Catholics And The Afterlife Flashcards
What do Catholics believe about the afterlife?
*Catholics believe in theory of dualism that teaches there are two parts that make up one person-the body and the soul
*Although they believe physical death still happens, they believe that the soul will live on after death and that those who live good lives will be given eternal life in heaven ( a place where souls spend eternity in God’s presence) and those who have sinned and rejected God will end up or hell (a place in the absence of God forever)
How evidence is there about the afterlife in the Bible?
•The Gospels highlight the existence of an afterlife as they highlight the resurrection of Jesus as they state “he is risen” offering Catholics a hope of possibility in their own resurrection and eternal life after death through faith in Jesus Christ
•The Lord’s Prayer also says “Our Father who arts in heaven” suggesting to Catholics that there heaven must exist and that God is situated there and rules over there
What is Purgatory?
•Catholics believe Purgatory is a place where people who have sinned go to temporarily to be purified in a cleansing fire after which they are accepted into heaven
What evidence is there in the Bible for purgatory?
•1st Corinthians 3 says “fire will test the quality of each person’s work, if what has been built survives the builder will receive a reward”
•This teaches Catholics that purgatory is a way to be a way to help people be reunited with God as they are cleansed of the final effects of sin and prepares them for eternal life with God
How does a Catholic’s belief in the after life impact their life?
•Catholics will try to follow the teachings of Jesus such as “love they neighbour” in their everyday lives in order to ensure they have a positive judgement by God so they can be in heaven with him after the death of their body
•They may pray to God for the souls of their loved ones so that if they are in purgatory they may be reunited with God soon
