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'''Heaven''' (literally 'the sky') is the place where [[God]] dwells.  It is a location (either physical or spiritual) reserved as the afterlife in many religions, especially the [[Abrahamic faiths]].  

'''Heaven''' (literally 'the sky') is seen by many as the place where [[God]] dwells.  It is a location (either physical or spiritual) reserved as the afterlife in many religions, especially the [[Abrahamic faiths]].  

[[Image:Paradiso Canto 31.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante and Beatrice gaze upon the highest Heaven (The Empyrean); from Gustave Doré's illustrations to the Divine Comedy, Paradiso Canto 31.]]

[[Image:Paradiso Canto 31.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante and Beatrice gaze upon the highest Heaven (The Empyrean); from Gustave Doré's illustrations to the Divine Comedy, Paradiso Canto 31.]]

In [[Protestant]] Christianity there is no one standard, but most denominations were started with the understanding that salvation comes from belief in [[Jesus]] and acceptance of Him as a "personal Lord and Savior".  This doctrine is know as [[Sola fide]]. [[Luther]] summed it up as salvation by faith alone.  Much of Protestant and Catholic views can overlap with Catholics emphasizing good works  and Protestants emphasizing a relationship with Jesus - which then shows its 'fruits' through good works, although purgatory is usually not a concept that Protestant churches follow.  [[Anglicans]], who have a theology and church practice similar to Catholics, take a view very close to the view taken by Catholicism.  Some Protestants, such as [[Calvinists]], believe that salvation is [[predestiny|pre-destined]] by God.  Those He has chosen will follow Him.  Still others are universalist and hope that eventually everyone will enter heaven (although some of purging of sins may be necessary).

In [[Protestant]] Christianity there is no one standard, but most denominations were started with the understanding that salvation comes from belief in [[Jesus]] and acceptance of Him as a "personal Lord and Savior".  This doctrine is know as [[Sola fide]]. [[Luther]] summed it up as salvation by faith alone.  Much of Protestant and Catholic views can overlap with Catholics emphasizing good works  and Protestants emphasizing a relationship with Jesus - which then shows its 'fruits' through good works, although purgatory is usually not a concept that Protestant churches follow.  [[Anglicans]], who have a theology and church practice similar to Catholics, take a view very close to the view taken by Catholicism.  Some Protestants, such as [[Calvinists]], believe that salvation is [[predestiny|pre-destined]] by God.  Those He has chosen will follow Him.  Still others are universalist and hope that eventually everyone will enter heaven (although some of purging of sins may be necessary).

[[Judaism]] focuses much less on the nature and method of entering heaven, for which the [[Old Testament]] says little, but emphasize good deeds (''mitzvot'') on this earth and generally follows univeralist tendencies.  Much of Judaism does not believe in an afterlife. [[Islam]] emphasises belief in God and acceptance of [[Muhammed]] as God's Prophet.  There is also a physical component not found in Christianity and Judaism.  If one dies in [[Jihad]], no matter how bad he had been during his life, he is immediately lifted to heaven and given 72 virgins.

[[Judaism]] focuses much less on the nature and method of entering heaven, for which the [[Old Testament]] says little, but emphasize good deeds (''mitzvot'') on this earth and generally follows univeralist tendencies.  Much of Judaism does not believe in an afterlife. [[Islam]] emphasises belief in God and acceptance of [[Muhammed]] as God's Prophet.  There is also a physical component not found in Christianity and Judaism.  Some, although not all Muslims, believe that if one dies in [[Jihad]], no matter how bad he had been during his life, he is immediately lifted to heaven and given 72 virgins. (This view is often parodied in religious criticism, especially by sites such as [[Uncyclopedia]]).

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]