Please just do the editing if there are any mistakes. It is an Anthropology paper .

According to the book Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft, a question asked

by the Pew survey was whether the person believed that his or her path was the only path to

heaven. A surprising majority of 70 percent stated that there are other paths. This survey shows

us how people differ from each other dramatically. Understanding souls and how life, death and

morality are two of the most fascinating spiritual topics that cultures from all over the world have

been considering since the very old days. In chapter 8 of Anthropology of Religion, Magic and

Witchcraft, the author discussed a couple of examples about the soul cross-culturally. By

referring to it, I will be discussing how life, death and morality in Hinduism, Buddhism,

, and in Roman Catholicism vary from one to another.

            In Hinduism, there is a belief in an immortal, eternal soul. This soul will continue to be

born again and again. Once someone is dead, his soul is going to be transferred to another body

in a process called reincarnation. According to their beliefs, even though the bodies are

changing, the self will always be the same. Another interesting fact about their beliefs is that a

rebirth for someone may not always be into a human being body. It is a very rare chance. In

Hinduism, the idea of reincarnation is very relatable to the concept of Karma. Karma according

to them will affect the individual’s next life. Whether their actions, thoughts and desires are good

or bad, they will reflect on the new life. In Hinduism, the cycle of birth, death, rebirth is known

as Samsara. Everyone’s goal is to leave Samsara and enter Moksha since the achievement of

salvation is challenging.

            In Buddhism, the concept of the soul, reincarnation, and Karma vary in many ways.

According to the author in page 166, Buddhists do not believe in an immortal soul or a conscious

personality that continues on. The definition to the soul in Buddhism is a combination of five

mental and physical aggregates: the physical body, feelings, understandings, will and

consciousness. This combination is what everyone is made up from. The only way to get a

release from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth according to the Four Noble Truths is to follow

the Eightfold Path. According to the book, The Eightfold Path contains of right understanding,

right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right

meditation. Anyone who follow these rights will achieve Nirvana. A person’s goal is not to go to

some blissful heaven. However, his or her desire is to escape from the suffering of this life.  1 page,double spacing