Death & Afterlife

Question 1

Resurrection

Answer 1

christians believe their soul will be given a new spiritual body in which to continue their life after death

resurrection of Jesus shows they too will be resurrected

Question 2

Paul’s Letters

Answer 2

writes in two letters to Corinthians

uses metaphors to explain is belief

In 1 Corinthians he uses the metaphor of a seed transforming into the new plant it will become.

Question 3

Heaven

Answer 3

traditionally christian describe afterlife as going to heaven

use symbols and analogies to describe it

• idea of plenty
• idea of being surrounded by angels

Question 4

Other ideas on Heaven

Answer 4

Some don’t take it literally, see it as a spiritual state

some see heaven as endless days to praise God but others see it as timeless, often in terms of beatific vision described by Aquinas

Question 5

Criticism of Heaven

Answer 5

If souls enter a glorified physical body rises the question of space and whether people age

Williams argues how it would get mundane as we dont have the exciting challenge of making choices of what to do in a limited lifespan

Question 6

Beatific Vision

Answer 6

people come face to face with God for all eternity

timeless vision, past present and future will all be brought together

Rahner supported this

Question 7

Hell

Answer 7

Traditional Christians see it as eternal punishment

Problems arise as to God’s omnipotence as the idea clashes with idea of hell

Hume raised question if there is anything a human can do to justify eternal punishment

Question of would hell get boring is raised

Hick argued God wouldnt his creatures suffer for all eternity

Question 8

Purgatory

Answer 8

Developed by early christian thinkers such as Origen and Augustine

traditionally understood as a place of pain and cleansing

Catholic teaching includes belief that prayers of living can help those experiencing it

Rahner argued place shouldnt be associated with pain but as a metaphor for the souls greater awareness of the consequences of sin

Question 9

Election

Answer 9

God chooses eternal destiny of each human soul

Some argue that because God is omniscient he must know what happens to each person before they born

Augustine argued the idea of ‘limited election’

Barth argued the idea of unlimited election

Hick argued everyone will be saved

Question 10

Judgement

Answer 10

Christians believe there will be judgment after death

idea 1: some people like prophets and saints get a fast track to heaven while others wait until God chooses

idea 2: everyone has to wait until the end of time

idea 3: each person goes to heaven and hell as soon as they die

Question 11

Parable of Sheep and the Goats

Answer 11

describes a judgment where people are separated