Today, the words heaven and nirvana are often used interchangeably; this has led to some confusion regarding the concepts. The purpose of this article is to provide a basis for understanding the concepts of heaven in Christianity and nirvana in Buddhism. Define the main characteristics that distinguish these two concepts, while seeking to identify the similarities that can be found between them. When attempting to identify the origin of Christian Heaven, it is important to first define Christianity: "the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ" (Merriam-Webster.com). Since these teachings are central to many religions, including but not limited to the Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant faiths, it would be unwise to attempt to speak for Christianity as a whole, regarding the question of heaven or when he was born. Christian sects may, however, view death and what follows a little differently; the “majority” agrees that proof of heaven, as a real place, can be found in the Bible. The Bible teaches that another life awaits Christians at the end of their time on earth. In their next life, they will dwell in the “presence of God” and the other disciples of Jesus. In the next life they will be freed from sin and thus freed from their agony. (ReligionFacts.com). “The sky is not the product of the divine imagination, some mystical floating, an ethereal and never imagined land” (Stowell, (1995) p. 87). In his book Eternity, Joseph Stowell examines, Acts 1:11, Jesus stood up in heaven, before the eyes of his disciples, and the angels said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw H...... middle of paper ...... accomplish in this life to avoid the next. Works CitedAnonymous. Christian beliefs about the afterlife. (February 8, 2007). Religious facts. http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/beliefs/afterlife.htmGombrich, R. (2005) Theravada Buddhism: a social history from ancient Banaras to modern Colombo. Routledge Prothero, S, (2008). Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn't. New York: HarperOne. Sach, J. (2003). The Everything Buddhism book: learn ancient traditions and apply them to modern life. MA, Avon, Adams Media Corporation. Smith, H. and Novak, P. (2003). Buddhism: a concise introduction. [Pymble, New South Wales]: PerfectBound. Smith, J. and Green, W. (1995). The Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins. Stowell, J. (1995). Eternity: Recovering a Passion for What Lasts, IL, Chicago, Moody Press.