The Spiritual Journey and
Ultimate Destiny of Man
The Spiritual Journey of Man-concerning this aspect,
some religions teach one life in this world; others teach numerous incarnations.
Some reincarnationists teach that karma must have its ultimate effect.
Retributions for negative karma and rewards for positive karma are both
inescapable. Others teach various means by which negative karma can be cancelled
or avoided.
There are two main views among reincarnationists:
-
The "Progressive Evolutionary View"-the
belief that the soul or essence of being only progresses through
successive stages (mineral, vegetable, animal, then human); it never
digresses from the human stage back to animal, plant or mineral form.
- The "Progressive/Digressive Evolutionary View"-the
belief that the soul is progressing toward perfection and final liberation,
but sometimes this involves shuttling between a human state and an animal,
vegetable, or inanimate form.
The Ultimate Destiny of Man-concerning this aspect,
some religions teach that various heavens, hells and purgatories are only
temporary abodes for the soul on its journey to Absolute Consciousness; while
others teach that these spiritual sites are ultimate and permanent. Some
religions teach that these are only "states of mind." Others teach these are
actual "locations" (either spiritual or physical, or both).
A universalistic view (all souls eventually achieving union
with God) is embraced in some worldviews; while others assign to the righteous
an inheritance in some kind of paradise, but to the wicked, a state of eternal
separation from God. Varied beliefs can usually be categorized under one of six
headings:
(1) Absolute Divinity-Ultimately all human beings
become God, altogether losing their own individual identity.
(2) Qualified Divinity-Ultimately, all souls will merge with God,
becoming omnipresent, omniscient and divine, yet retain their own individual
identities.
(3) Sub-Divinity: Independent Eternal Existence-Though
enjoying ultimate, infinite communion and oneness with God, the souls of those
who are "saved" or "liberated" are, in a sense, "sub-divine"
(submitted to God, and as such, partakers of his divine nature). However, such
persons never actually "become" God. They possess a unique, independent
and personal existence eternally.
(4) No Association With Divinity-In some
worldviews, at death, the wicked are cut off from the Creator eternally. Their
potential of oneness with the divine nature is forever lost. Some believe in
an eternal existence is this state of separation; others believe in the
annihilation of the souls of the wicked.
(5) Cessation of Personal Existence-a few religions teach there is
no continuation of personal existence after death or after the cycle of
reincarnation is over.
(6) No Speculation-A few religious groups de-emphasize, while
others avoid altogether, any speculation concerning the afterlife of human
beings.
Select the desired religion from the drop-down box below to
view what its adherents believe regarding the spiritual journey and ultimate
destiny of man.
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