Traditional beleifs on death and after life.

[paul]

I'm very interested, in Orthodox, traditional beleifs of religions, on death and an after life, and how we remember the dead in part of our lives.

How the dying are comforted spiritually, the families, and the traditions that maybe remember them, beleive we will meet again, and sort of keep them part of our lives after their death?

[arthra]

HI Paul... In my belief which is based on the Baha'i view of life after death... death is described as a Messenger of Joy...We are graduated into the Spiritual world(s) from this world..and like a bird that has been caged for so long and is set free the spirit of man ascends from the body that had encumbered for so long... Also the people who pass on to the next world can continue to be close to us in a positive way...so we can say prayers for them and they can still be close to us. We can ask for intercession for them as well that God will have Mercy on them and shower them with His Compassion.


When asked if a departed soul can converse with someone still on earth, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá answered, "A conversation can be held, but not as our conversation. There is no doubt that the forces of the higher worlds interplay with the forces of this plane. The heart of man is open to inspiration; this is spiritual communication. As in a dream one talks with a friend while the mouth is silent, so is it in the conversation of the spirit. A man may converse with the ego within him saying: ‘May I do this? Would it be advisable for me to do this work?’ Such as this is conversation with the higher self."


Your friend, Art

[paul]

Thanks very much for your reply.

I've lost a loved one.

I know the Orthodox have memorial services, what little I know of their pratices and beleifs they seem very beautiful.

I want to remember my loved one in a sort of religious loving way.

I don't really know how to.

I can pray and remember her, look through photos, just take time and remember her life, even things on the television remind me of her and her illness.

I reflect on the love we shared, and even my failings and how I may have been able to do things better, how a better religion may have helped.

The time of her cancer is the greatest love I've ever expereinced.
I've talked to Orthodox Christians who've lost their loved ones this way and have said very similar.

Do you know people who have gone through a similar expereince in your religion, and how does your religion help them, during the time of dying and later as keeping them part of our lives?

Thanks.
Paul

[Muslimwoman]

Salaam Paul

I do not know if this is a new thread or not, so I shall treat it as a new one and offer my apologies if it an old thread.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Muslims have a basic duty to visit the sick (not just family and friends), we must comfort one another in times of sickness. We pray with the sick person and read the Quran to them.

We believe life is a test and how we do in that test determines our life after death. Death is the return of the soul to the Creator. At the moment of death we know our destiny (heaven or hell).

We believe that death is like sleeping, complete with dreaming. The person waits for the Day of Judgement but the wait seems like one nights sleep to the person - though it may be centuries in our terms. Each death is by the Will of G-d, so we should accept death when it happens.

After a person has died we are encouraged to perform acts of charity, go on pilgrimage, fast and pray for the dead person. We also must look after the family of the deceased, make them food, look after children, etc - this gives them time to grieve.

It is natural for us to consider what we could have done differently but we cannot change the Will of G-d, we die when He decides. The dead person must be remembered and prayed for. However, once a person has died we must concentrate on our own test, on our own struggle to attain a place in Heaven. This can be achived by rememberence of G-d and good deeds. It may help you if you perform good deeds on behalf of the deceased.

I hope your pain eases soon.

Salaam
Sally

[China Cat Sunflower]

Hi Paul,

I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm afraid I can't be of much help as regards your question, but I wanted to tell you that life goes on. It gets better.

Sincere regards,

Chris