form. The form in which the person is “reborn” in is determined by their karma from past actions. Hindus also associate a caste, or social class, system with reincarnation. They believe that there are four main castes, or classes, that each have their own rules pertaining to nearly every facet of life. Brahmins or priests are at the top, followed by Kshatriyas, or warriors and rulers. Third are the Vaisyas, or merchants and farmers, and below these are the Shudras, or laboring class. Salvation is only possible for the top three castes, who are called the "twice born." Outside the caste system are the untouchables or outcastes. Though outlawed in India in the late 1940s, many in the countryside are still considered outcastes. The final goal of salvation in Hinduism is escape from the endless round of reincarnation- birth, death, and rebirth. Their belief in an afterlife is an eternal resting place for their personality in the arms of a loving, personal God. The Hindu’s belief in a many lives after death and an eventual afterlife have greatly contributed to their lack of fear and anxiety of death. Obviously their goal is to live a good life on Earth so that they have good karma and good experiences in future lives and can reach the afterlife, but they don’t believe that life is one shot, hit or miss deal (Kushal 2004). Muslims followed Hindus in death anxiety levels in many studies. Muslims believe that their God, or Allah, will judge all of the works of men at the end of history. Those whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds will enter into an afterlife in paradise. The rest will be condemned to a torturous afterlife in hell. Muslims believe that their afterlife is dependant on how well they keep Allah’s law during their lives on Earth. Muslims believe that there are basically five important factors to reaching heaven, known as the “Five Pillars of Islam”. The first pillar is recitation of the creed: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet." Muslims believe strongly in a monotheism, or belief in one and only one God. The second pillar is the regular practice of prayers. Sunni Muslims are required to recite specific prayers accompanied by prescribed motions five times daily, and Shi'ite Muslims do so three times a day. All male Muslims are also enjoined to meet for community prayer and sermon each Friday at noon. The third pillar is almsgiving, or charity. Since Muhammad, the founder of Islam who is regarded as the great prophet by all Muslims, was an orphan, the Koran, or Islamic holy book, calls for all Muslims to contribute at least 2.5% of their income to poor to spread Islam. The fourth pillar of Islam is the fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar during which Muhammad is said to have received the first of his revelations from God. Muslims are not to eat or drink during daylight hours. The fifth pillar is the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. If possible, every Muslim is to make a pilgrimage to Mecca once during his life. A sixth pillar of jihad is often added. Jihad is the means by which those who are not Islamic are brought into the faith. Jihad may be by persuasion, or it may be by force or "holy war." The fact that any Muslim who di...