Heaven

Christian Perspectives

Heaven is often depicted as a paradise where souls spend eternity in the presence of God.
The Biblical depiction of heaven is marked by themes of peace, happiness, and divine love.
Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament often reference Heaven, including through parables such as the Kingdom of Heaven.
Pauline Letters highlight Heaven as the spiritual home for the righteous and faithful Christians.

In Islam, heaven - or Jannah - is the final abode for those who have done righteous deeds and maintained their faith in Islam.
It is depicted as a place of physical and spiritual pleasure, with beautiful gardens, palaces, and rivers of wine, honey, and milk.
It is also considered a place of spiritual peace, eternal life and unlimited rewards from Allah.

Hinduism offers multiple depictions of heaven. Swarga is a temporary place of pleasure, before reincarnation, while Moksha is the eternal heaven-like state of release from the cycle of rebirth.
In Buddhism, heaven (Svarga) is often considered one of the six realms of rebirth, in which beings live in a godlike and blissful state for countless years.
However, in Buddhism, even heaven is not final or eternal, as beings are eventually reborn into other realms based on their karma.

Some philosophers argue that the concept of heaven is logically inconsistent with earthly experiences and human nature.
They point to the challenges presented by theodicies, notably how an all-loving God can allow suffering if Heaven is the promised reward.
Some secular views see the idea of heaven and hell as a moral framework established by religious institutions to maintain order and morality in society.