To Heaven through Hell: Are There Cognitive Foundations for Purgatory? Evidence from Islamic Cultures

Abstract

The purgatory doctrine, which has played a vital role in Christian culture, states that most believers must experience afterlife punishment in order to be cleansed of their sins before entering Heaven. Traditional Islamic theology rejects the notion of purgatory (Al-Motahher) through the Balance doctrine (Mizan), which states that if the good deeds performed during a Muslim’s life outweigh their bad deeds, the person will enter heaven without suffering or punishment. This study hypothesizes that folk intuitions and cognitive biases (tendency to proportionality) explain, in part, the emergence and spread of the purgatory doctrine in the Islamic world. Drawing on a cognitive science of religion lens, the current study examines this hypothesis in an Islamic cultural context. Quantitative surveys (three studies) conducted in Jordan (n = 605, and n = 239) and Malaysia (n = 303) indicate that the doctrine of purgatory is prevalent (36% in Jordan and 69% in Malaysia) despite its contradiction with the Balance doctrine as defined by Islamic theology. To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting the phenomenon of theological incorrectness in Muslim afterlife beliefs by using empirical research. Implementation of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Can I Pay at Purgatory? The Negative Impact of the Purgatory Ethic in Islamic Societies: Theoretical and Empirical Evidence

“…One of the obstacles that hinders a deeper understanding of this phenomenon is the lack of empirical studies that examine how Muslims perceive afterlife beliefs (Al-Issa et al 2021a). A recent study by Al-Issa and his colleagues (Al-Issa et al 2021b) suggests that this misunderstanding may arise as a result of cognitive bias, as researchers have found that some Muslims believe that it is imperative that one enters Hell to be cleansed of her/his sins before entering Paradise, even if their good deeds outweigh their bad ones. This belief contradicts the official theological doctrine of all orthodox Islamic theological sects.…”

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Muslim Women: Recommendations for Culturally Sensitive Care

“…Clinicians treating Muslim patients living with ADRD must recognize the profound influence of Islamic beliefs on perceptions and care practices related to this condition. Many Muslims believe that good deeds will be rewarded, and bad deeds punished, often after one’s earthly existence, though not necessarily [ 39 ]. However, illnesses and diseases such as ADRD are not viewed as punishments for spiritual failures, but rather as biological processes, albeit abnormal [ 40 ].…”

The Religious Struggle Framework: Religious Experience from Struggle to Transformation

“…Many concepts in religion are not properly comprehended. For example, proportionality and immanent justice biases are not something foreign or unique; theological incorrectness can be seen in Muslim societies concerning the concept of Mizan (literal translation: balance) (see Al-Issa, Krauss, Roslan, & Abdullah, 2021), which needs to be addressed, as part of an Islamic worldview.…”