Death - Christianity Vs. Hinduism

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mythology, they want to know; hat happens to our soul when we die? Introducing Yama, the God of Death – is one of the many Gods in the Hindu Pantheon. Hindus believe that Yama was the first person to die, as a result; leading others to die. Yama can come in many forms, not only human. He was given the responsibility to keep justice and judge after death. It is believe that Yama lives in the southern quadrant, “direction of death,” facing south because that’s the way death happens. Overall, this God of death is the keeper of justice and has the ability to test humans from right and wrong.

In comparison to Yama, Christians believe in St. Peter, who is the “gate-keeper” t to heaven. “Saint Peter was chosen by Christ to be his first Vicar on earth; he was endowed with powers of the keys of the kingdom of heaven and charged with the role of Shepherd of Christ’s flock” (Women for Faith and Family 1). The Vatican peak and flag shows Peter’s keys, and the keys are now related to Catholicism. For those who know nothing about Christianity, believe that St. Peter awaits us at the Gate of Heaven. We know that he only admits the ones who are superior. “But this mythology is a throw-back to pagan ideas where the gates of the underworld were guarded by dragons, spirit-guardians or gods who weighed the souls and lives of entrants before making a decision whether or not to allow them to pass” (Tillin).

As one can see, death is a part of life and we all have no control over it. Between the Christianity and Hinduism culture, death is dealt with differently through their last rites, funeral and burials. Everyone is born into a diverse culture, but in reality – its cultures way of finding us. We all believe in different things; but how does one determine the righteous way?

Works Cited

Catholic Encyclopedia. Preparation for Death. 3 May 2008.

<http://newadvent.org/cathen/04660c.htm>

Christian Funerals. Commemorating Death in Staffordshire. 3 May 2008.

<http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/ilm/Mourining%20and%20Remembre

nce/Types%20of%20f...>

Delaney, Kimberly. Yama the God of Death. 3 May 2008.

<http://students.ou.edu/D/Kimberly.A.Delaney-1/intro.html>

Hindu Funerals. Commemorating Death in Staffordshire. 3 May 2008.

<http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/ilm/Mourining%20and%20Remembre

nce/Types%20of%20f...>

Hinduism Today. Jan 1997. Death and Dying. 3 May 2008.

<http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1997/1/1997-1-03.shtml

Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. 29 June. Women for Faith and Family. 4 May 2008

<http://www.wf-f.org/StsPeterPaul.html>

Tillin, Tricia. The Gates and Gatekeepers of the New Order. 2001. Cross+Word. 5 May

2008 <http://www.intotruth.org/res/gatekeepers2.html#keys>

Transition Rituals. Beliefnet. 5 May 2008.

<http://www.beliefnet.com/story/78/story_7894_1.html>