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.
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Christianity
In Christianity heaven is being in the presence of God with places prepared for the faithful by Jesus and is viewed as eternal bliss beyond that which can currently be known. Those who are allowed into heaven are said to 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.
The essence of heaven
Though there is much conjecture about what Heaven is like, its central core is that we will be with Jesus Himself. He has entered back into the presence of the Father and has conveyed to us that the redeemed of the Lord will likewise be with Him where He is. Paradise may be to Heaven as the foyer may be to the inner room of a great Mansion. Without a doubt, Jesus responded to the penitent thief on the cross who turning to Him and said "Remember me Lord, when you come in Your Kingdom", saying, "I tell you most definitly, today, you will be with me in Paradise". He also said, "Where I am, there you will be also." And speaking of the time that we will be in the presence of Jesus, John the Apostle says, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He really is."
With regard to what Heaven actually looks like, little information is given, and it is likely that the reality is beyond earthly comprehension. Artistic depictions of Heaven are usually characterized by bright, shining light; Dante's Paradiso is an example, although the overwhelming light there is at least partly a metaphor for divine love.
Entering Heaven
Different Christian denominations tend differ on the matter of what a person must do to be admitted to Heaven (see salvation).
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, such as pious Jews who died prior to the coming of 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. Even Orthodox Jews rarely discuss the afterlife which is seen as unimportant, instead putting more emphasis on Philosophy, Mysticism, and especially Ethics.
Islam
Islam emphasizes belief in God and acceptance of Muhammed as God's Prophet. There is also a physical component not found in Christianity and Judaism. Amongst certain fring, fundamentalist sects of contemporary Islam, 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 emphasized among terrorists, who believe it applies to them when they kill "infidels" who they believe stand in the way of Islam.
