Divine judgment is the concept of a moral evaluation of human beings by a higher power, such as God or gods. It is a common belief in many religions that divine judgment determines the fate of individuals or groups after death, or at the end of time. Some religions believe that divine judgment is based on a set of rules or laws that humans must follow, while others believe that it is based on the intentions and motivations of humans. Some religions also believe that divine judgment can occur during life, as a form of reward or punishment for one’s actions and beliefs.
Here are some examples of divine judgment in different belief systems, as well as some other examples from other religions:
– In ancient Sumerian religion, the sun god Utu and his twin sister Inanna were believed to be the enforcers of divine justice. They could see all things that happened during the day and punish those who committed transgressions. For example, Inanna hunted down and killed the gardener Shukaletuda, who had raped her in her sleep.
– In ancient Egyptian religion, the dead had to face a judgment in the underworld, where their hearts were weighed against the feather of truth. If their hearts were lighter than the feather, they could enter the afterlife. If their hearts were heavier, they would be devoured by the monster Ammit.
– In Hinduism, karma is the law of cause and effect that determines the destiny of souls. Souls are reborn in different forms according to their actions in previous lives. The cycle of rebirth can be broken by achieving moksha, or liberation from worldly attachments.
– In Buddhism, karma also governs the cycle of rebirth, or samsara. However, unlike Hinduism, Buddhism does not believe in a permanent soul that transmigrates from one life to another. Rather, it is a stream of consciousness that carries the karmic impressions from one existence to another. The goal of Buddhism is to attain nirvana, or the cessation of suffering and ignorance.
– In Judaism, God is the judge of all people, both in this life and in the afterlife. God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked according to His law, or Torah. However, Judaism also emphasizes human free will and repentance as ways to change one’s fate. The concept of a final judgment at the end of time, or the Day of the Lord, is also found in some Jewish texts, such as the Book of Daniel and the Book of Enoch.
– In Christianity, God is also the judge of all people, but He has delegated His authority to His Son, Jesus Christ, who will come again to judge the living and the dead at His second coming. Christians believe that salvation is not based on human works, but on faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Those who believe in Him will have eternal life, while those who reject Him will face eternal condemnation.
– In Islam, God is the only judge of all people, and He is the most just and merciful. Muslims believe that everyone will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment, or Yawm al-Qiyamah, and face God’s scrutiny. Their deeds will be weighed on a scale, and their fate will depend on whether their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. Those who pass the test will enter paradise, or Jannah, while those who fail will be cast into hellfire, or Jahannam.
– In Zoroastrianism, founded by the Iranian prophet Zoroaster, teaches that after death the soul waits for three nights by the grave and on the fourth day goes to the Bridge of the Requite, where the person’s deeds are weighed. If the good outweigh the bad, even if only slightly, the soul is able to cross the bridge to heaven; if the bad deeds outweigh the good, the bridge becomes too narrow for the soul to cross, and it plunges into the cold and dark abyss of hell. This is not the end, however, for there will be a final overthrow of Ahriman, the prince of demons, by Ahura Mazdā, the “Wise Lord,” who will resurrect all human beings, preside over a Last Judgment, and restore the world to goodness.
– In Greco-Roman mythology, there were several judges of the dead in different realms of the underworld. The most famous ones were Minos, Rhadamanthys and Aeacus, who judged souls according to their deeds on earth and assigned them to different regions: Elysium for heroes and virtuous souls; Asphodel Fields for ordinary souls; Tartarus for wicked souls; and Isles of the Blessed for those who achieved immortality through heroic deeds or initiation into mysteries.
– In Sikhism, there is no concept of a personal judgment by God or any other entity. Rather, Sikhs believe that one’s actions create consequences that determine one’s destiny. The cycle of birth and death, or reincarnation, is seen as a result of one’s attachment to the world and ignorance of the true nature of God. The goal of Sikhism is to attain liberation, or mukti, by realizing one’s true identity as a part of God and living according to His will.
We live in a world where our actions have consequences, both for ourselves and for others. We cannot escape the moral law that governs our lives, whether we acknowledge it or not. We are accountable for what we do and say, and we will face the ultimate judgement one day. Therefore, we should be careful not to judge others harshly, or to act in ways that harm ourselves or others. We should strive to live with integrity, compassion, and humility, knowing that we are not perfect, but that we can grow and learn from our mistakes. We should also remember that God is merciful and gracious, and that He loves us unconditionally. He does not judge us by our outward appearance, but by our hearts. He knows our motives, our struggles, and our potential. He is the source of all justice and truth, and He will reward us according to His wisdom and grace. May we all reap what we sow and always be judged justly.
References:
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_judgment#Ancient_beliefs
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Dead
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_in_Hinduism
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_in_Buddhism
: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-concepts-of-the-afterlife/
: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Judgment-religion
:https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/judgementday_1.shtml
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrian_eschatology
:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_underworld#Judges_of_the_underworld
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism#Afterlife_and_salvation