Heaven

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.

Dante and Beatrice gaze upon the highest Heaven (The Empyrean); from Gustave Doré's illustrations to the Divine Comedy, Paradiso Canto 31.

Christianity

Burn! You Heathen Pigs!

In Christianity heaven is being in the presence of God with places prepared for us by Jesus and is viewed as eternal bliss beyond that which can currently be known. We will be given new bodies that do not decay and death will be gone. Marriage is not a part of heaven. It is also possible there are different 'levels' of heaven. The conditions to enter heaven in Christianity, (the state of "salvation"), often revolve around some standard of piety achieved through knowing Jesus. Aethists do not go to heaven. God punishes them for their disbelief by sending them to the eternal fires of hell to burn forever. Aborted foetuses do not go to heaven because they have not been baptised, and shall burn in Hell forever because of original sin. This can be countered by a 'christian abortion', where holy water is injected before the abortion. This baptises the foetus 'in vivo'.

Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity

In Orthodox and Catholic Christianity, belief in Jesus and proper works are often considered necessary and go hand in hand. Sins of earth must first be cleansed through Purgatory before one can enter heaven. In some versions sufficient good deeds can lead to entering heaven even without belief in Jesus if one never had the chance to know about Jesus.

Protestant Christianity

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 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

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

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.