Page 45 - Perceptions papers

Summing up:

WHAT DID WE LEARN TODAY?

Saleem Ahmed, Ph.D

To me, the most significant and remarkable insight gained through this symposium is that all

12 religions believe there is an afterlife, or life after death, in which we will be held accountable

for our actions in this life. While this “afterlife” is referred to indirectly in some religions, it is

the central focus in others, with the fear of accountability strongly driving one’s actions in this

life. There are, however, differences regarding the “strictness” of this accountability, ranging

from strict accountability where all our good and bad deeds will be weighed against each other

up to the last grain, to a “relaxed accountability” in others in which forgiveness will play a major

role. But, the concept of accountability exists in all 12 religions.

Below are what I think are some interesting spinoffs from this belief in accountability after

death for our actions in this life:

The “bottom line”: There is some entity, some “computer”; or some Divine

Consciousness that manages this Life and the next. While in most religions there is a

distinct Divine Consciousness who keeps an account of our action, in other religions,

especially Jainism and possibly Buddhism, this matter is not discussed directly –

although the concept of accountability for our actions exists in these and the other 10

religions.

Then, the question which logically follows is: Is it the same Reality in all religions? Or does

each religion have its own Reality? Let us try to analyze this objectively:

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