Death and the Afterlife

Question 1

What does omniscience mean?

Answer 1

Gods all knowing characteristic.

Question 2

What does theodicy mean?

Answer 2

A justification of the existence of God, given the existence of evil.

Question 3

What did Hick develop Irenaeus theodicy to say?

Answer 3

He argued that there is universal salvation, all people will receive moral perfection upon death and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is because an all loving God wouldn’t condemn someone to eternal salvation.

Question 4

How can Hicks ideas be critised?

Answer 4

There would be no point in living a moral and sinless life if everybody goes to heaven.

Question 5

What is the Torah?

Answer 5

The first five books of the old testament.

Question 6

How is the afterlife mentioned in the old testament?

Answer 6

It is not directly mentioned however there are numerous mentions of people being “gathered to his people,” when they die. For example Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. In the Book of Daniel, resurrection is mentioned, this book was written as many Jewish people were beginning to abandon their faith due to persecution so the idea of resurrection showed that God could still be omnibenevolent due to the promise of eternal life.

Question 7

How did the belief in the afterlife develop in early Christianity?

Answer 7

Around the time of Jesus the Jewish people were split into the Pharisees and the Sadducees when taking part in a eschatology. The Sadducees taking a more literal approach believing that there is no life after death whilst the Pharisees believed that the righteous would be raised by a Messiah. This later developed into the belief in life after death that Christians believe today, which was also influenced by Platonism.

Question 8

What’s the book of common prayer?

Answer 8

The Church of England’s collection of services and prayers, first published in 1549.

Question 9

What does the Book of Common Prayer show about Christians beliefs surrounding resurrection?

Answer 9

It states that “I believe in the resurrection of the body.. and the life everlasting.” This shows that there will be a physical afterlife. This rejects the platonic idea that just the spirit moves onto the afterlife. This is due to the story of Jesus physical resurrection.

Question 10

What does Parousia mean?

Answer 10

Its the Greek word for being present or arrival and is used to describe the Christian belief that Jesus will return to Earth to judge everyone who has ever lived, selecting those who are worthy to go to heaven. The New World is described in the Book of Revelation and its a state of pure bliss where all pain and suffering will be ended and the beginning of a brand new creation where God lives among his people.

Question 11

How did Aquinas describe heaven?

Answer 11

As a Beatific Vision. A state where a human achieves perfect happiness. This is a state that can only occur when it is not possible for a human to be happier. We can only achieve this when we die and there we can revel in “divine wealth.”

Question 12

What did St Paul say about heaven?

Answer 12

“No man has seen, no ear has heard no mind has concieved what God has prepared for those who love him.” This shows an eternal reward for those who love God and live a moral just life which is inconceivable to the human mind. St Paul said that upon someone’s death, a persons body will move from the plane of existence into a spiritual realm. People will see God face to face and be transformed, a place of pure knowledge where sin has been destroyed.

Question 13

How does the New Testament say you will get to heaven?

Answer 13

If a person accepts Jesus Christ as the son of God and repents for their wrong doings.

Question 14

What does John 14:2 state?

Answer 14

“My fathers house has many rooms, if that were not true I would have not told you, I am going to prepare for you.” This could be said to suggest that heaven is a homely and comfortable place.

Question 15

What does Revelation 21:21 state?

Answer 15

“The streets of heaven are made of gold,” implying that wealth does not matter in the afterlife.

Question 16

What does Bernard Williams say about the idea of heaven?

Answer 16

As long as a person has character, heaven due to its repetitive and boring nature would surely turn boring making hell the better choice unless God stripped peoples character away from them which would make the idea of heaven redundant. Life has meaning due to the limited time that we have to achieve, if it was just handed to us we would become bored and unappreciative.

Question 17

How could someone criticize Bernard Williams?

Answer 17

God is omnipotent so he would be able to create a perfect heaven. However this may mean him taking away our free will.

Question 18

How is hell described in the Book of Revelation?

Answer 18

“A burning lake of fiery Sulphur.”

Question 19

How is hell described in the story of Lazarus and the Rich man?

Answer 19

A place of no escape.

Question 20

How does Dante describe hell?

Answer 20

An utterly dysfunctional state which lacks faith in God and any hope. There is no escape and no redemption as all who are there have alienated themselves from Gods’ love and grace through our choices. There are 9 circles of hell, limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery.

Question 21

What did Paul Tillich argue about hell?

Answer 21

He said that heaven and hell should be taken symbolically as polar ultimate’s
.in the experience of the divine.

Question 22

What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?

Answer 22

A book listing all the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, the most recent edition being published in 1992 by Pope John Paul the second.

Question 23

What is the second Vatican council?

Answer 23

A council of the Catholic Church that met between 1962 and 1965 in an attempt to modernize the Church.

Question 24

What do Catholic believe about purgatory?

Answer 24

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that all those who die in Gods grace and friendship are sure of eternal salvation but they must undergo purification to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. The process of purification can be undergone before they die through attending confession and repentance, whilst also doing good deeds.

Question 25

What did Gregory of Nyssa argue about purgatory?

Answer 25

It would make sense that an omnibenevolent God would want to give every chance possible to allow people into heaven.

Question 26

What did Rahner argue purgatory was?

Answer 26

It is a state of higher awareness of the consequences of ones own sin. Its a place of hope where one can understand the meaning of Gods grace and repentance.

Question 27

What did John Hick say purgatory was?

Answer 27

He said that we all have a chance for redemption as hell could not be part of an omnibenevolent Gods plan. Its a continuation of the soul making theodicy, allowing more time for the souls of the departed to come in line with God.

Question 28

What is the Biblical evidence for purgatory?

Answer 28

It is never explicitly mentioned but Catholics site passages such as, when Judas Maccabeus led his army into battle and the ones who were killed were relevealed to be idolaters, the passaged implied that people should pray for them and that it would make a difference to their final judgement.

Question 29

What are two critisms of the idea of purgatory?

Answer 29

1. Protestants argue that the idea of purgatory suggests that’s Jesus death was pointless. Purgatory suggests that atonement and his act of sacrifice is not enough. 2. If purgatory is not eternal how can heaven and hell be.

Question 30

What’s election?

Answer 30

Usually associated with John Calvin, the state of being chosen by God. It means the same as predestination.

Question 31

What’s double predestination?

Answer 31

The view that God only choses a limited amount of people who can achieve salvation.

Question 32

What’s the Westminster Confession of Faith?

Answer 32

A compilation of the beliefs of Calvinistic and Protestant churches.

Question 33

What’s perdition?

Answer 33

A Calvinistic word for hell.

Question 34

What’s unlimited election?

Answer 34

Calvin’s view that all people are called to salvation but not all will be chosen.

Question 35

What’s limited election?

Answer 35

All are predestined for heaven and hell before they even arrive on earth.

Question 36

What does the Westminster Confession of Faith state?

Answer 36

“By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life and others foredoained for ever lasting death.” This provides a belief for limited election.

Question 37

What is the Biblical proof for limited election?

Answer 37

Mark states that “Many are invited but few are chosen.”

Question 38

What does Augustine believe about election?

Answer 38

Gods grace is required for salvation, as original sin has such a hold over the world that only Gods grace can overcome sin even Christs death, it must be achieved by Gods mercy alone. If grace is down to God, he is the one who choses who it is given too. If God would not chose then that would call into question his omniscience and omnipotence.

Question 39

What does Calvin argue about election?

Answer 39

He believes that the will of God is hidden as we have limited ability to understand God. We should not question Gods will as God has the ultimate fore knowledge of what will happen. We should act morally as if there was unlimited election as we can not know who was chosen.

Question 40

What is Karl Barth’s idea on election?

Answer 40

He believes in unlimited election. As Jesus is God incarnate, he is the one who will elect humans. Jesus Christ sacrifice meant that all could be saved, Barth stated that “there is no condemnation, literally non for those who are in Jesus Christ.”

Question 41

What do Catholics believe about universalism?

Answer 41

All universal salvation must be achieved within the Church as they believe that there is no salvation outside of it.

Question 42

What is the inaugurated eschatology?

Answer 42

The NT idea that the Kingdom of God has already begun in Jesus life time.

Question 43

What is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goat?

Answer 43

At the end of time God will separate people from each other just as a shepherd separates sheep’s from goats. As we are made imago dei any person that helps another has helped God and those who did not will be punished as they have chosen to ignore God.

Question 44

What does the Parable of the Sheep and the Goat show about judgement, physicality, reward, help, purgatory and action?

Answer 44

1. All will be judged at the end of time. 2. Heaven and hell are both separate, physical places. 3. Anyone even non Christians which have helped others and lived a just life will be saved. 4. When you help others you help God. 5.There is no mention of purgatory. 6. Salvation comes from action not belief alone, if you pursue justice for the marginalized you will enter heaven.

Question 45

What is the Latin name for hell?

Answer 45

Hades.

Question 46

Why do people see the Kingdom of God as a physical place?

Answer 46

The teachings of Jesus suggest the inaugurated eschatology, Jesus has already begun the Christian movement but they are awaiting their final consummation. This is also reflected in the Lords prayer, “ Thy Kingdom Come, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus miracles can also be said to prove this as that is what the Messiah was prophesied to perform.

Question 47

Why do people see the Kingdom of God as a spiritual place?

Answer 47

St Paul says that Jesus resurrection is the first sign that we will reach a state of perfection in Gods presence again. His sacrifice means that we can live with it without the stain of sin.

Question 48

Why do people see the Kingdom of God as a symbol of moral life?

Answer 48

It shows justice for example as seen in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Question 49

What does eschatology mean?

Answer 49

The discussion of the last things at the end of time.

Question 50

What 3 things did Jesus resurrection teach?

Answer 50

1. His life was a sacrifice for sin. 2. His death would prompt God to establish a new world order/kingdom. 3. He would be raised up with the Saints and Martys who had died before him and his followers would have a new place in heaven.

Question 51

What is the Kingdom of God?

Answer 51

Gods rule or reign whether in this world or the next one.

Question 52

What quote from Jerimiah can be used to show the importance of heaven and hell?

Answer 52

“Why does the way of the guilty prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?”