Death and the afterlife Flashcards
What are N.T Wright’s views on heaven?
By understanding the Gospels, N.T Wright argues that heaven can be seen as a different form of existence in the future state of the world where creation will be transformed and restored.
What is the symbolic view of heaven?
Heaven is a symbol of someone’s spiritual and moral life on earth - a sum of all of the positive moments.
This means that heaven does not have to be a real place.
How can purgatory be seen as a spiritual place?
Purgatory could be seen as a spiritual place where people come to a greater understanding of their sinfulness.
Symbolic of the final moment of repentance before seeing the perfect nature of God.
What are certain problems with purgatory?
The sacrifice of Jesus was enough for people to be able to enter heaven.
It is not clear how the cleansing will work if heaven and hell are spiritual places.
This belief has led to corruption as some think that they can buy themselves out of the cleansing of fire.
If heaven and hell are eternal, how long will purgatory be?
What are Barth’s views on election?
Karl Barth suggests that all humans may be saved by Jesus being God made humans; he is both the one who elects and the one who is elected.
Karl Barth also believed that all humans are elected through the death of Jesus - ‘There is no condemnation - literally none - for those that are in Jesus Christ’
Issues with the nature of God
Some reject literal interpretations of hell because this would not be compatible with a loving God; surely he would prevent the need for punishment.
Some say that people condemn themselves to heaven however surely God could stop this.
Issues with continuity and identity
Punishment must logically be towards the person who has lived on earth therefore some argue that we must need our bodies in the afterlife.
Others say that identity comes form just our souls therefore heaven and hell do not have to be physical places.
If our bodies go to the afterlife then there is a question as to what state they will be in; what age? what is we died in an accident and were disfigured?
Issues with the bible
Much evidence comes from the bible which isn’t always clear and some don’t take it literally.
The bible never directly suggests that there will be something after death.
Issues with believability
Some suggest that there cannot possibly be one punishment and one reward; what is the limit? Does one punishment equal hell?
Eternal heaven will be boring especially if our bodies have no physical limitations.
Story of the rich man and Lazarus
A rich man ignored the pleas for help of a beggar called Lazarus.
When the rich man died, he went to hell and was tormented, he wanted to dip his finger in water to cool down, to warn his family, but was not allowed.
Lazarus went to heaven and was separated from the rich man by a chasm.
What does the story of the rich man and Lazarus teach?
Heaven & hell are described physically (water, finger & chasm).
Heaven existed before the end of time.
Neither went through purgatory – showing not everyone goes through purgatory.
Because the rich man failed to do good that he goes to hell. This suggests unlimited election is true.
What quote from the Catechisms of the Catholic church talks about heaven?
‘heaven is the ultimate end fulfillment of the deepest human longings - the state of supreme, definitive happiness’
Stems from a liberal view of the bible - product of human mind.
What does St Paul say will happen when he dies?
He will have a ‘presence’ with Christ.
Suggests the afterlife will involve our souls rather than our bodies.
Quote from the parable of the sheep and goats that shows we will be physically judged?
‘all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people from one another’
Why is the idea that heaven is a representation of all the positive moments of someone’s life so problematic?
A person could have lived a wholly negative life that was out of their control eg. terminal illness.
Quote from the Second Coming in Revelations to show future state of the world?
‘I will come again and receive you to myself’ - Christ
Quote for disciple John being shown the future by God?
God mentions the ‘New heavens and the new earth’
How does the death of Abraham in the book of genesis suggest a bodily form of afterlife?
‘Abraham breathed his last… he was gathered by all his people’
There are hints that something of the original man was going to continue after death.
What is a quote from the Old Testament which shows a bodily form of afterlife?
‘Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake’
Implies buried bodies are waiting for the day of judgement’
How does Jesus prove bodily resurrection to Christians?
He was able to get up and walk around after his death.
People were able to touch his physical body.
What does Paul say and suggest in 1 Corinthians about bodily resurrection?
‘The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable’
Paul suggests that the body will be transformed and radically changed to be used in the afterlife.
What does Paul say and suggest in 2 Corinthians about the body in the afterlife?
‘If the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands’
We will be given a more substantial and eternal body in the afterlife - links to his views on the body transforming.
How does Paul’s premise in 2 Corinthians mirror Plato?
This mirrors the idea that the earth in temporary and fragile compared to a more secure realm (Form of the Good).
What does Aquinas believe that people will reach in the afterlife?
The beatific vision where humans can come face-to-face with God.
