ipl-logo

How The Ancient Religions Viewed The Afterlife By Patrick Keiger Summary

987 Words4 Pages

In “How the Ancient Religions Viewed the Afterlife,” author Patrick Kiger discusses the differences in the afterlife practices and beliefs of the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
The religion of Mesopotamia had a very bleak outlook on death and regarded the afterlife in a negative light. They believed the underworld to be a hopeless place filled with corruption and torment, and that it would be necessary to bribe the gods, Ereshkigal and Nergal, that ruled over them in death. The author describes a poem that depicts a Mesopotamian king’s descent into the afterlife where he gifts the god's garments and weapons to secure a place for himself and be given the power to rule over dead soldiers and criminals. Even a king would have to persuade the deities that he is worthy enough to continue to rule in the afterworld.
Opposite of the Mesopotamians, Egyptians looked forward to the afterlife. They believed that their life on earth was temporary and that the afterlife held more importance hence why they spent an immense amount of …show more content…

They also worshipped many gods and had an elaborate system; when examining their beliefs and their deities, it resembles more of a fairy tale or fable-like quality. They worshipped many gods and prayed for things that we pray about today, but they believed their fate in the afterlife was doomed. In comparison with Egyptians, I personally would have preferred the outlook of the Greeks for the reason being that they must have put more emphasis on enjoying their earthly life. I could not imagine going through life as the Egyptians did in dedicating their life to prepare for a promised eternal life in death. Although I am a Christian, I struggle with my faith and what we do not know or what we cannot see, especially in hard times; the Egyptians were confident in their life after

Show More
Related
955 Words | 4 Pages

What research question(s) is/are the speaker trying to address ? How can we examine the content of a tumb ? How to describe, analyze and understand archeaological discoveries ? What can we deduce about the relations between powerful cities of Classic Maya time ?

Read More
1730 Words | 7 Pages

Egyptian-human advancement Ancient Egyptians trusted that the world was level and made of dirt. They felt that it glided on a substantial ocean of water and that the Nile River was one of the springs from this water. They suspected that the greater part of the powers of nature could be recognized as the offspring of a maker god. They trusted the universe was set in a set up method for 'adjust' and additionally 'truth', and this couldn't be changed. Egyptian-human progress The pharaoh was the ruler and pioneer of Egypt and was believed to be both man and god.

Read More
971 Words | 4 Pages

They knew that they could live on after they died and everyone wanted that. If the person could not live on then they needed to be remembered in some way. They believed that when a person died that it was not their ultimate end of life. They said that the person would still live on in spirit or in the netherworld. The Mesopotamian afterlife beliefs are burials, grave inscriptions, economic texts recording disbursements for funerals or cults of the dead, references to death in royal inscriptions and edicts, chronicles, royal and private letters, lexical texts, cultic commentaries, magico-medical texts, omens, and curse formulas.

Read More
626 Words | 3 Pages

Afterlife of Hebrews. The Hebrew civilization was also known as Jews and this word comes from one of their ancient kingdoms known as Judah. The Hebrew religion is also known as Judaism. Judaism is considered by Jews to be the expression of the covenantal relationship God developed with the Children of Israel. This is one of the oldest religions on earth and Hebrews, Jews, and Israelites are all refer to the same people, the nation which sprang from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob.

Read More
573 Words | 3 Pages

Despite a steady trading relationship, Mesopotamian and Egyptian societies have very dissimilar views on life and the afterlife. Indeed, Mesopotamian civilization certainly had much stricter views of life and the afterlife. This is likely a reflection of the frequent nature of wars and violence in this highly urbanized society (83). As a result, their views of the fragility of their mortality seemed to be pessimistically realistic. They seemed to accept that their gods gave them this life and nothing else.

Read More
1072 Words | 5 Pages

They believed that the various elements found in nature had specific Gods that represented them. As examples, Poseidon was God of the Sea, Earthquakes, and horses, while Dyonisius was God of vegetation, pleasure, and festivity. The Greeks held the Olympian Gods supreme, most of which we already know thanks to mainstream entertainment culture. They also had household Gods dedicated to home and hearth, to which they also offered rituals and sacrifices. This was closely intertwined with the honoring of ancestors which were often times buried beneath the households.

Read More
865 Words | 4 Pages

Many religions have a recurring belief that another life occurs after death. Ancient Greek and Ancient Egyptians also share this belief, but the way they believe in an afterlife slightly differs from one another. Both religions include the concept of the souls of the deceased being judged before moving on to the afterlife. Although, the ways in which they are judged seem to be slightly different. When Greek souls died, the journey they experienced was guidance to the entrance of the Underworld from Hermes, and passage across the River Styx from the ferryman, Charon.

Read More
1566 Words | 7 Pages

We can also learn about what was viewed as immoral or of little value. In addition, reviewing the Greek myths allows us to determine that the Greek society was generally a patriarchal society and agricultural and war were strong elements that shaped the ancient Greek society. Greek mythology and religion were integral parts of the ancient Greek society. The Greeks followed a polytheist religion in which multiple gods represented various aspects of the nature as well as skills practiced by mankind. From myths we can see that the Greeks worshipped the gods in the myths as they believed that humans were created by gods and the gods still walked amongst them so this would significantly alter mankind’s

Read More
1561 Words | 7 Pages

Lauren Bagdasarian Mrs, Moore Period 5 13 December 2015 Hindu and Christian Beliefs on Afterlife Eastern and western perspectives have different views on several issues. One of these controversial topics is the religious outlook on the afterlife. There are an abundance of factors that come into play in an afterlife. For example,there are different views of what afterlife consists of and how one can achieve that afterlife. Eastern and Western religions also have opposing views on one’s purpose in the world and how they use that purpose to reach their ultimate goal of existence.

Read More
1132 Words | 5 Pages

They were polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. Polytheistic people usually fall under the Olympian gods, but there are other cultures that are polytheistic too, that do not believe in the Olympian gods. Some of the gods and goddesses were, “Zeus; king of the gods, Hera; queen of the gods, Poseidon; god of the sea, Hades; god of the underworld, Hestia; goddess of hearth and home, and Athena; goddess of wisdom and war” (http://www.dl.ket.org/ ). These gods and goddesses are the main gods and more recognized than others.

Read More
1188 Words | 5 Pages

The ancient Egyptians believed that people and nature are ruled by powerful gods. As Taylor says in his book “Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt”, the Egyptians believed that the universe consisted of three types of beings: the gods, the living, and the dead. Egyptians connected everything happening in their life in terms of relationship between

Read More
1996 Words | 8 Pages

Chapter 4 The Abrahamic religions view on the Afterlife. Picture 43380769 The 3 main Abrahamic religions are Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Why they are called the Abrahamic religions is because they all share the patriarch Abraham in their lineage, having said that his role differ in the 3 religions, but Christianity and Judaism are very similar, or if not the same..

Read More
366 Words | 2 Pages

The ancient Greek religion comprises of an utter belief in the gods. Devotion to them was the key to success. Belief in the gods would also mean believing in all that it entails. Ba deeds may result in damage, whereby punishment may follow. The gods brings Dikē, that is, justice to mankind.

Read More
1021 Words | 5 Pages

The rivers that these civilizations were built around directly impacted the way they viewed their gods. The Nile was a very strong and reliable river. It flooded annually blessing the Ancient Egyptians with a richer agriculture then Ancient Mesopotamians. (pg 17) Because of this the Egyptians viewed their gods as reliable beings who wanted to help them.

Read More
471 Words | 2 Pages

Afterlife What would you need in the afterlife? Ancient Egyptians believed that that there was a life after death, it was called the land of two fields. They believed that it was a real place not imaginary. That life was to be much better and a happier,more enjoyable life. However in order to enter you need to do good deeds in your lifetime (before you died).The more good deeds you did the lighter your heart.

Read More

More about How The Ancient Religions Viewed The Afterlife By Patrick Keiger Summary

Related Topics

Open Document