Hell

Hell, a horrible afterlife destination for the wicked, is a nearly universal belief, with specific names varying by culture: the Greeks called it Hades and Tarterus, the Norse Hel, the Indians Naraka, the Chinese Diyu, the Israelites Sheol, the Muslims Jahannam. Generally hell is depicted as a dark, gloomy, and fiery place, with various monstrous inhabitants within. Interestingly, different religions have different conditions on whether one will go to hell (or heaven).

In the case of Murgatroyd the Murderer, the result is simple: nearly every religion will deem his post-death abode to be hell - that is simple enough.

The case of Murgatroyd the Murderer who later in life repents and follows the holy path - is more interesting - what will his afterlife destination be?

In Christianity, the effect is like giving Murgatroyd a "free card" - his prior accumulated sin (despite its horrendousness) is forgiven and cleared away, and Murgatroyd goes to heaven along with the faithful for eternity - he does not have to "pay" for his sins. For Abrahamic religions, fealty is more important than one's actions, which results in this effect.

In Buddhism (and many Dharmic religions like Hinduism or Jainism, although it depends on the sect), there is no "free card" for Murgatroyd - his karma (actions) are his own, and he is responsible for them; thus, he will spend an unfathomably long time in hell to "pay" for his sins. On the other hand, his later following of the holy path is still good - it does not clear away his prior sins, but it does mean that after he finally "pays off" his time in hell, a better rebirth will be waiting for him.

What of the case of Bob the Virtuous Atheist? Different religions again have different viewpoints on where he will go after death.

In both Christianity and Islam, Bob's good deeds do not help him at all, and he goes straight to hell for eternity - because again, in these religions fealty (to the correct god) is the guiding principle, with actions just a helpful accessory or symptom.

In Buddhism (and many Dharmic religions), Bob's good deeds may land him in heaven in his next incarnation. Unlike Abrahamic religions, although one's existence in heaven is unimaginably long, it is not eternal, and heavenly beings also are subject to death and reincarnation; thus, heaven is not the ultimate objective in Buddhism (or Hinduism), although it is a nice place to be in. Also unlike Abrahamic faiths, fealty to a specific faith is irrelevant - virtue is virtue, and there is more than one path to heaven.