Death and the Afterlife Flashcards
Who can the idea about heaven from the Catholic Church be traced back to?
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
1225 - 1274
What did Aquinas speak about heaven as?
He spoke about heaven as the ‘Beatific Vision’. This is the idea that heaven represents eternal happiness, which comes from being face-to-face with God. The Catholic Church teaches this view of Aquinas’ today.
Biblical support for the Beatific Vision
Jesus says ‘my Father’s house has many rooms’ = idea that you are going to God’s metaphorical / literal house - you will be living with him, idea of being face-to-face and gaining eternal happiness through this fulfilling of the Beatific Vision. Also, ‘my kingdom is not of this world’ - idea of a place where you can be with God and achieve the Beatific Vision.
Beatific Vision
Direct, self-communication of God to the individual person
Catechism
A summary of the principles of Christian religion
What does the Catechism say about heaven?
‘Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfilment of the deepest human longings.’ It is ‘a state of supreme, definitive happiness.’
Give a problem with heaven
How is the body able to be alive in heaven after it has physically died?
Who was Aquinas strongly influenced by?
Aristotle. The use of ‘ultimate end’ in the Catechism sounds very Aristotelian - Aquinas was influenced by Aristotle and Aquinas greatly influenced the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Heaven and Liberation Theology
The Liberation Theology view opposes the traditional view of heaven being a state of paradise after death. This is the idea that, when Jesus was speaking about the Kingdom of God, he meant a whole revolution in the actual, physical world in which they were living. It doesn’t refer to somewhere we go after death, but a transformation of the physical world in which we are living.
What did N.T. Wright say about heaven and liberation theology?
N.T. Wright said that the Gospels were promising a kingdom of this world. He believes that there will be a transformation and revolution in this world, as opposed to it being something after death.
What did Rudolf Bultmann believe about heaven and liberation theology?
He was very interested in the context of teachings shaping Christianity. He said that when we look at the context in which Jesus was teaching + when he lived, it could be about a transformation of this world, which is full of suffering and pain, as opposed to a second world - a life after death.
Different views of heaven
- is heaven a literal second world where you live for eternity?
- is heaven more of a spiritual state where you will be very happy?
- is heaven a transformation of this world here and now, as Liberation theology and N.T. Wright would support?
Parousia
Christ’s second coming
What did Paul Tillich say about heaven and hell being metaphors?
He said that with heaven, happiness comes from being at one with God and at one with the universe, and with hell, it is more of an alienation + separation. Heaven and hell must be taken as metaphors for the polar opposites in the experience of the divine.
Why might hell be viewed by some not as a physical place, but a spiritual state?
This could be because ideas about hell present a lot of problems for Christians, in terms of reconciling, there being a loving God etc.
What did Gregory of Nyssa say about hell?
He said that ‘hell is a guilty conscience.’
What did Gregory of Nyssa mean when he said that ‘hell is a guilty conscience’?
This is the idea that you induce hell upon yourself by choosing to turn away from God.
What did Paul Tillich say about hell?
He said that hell is a metaphor for alienation and is more psychological than physical.
What does the Roman Catholic Church believe about hell?
They believe that hell is an actual place, as they believe that it has to exist physically, in the same way that heaven has to exist physically. Although, they believe that, because God is ultimately loving, no-one is there and he will instead send people either to purgatory or straight to heaven.
John Paul II
Former head of the Catholic Church
What did John Paul II say about hell?
He said that he believed there was a hell, but didn’t think there was anyone there.
Physical image of hell
Pain, suffering, torture, fire, etc.
Symbolic image of hell
A turning away, an absence + alienation from God
What is purgatory about?
Purification and the cleansing of the soul. It is like an intermediate state where you go to purity your soul and then enter heaven. It is like a waiting room where you can go to heaven when your soul is ready to go.
If you have died in a state of sin, what does the Catholic Church believe happens to you?
You don’t get condemned to hell, and instead, go to purgatory.
What do Protestants believe about purgatory?
They don’t believe in it
What did Gregory of Nyssa believe about purgatory?
He said that purgatory is somewhere where all can be redeemed. He didn’t believe hell was a place and said that you wouldn’t be condemned.
Biblical support for purgatory
The Book of Maccabees in the Bible said that we should pray for the dead. But what’s the point in praying for the dead if their fate has already been sealed? This must mean that after death, there is still a chance to achieve salvation and be rescued.
Who was 1 Corinthians written by?
Paul
How does 1 Corinthians suggest evidence for purgatory?
It uses imagery of cleansing by the fire. It’s the idea that after you’ve died, your body + soul can be purified and prepared to enter heaven.
Was John Hick a Catholic or Protestant?
Catholic
Did John Hick see the value in purgatory?
Yes, for it gives you the chance to be purified before going to heaven and not then being condemned to hell for eternity.
What is trichotomy in Christianity?
The belief that humans are made of 3 distinct components: body, soul and spirit
What is dualism?
The belief that humans are made of 2 distinct components: body and soul
What is monism?
The belief that humans are only made of one component: the body
How does the Book of Revelation depict Parousia?
As being a state of sheer bliss - the end of all pain and suffering and the beginning of a brand new creation with God dwelling among his people.
What did St. Paul say about heaven?
He argued that heaven is an unbelievable idea, unable to be grasped mentally: ‘no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.’ - 1 Corinthians 2:9
What did Aquinas speak of heaven as?
A ‘Beatific Vision’
When did Aquinas believe we can be truly fulfilled?
At death, when we are at one with God
Biblical support for heaven being a homely, comfortable place
‘I am going to prepare a place for you.’ - John 14:2
Heaven
In Christianity, the ‘place’ where those saved by God would reside forever.
Hell
The ‘place’ where the damned will spend eternity, traditionally described as punishment and extreme suffering.
How does the Book of Revelation describe hell?
As being a ‘burning lake of fiery sulphur.’
How does the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus from the New Testament present hell?
As being a place of no escape
Dante Alighieri
1265 - 1321
How did Dante present hell in his poem ‘The Inferno’?
He presents hell as being a dysfunctional, frightening state with a lack of faith in God and a lack of hope. The 9 circles of hell are discussed. There is no escape and no redemption, because all who are there have alienated themselves from God’s love and grace by their own choice.
What was the belief about the location of heaven and hell in ancient times?
That hell was located at the Earth’s core and heaven was above the Earth in the skies.
Eschatology
The part of theology concerned with death, judgement and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind
What did Paul Fiddes say about the existence of heaven and hell?
He said that they are ‘certainly real’
Why might hell be seen as easier to understand?
Lots of things in history have seemed hellish, whereas there is not a lot that we can say was perfection.
Christian view of heaven
- God present
- eternal
- angels
- God’s throne, many rooms
- light
- joy
- the goal of human existence
Christian view of hell
- fire + burning
- lake of fire
- continuous and eternal punishment
- darkness
- Jesus spoke forcefully about the need to avoid it
David Hume quote about heaven and hell
‘Heaven and hell suppose two distinct species of men, the good and the bad. But the greatest part of mankind float betwixt vice and virtue.’
What does David Hume question about heaven and hell
Where do you go if you are both good and bad?
What is a view that suggests no one goes to hell?
Universalism. This is the idea that all people will ultimately achieve salvation.
Who was universalism developed by?
John Hick
Give some problems with hell
- how can a loving God condemn people to hell?
- how can any sin deserve eternal damnation? If crimes are finite and they have to face infinite punishment, surely this counteracts the idea that God is fair.
- how can there be physical suffering after the body dies?
- is hell eternal punishment or annihilation (second death)?. This view of annihilation means that evil will instead be destroyed instead of subject to eternal punishment.
- how can hell exist if God is perfectly loving?
- if God is all-powerful, he should be able to save everyone. If he doesn’t save everyone, does he not love everyone? If so, how can he be all-loving?
- if God doesn’t tell those in hell how to get out, this surely does not present him as all-loving.
Give some problems with heaven
- how can we be completely happy in heaven if we have loved ones in hell? (a response could be that they are happy to know about the suffering in hell, because it reminds them of how fortunate they are)
- what will we do in heaven? Simply worship God? What will this be like?
- will we be free in heaven? How can the blessed in heaven have free will if there is no possibility of sinning in heaven?
- would heaven be boring? (although, if the greatest good is union with God, maybe we won’t have desires for any other activities)
What did C.S. Lewis say about hell?
He said that the ‘gates of hell are locked on the inside’ - idea that people have brought it upon themselves and God is not to blame
Problems with universalist proposals
- there is a huge gap between God and human beings, but God has revealed himself in such a way that we are not completely unaware of his desires for humans. We can be held morally responsible for our deeds.
- even if God provides how and why people should be rescued from hell, it seems some people have been inclined to reject God
Annihilationism
The view that the damned do not live forever in torment, but are extinguished from existence, so only the blessed in heaven live forever.
Is universalism widely accepted by Christians?
No, it is a minority Christian view
Dogma
Teaching
What argument does C.S. Lewis give for why hell must exist?
‘If a game is played, it must be possible to lose it.’
Give two reasons why hell may be viewed as necessary
- free will: if there were no hell then it wouldn’t matter how we acted on Earth. Free will only has meaning if there is a penalty for doing the wrong thing. Free will is only real if we humans can choose to reject God.
- divine justice: without hell, God’s justice is meaningless. If God forgives anyone who sins, then God is treating saints and sinners equally - that is unjust. What about evil and malicious characters?
Problems with purgatory
- if purgatory can deal with sin, why is there hell?
- it isn’t clearly in the Bible, unlike heaven and hell
What does election refer to?
God’s choice
What does ‘elect’ mean?
Choice
Predestination
The idea that God chooses and guides some people (the ‘elect’) to salvation
Sovereignty
Supreme power
John Calvin
1509 - 1564
What is shown throughout the Old Testament?
Election
Limited election
Salvation (heaven) is only for those who God, out of graciousness, chooses
Unlimited election
God calls all people to salvation; heaven is possible for all, although not all will place their faith in Christ.
Supporters of limited election
- St. Augustine
- John Calvin
Supporters of unlimited election
- Karl Barth
- Arminianism
What belief rejects election?
Universalism
What is Calvin’s big idea in?
The sovereignty of God
Why isn’t Calvinism fully what Calvin believed?
Because some people who followed him have developed his ideas further than himself.
What is the acronym for the 5 points of Calvinism?
TULIP
5 points of Calvinism: total deprivation
You are unable to use free will to choose God
5 points of Calvinism: unconditional election
God did not elect you, it had nothing to do with anything about you, it’s nothing personal, election without conditions, you didn’t earn it
5 points of Calvinism: limited atonement
The atonement of Jesus Christ was only for the elect
5 points of Calvinism: irresistible grace
The grace is irresistible, you have to take it
5 points of Calvinism: perseverance of the saints
There is nothing you can do to lose the grace. God keeps promises + makes decisions. You can’t do anything to get it and you can’t do anything to lose it = no free will, God has either done it or he hasn’t
Limited election notes
- Augustine developed the doctrine of ‘Original Sin’ and that humans are all ‘sinners’ who can only receive salvation through God’s grace as a ‘gift’
- Calvin’s TULIP idea
Unlimited election notes
- everyone is invited but not everyone will respond. Party analogy - you are given an invitation and you choose whether you want to go or not
- straightforward reading of John 3:16 seems to support unlimited election
Universalism notes
- developed by John Hick
- everyone will be saved, for a loving God will not ultimately reject human beings
- the afterlife will provide further opportunities for people to develop their faith
Criticism of universalism
It seems wrong for such horrible people to be saved
How does the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats relate to election?
It gives an idea about judgement and that you will be judged based on how you have behaved. Things have consequences, you will be held accountable, this will determine whether you go to heaven or whether you go to hell.
