Assignment: Research Proposal + Outline

Class: Comparative World Religions

Topic

Over the course of the paper, the main topic that will be discussed in the understanding of the concepts of both heaven and hell in the three Abrahamic religions. It will develop a comparative analysis between the three religions and draw upon the main similarities and differences that are evident from research and using material from academic sources. It will aim to end the essay arriving at a conclusion which defines whether after conducting the research there are more similarities or differences between the concepts of the two ideas and arrive at a conclusion that familiarizes the concepts or differentiates them.

Thesis

We understand that Christianity, Judaism and Islam are monotheistic religions and they rely on similar theological beliefs at their core. However, are these similar ideological beliefs reflected in the ideas of hell and heaven. Overall, do the three inherently believe the same core things?

Explanation

Christianity, Islam and Judaism are monotheistic religions. This means they all believe in one God, the creator. The similarities that bring the three religions together include believing in God as the one and only creator who is omniscient and omnipotent, life after death and the belief in the sanctity of life. What I will be trying to explain throughout the paper is that ultimately despite minor differences, the followers of the three religions, particularly those more aware of what their religion consists of historically and ideologically at the end of the day believe in the same inherent concepts. This should be something that unites them and brings common ground between them, rather than focusing on the things that make them different. The paper will be divided up in two main sections, about the concept of heaven at the beginning and secondly that of hell. In both sections I will develop a series of similarities and differences and most importantly determine whether the differences are big enough differences to create a major distinction between following each of these religions or whether ultimately they are all on the same path of life with regards to beliefs and following the same way of life that reaches either heaven or hell in the same way.