Religion and Perspectives on Life's Ultimate Purpose

Religion is a controversial topic when it is presented in any social gathering, but one thing that all religions have in agreement is that life has a fulfilling ultimate purpose. Believing in something can be beneficial and satisfying when we have nowhere else to turn. Christian is a label created for those who follow Christ and they believe that those who earn the love of God will be compensated with eternal life. Ancient Mesopotamia has evolved their death ritual practices and beliefs through a series of stories like the Epic of Gilgamesh where we can see what happens to the dead. Ancient Egyptians believed that the dead are guided by Anubis to the Hall of Two Truths to be judged. Therefore, an argument can be made that the three following

religions have sacred rituals and practices that promise their followers a future even after death.
Christianity was a name formed for the religion of those who follow Jesus Christ. Christians have a specific creation story that has been introduced through the literary works of Paul the Apostle. His enlightenment to publish these stories came from God himself. According to the bible, earth was created by God in six days and he rested on the seventh. Later, God created Adam and several animals to serve him as companions. For some reason Adam was not completely satisfied with this companionship. Therefore, God created Eve from Adam’s rib to serve him as a companion. In the Garden of Eden there was a pattern of doubling through the two trees introduced in the story, two genders, and two opposing forces. Everything was working harmoniously. That was until the tragic scene in the Garden of Eden when Eve was tempted by a serpent to eat an apple from the tree of knowledge. After the first bite all of the earth was tainted with sin and sudden realization about their faulty action. God is all-loving, all- knowing and all- powerful, but at the same time he is wrathful. He sends the two out from the Garden of Eden and into the world by saying, “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Adam and Eve now had to slave away to survive. Years later after sin came to earth, Jesus was sent down from heaven to sacrifice his life and cleanse all of humanity with the drops of his blood (Resurrection at the End of Time, Giotto Crucifixion). According to Saint Augustine, this occurrence was bound to happen because of predestination. Puny humans cannot understand the miraculous, strategic and knowledgeable actions of God. Eventually, John the Baptist had a vision about the final days through a vision. It was later named the Book of Revelations where Satan will be released to walk the earth for one thousand years. The dead are to be judged by what is written in the “Eternal Book of Life” and if your name is not in the book, then you are thrown into the lake of fire. For the dead who are in the scriptures a resurrection of their soul will occur, leading them into the heavens.
Ancient Mesopotamians have evolved their death ritual practices and beliefs through a series of stories like the Epic of Gilgamesh where we can see what happens to the dead.

The story begins with the deity named Gilgamesh who was a cruel ruler in Uruk. As a form of punishment the Gods decide to send down Enkidu to kill him. After an intense battle between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Gilgamesh comes out as the victor. He gains respect for Enkidu since he came very close to his defeat. Moreover, the Goddess of Love and War named Ishtar runs into Gilgamesh and she immediately falls in love. Gilgamesh was not willing to get married and Ishtar decided to seek revenge by telling her father Anu. The bull of heaven is sent down to kill Gilgamesh and Enkidu, but they defeat it without any effort. As a punishment Enkidu is slowly killed by a disease as a result of their mischievous actions. Gilgamesh plans to make it his personal quest to challenge death and he even seeks out the last surviving immortal from the flood. He is only given two options to stay awake for six days and seven nights or gather the immortal plant, but he fails with both. Ultimately, after his death he goes straight to the underworld where he is crowned king (Death is a Problem: Gilgamesh, The Death of Gilgamesh). When the Gods created man they made sure that death was an essential part of their lives. However, that did not necessarily mean it will be the end. It is clear that life does not immediately end after the death for the ancient

Mesopotamians.
Ancient Egyptians believed that the dead were guided by Anubis to the Hall of Two Truths to be judged. To the Egyptians the body was composed of several parts such as the soul, the life force, and the force of divine inspiration of life. Therefore, the afterlife process began by removing the organs from the deceased bodies and placing them into canopic jars. Their bodies were later embalmed and mummified to keep them preserved and prevent the dead from walking around in the afterlife. Usually, former powerful Pharaohs had huge pyramids built over their sarcophagi. These pyramids contained ancient Egyptian death literature that helped guide the dead through their journey. Other forms of help for this journey were the amulets placed inside of the sarcophagi and the formulas that were written by priests. Their trip into the afterlife begins with the guidance of Anubis to the Hall of Two Truths where the weighing of the heart takes place. If they are worthy, the kingdom of Osiris awaits for their arrival. In this kingdom the dead attain the fields of Iaru which is like a paradise where the Shabti cater to their every needs (Housing the Dead: Megaliths, Pyramids, Mausoleums, Papyrus of Djed-Chons-iuf-anch). Afterwards, the background story is that Isis conceives Horus and he is considered the new Osiris. Horus restores the eye of Osiris by killing Seth, which rekindled him as ruler of the underworld. Osiris is also known for the changing seasons. This analogy between the seasons elucidates that death is nothing more, but a transition. Eternal life is reached if the deceased are worthy according to their hearts.
Religious beliefs have always been a touchy topic because there are so many religions that are evolving and being developed. People adhere to the idea of being protected by a greater being who is capable of promising an afterlife where suffering does not exist. Even though sections of the world have their own practices and customs, it is clear that everyone will undergo death at one point. Following rules or being moral would essentially be pointless if there is not a reward. Christianity, Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt all share the belief that it is possible to live on for eternity depending on the choices you make in life. That is why every religion denies that death is final.