death and the afterlife

Question 1

central christian beliefs of life after death

Answer 1

life after death will take the form of resurrection where a person will be given a renewed ‘spiritual’ and ‘glorified’ body to continue into the afterlife with which cannot be corrupted or die
We are resurrected through the gift and grace of God.

Question 2

St Paul’s letter to Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15)

Answer 2

“it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body”
the sown body is “perishable” the raised body is “imperishable” (Wont die)
- There is a resurrection of the spiritual body which is REAL but NOT PHYSICAL

Question 3

Richard Swinburne’s lightbulb analogy to show how Paul’s idea is possible

Answer 3

The lightbulb is the soul and the socket is the body, when the socket is switched off (when body dies) the lightbulb can be transferred to a new socket (body) and can be lit up again (alive)

Question 4

John Hick’s replica theory supports physical body in heaven

Answer 4

• John smith disappears from a meeting in New York, appears in meeting in Australia. All tests show it is John Smith.
• John smith dies in meeting in new york, appears in australia meeting, all tests show it is john smith
• john smith dies, his body remains in the meeting, Appears in a post death existence. All tests show it is john smith.
• John hick argues john smith exists after his death.

Question 5

parable of lazarus and the rich man
(Luke’s gospel)

Answer 5

rich man doesnt give lazarus money, too concerned with material things
Rich man goes to hell, Lazarus goes to heaven
- Immediate judgement

Question 6

parable of the sheep and goats
(Matthew 25)

Answer 6

sheep cared for the sick, fed the hungry etc. Goats did not.
Sheep go to heaven, Goats go to hell.
- General judgement

Question 7

Aquinas’ beatific vision (timeless afterlife)

Answer 7

“we shall see face to face” with God in an eternal moment , eternal presence of God is heaven.

Question 8

strength of aquinas view

Answer 8

• solves problem of boredom if heaven is beyond time and space

Question 9

weakness of aquinas view

Answer 9

not the same person. Humans are involved in a relationship with linear time, so a soul in the timeless presence of god is not the same as the human physical body on earth.
— Difference between linear person and timeless soul is too different to be the same

Question 10

Bernard williams

Answer 10

an eternal life in heaven is undesirable, you will get bored

Question 11

Karl Rahner

Answer 11

Having a limited life is what gives life meaning, if life is unlimited there is no meaning

Question 12

what is purgatory

Answer 12

a place where the soul is purged

Question 13

Karl Rahners development of purgatory

Answer 13

Karl Rahner develops doctrine of purgatory and says it is a state between death and final judgement where people’s souls become aware of the consequences of sin. Purgatory is a place of self of self inflicted pain of recognising your wrongdoings.

Question 14

Pope Gregory on purgatory

Answer 14

“anyone who speaks a word against the son of man will be forgiven… in either this age or the age to come”
If forgiveness can happen after death there must be a state between moment of death and heaven where people can rid themselves of sin so the soul is purified and able to enter heaven

Question 15

Catholic view on purgatory

Answer 15

purgatory is a mainly catholic view, they begin purging their sins even before death through confessions.

Question 16

Protestant view on purgatory

Answer 16

Rejects idea of purgatory as it has no biblical support and would suggest that Jesus’ death on the cross was not the complete salvation (which it was)