Death and Afterlife

Question 1

What are the key questions on the topic?

Answer 1

• Are heaven, hell, and purgatory physical places, spiritual places or symbolic of a moral life on earth?
• When will judgement take place?
• Who will be saved?

Question 2

What does Matthew 25:31-46 say?

Answer 2

Sheep and the goats

• “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats”
• ” for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
• “just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Question 3

What does Luke 16:19-31 say?

Answer 3

Rich man and Lazarus

• Hell and heaven as physical
• Judged by actions

Question 4

What does John 14:1-3 say?

Answer 4

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

Question 5

What does Luke 23:39-43 say?

Answer 5

The thief on the cross

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Question 6

What does Revelation 21:1-8 say?

Answer 6

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth”

Question 7

Which scholars argue that the afterlife is a physical place?

Answer 7

• Origen - heaven
• Aquinas
• Augustine

Question 8

What did Origen say about heaven as a physical place?

Answer 8

He viewed heaven as a restoration of the earth to the pre-lapsarian state where the relationship between God and man is restored

Question 9

What did Augustine say about the afterlife as a physical place?

Answer 9

He argued hell was a permanent and physical place where God punishes the wicked

Question 10

What did Aquinas say about the afterlife as a physical place?

Answer 10

He stated that the purified soul and glorified body would be reunited in the afterlife before coming face to face with God in beatific vision

Question 11

What are the issues with the afterlife as a physical place?

Answer 11

• Where is this physical place?
• In what sense am I still me? -continuity
• What age would I be?

Question 12

Which scholars argue that the afterlife is a spiritual place?

Answer 12

• Origen - hell
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Catholic church

Question 13

What did Gregory of Nyssa and Origen say about the hell as a spiritual place?

Answer 13

They argued hell was a state of anguish in which the conscience torments with regrets and realization of sin but this would pass away when the world was restored.

Question 14

What did the catholic church say about the hell as a spiritual place?

Answer 14

Many Catholics understand hell as chosen exclusion from God

Question 15

What are the issues / strengths of the afterlife as a spiritual place?

Answer 15

+ solves the problems of the afterlife as a physical place

- how is an immaterial soul me?

Question 16

What does the afterlife being symbolic of life on earth actually mean?

Answer 16

In this view there is no life after death and the terms hell, heaven, and purgatory refer to states of morality and experiences during life.

Question 17

What text supports the afterlife as a symbol on earth?

Answer 17

Matthew 25:31-46 - Jesus’ teaching of the kingdom of God as now by following his example and helping the marginalized.

Question 18

Which scholar argue that the afterlife is symbolic of a moral life on earth?

Answer 18

DZ Phillips

Question 19

What did DZ Phillips say about the afterlife as a symbol of life on earth?

Answer 19

He argues that an eternal life refers to a quality of life by living in obedience to God not life after death.

Question 20

What are the issues / strengths of the afterlife as symbolic of life on earth?

Answer 20

+ This solves the issues of continuity, identity and issues of place

• Mathew 25, Revelation 20-21, and Jesus’ resurrection need to be reinterpreted as a myth
• Paul argued if Jesus wasn’t resurrected then faith is in vain and there is no hope for people who died in faith

Question 21

What is the issue of purgatory?

Answer 21

• There is no reference to it in Mathew 25 or in any NT texts
• BUT the catholic church use the idea of praying to the dead, forgiveness of sin in the afterlife, and imagery of purification to support it

Question 22

How does John Hick criticize the idea of hell?

Answer 22

He says “the suffering of the damned in hell… can never lead to any constructive end.” The idea of infinite punishment for finite sin seems injust.

Question 23

What is general judgement?

Answer 23

Judgement at the end of time when all people will stand before God and be rewarded or punished

Question 24

What is particular judgement?

Answer 24

Immediate judgement of an individual at the time of death.

Question 25

What text supports general judgement?

Answer 25

Mathew 25:31-46

Question 26

When does the catholic church think judgment will take place?

Answer 26

There will be both a particular judgement and a final judgement at the end of the world then a new heaven and earth.

Question 27

What does 1Timothy 2:3-6 say?

Answer 27

"God is our savior wants all people to be saved

Question 28

What does Matthew 22:14 say?

Answer 28

"Many are called but few are chosen"

Question 29

What does John 3:16 say?

Answer 29

"Whoever believes in him should not be punish but have eternal life"

Question 30

What is the difference between single predestination and double predestination?

Answer 30

single - God decides only who's saved | double - God decides who is saved and who is damned

Question 31

What is predestination?

Answer 31

that God elected only certain people to be saved

Question 32

What is limited election?

Answer 32

Only a few Christians will be saved; God has chosen those who will be saved

Question 33

What did Calvin and Augustine argue about limited election?

Answer 33

- Augustine said that original sin has created such a hold on humanity that God’s grace is required for salvation. - Calvin argued that only God knew who would be saved, but favoured single predestination. Calvin’s followers developed his teaching into double predestination

Question 34

What are the strengths / issues of limited election?

Answer 34

- If Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is only for a few not all people this would make Christ’s death ineffective. + Some counter this by arguing the non-elect are not chosen for damnation; they are just not chosen for election. - John A T Robinson suggests that, ‘In the universe of love there can be no heaven which tolerates a chamber of horrors.’

Question 35

What is unlimited election?

Answer 35

All people are called but only some are saved

Question 36

What did Aquinas say about limited election?

Answer 36

He agrees stating that God elects the righteous for heaven but the wicked select themselves for hell by rejecting God

Question 37

What did Barth say about limited election?

Answer 37

He agrees arguing that we cannot presume to know who's saved because this is God's choice but in Jesus God is both elected and elector. As The only one who is predestined to be condemned or punished is Jesus humans cannot be condemned (as Jesus was instead) so all can be saved.

Question 38

What is an issue with limited election?

Answer 38

Why would anyone reject God's love?

Question 39

What is universalism?

Answer 39

Everyone is saved

Question 40

What scholars argue for universalism?

Answer 40

- Hick | - Robinson

Question 41

What does Hick say about universalism?

Answer 41

John Hick supports universalism due to his soul-making theodicy and his belief that the NT emphasises reconciliation with God.

Question 42

What are the strengths / issues with universalism?

Answer 42

+ This view fits with the omnibenevolence of God, God’s irresistible grace and the belief that Christ’s death and resurrection is effective for all. - Can we choose to reject God? If not, does this restrict free will? ‘Can God cause free beings to respond to him without thereby turning them into puppets?’ (Hick) + Robinson counters this by saying that "may we not imagine a love so strong that ultimately no one will be able to restrain himself from free and grateful surrender?" - Does this de-value that sacrifice of Christ – Jesus did not need to suffer on the cross if everyone was going to be saved anyway - Some Christians would be upset that this suggests pluralism