Death And The Afterlife Flashcards
What does it mean to say that heaven is a place
Suggests a physical place where a person goes after death to experience physical and emotional happiness
Most popular view throughout history
What does it mean to say that heaven is a state
Suggests heaven is a part of a person’s spiritual journey after death
More popular in modern times
What does it mean to say that heaven is a symbol
There is no afterlife, heaven is the moments of blissful happiness that a person experiences on earth
What quote can be used to suggest that God is physical in heaven
Our father who art in heaven
What quote can be used to show that only Christians go to heaven
Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved
Marks gospel
What quote can be used to show that anyone can go to heaven
My father’s house has many rooms
John’s gospel
What quote can be used to support particular judgement
Today you will be with me in paradise
Luke
What do protestants believe about heaven
Heaven is everlasting (time passes)
People live in th presence of god and are reunited in itj their loved ones
More of a physical place
What do Catholics believe about heaven
Heaven is eternal (timeless)
Where you experience physical and emotional happiness but are not reunited with loved ones as the way we relate to each other will change
Believe in the beatific vision - Aquinas idea that we are face to face with god in heaven
More of a spiritual state
What is N.T. Wright’s view of heaven
When we understand the context of the gospels, it is clear that they expected a transformation of this present world into god’s kingdom
Book of revelation says ‘a new heaven and a new earth’
Says that Christians have a role in the transformation of the world through caring for the poor
What is the evangelical interpretation of ‘a new heaven and a new earth’
God will destroy the current world and create a new world free from suffering and sin
What is the creation restored interpretation of a new heaven and a new earth
Our world will be transformed into a place free from the effects of sin
what is the amillenialist interpretation of a new heaven and a new earth
symbolic interpretation - suggests a spiritual state where heaven and earth merge
what is the orthodox interpretation of a new heaven and a new earth
entire universe is transformed to participate in Gods divine life
what is the catholic interpretation of a new heaven and a new earth
renewal of both spiritual and physical worlds - transformation rather than destruction
why do most protestants reject the belief in purgatory
n mention of purgatory in the Bible, purgatory suggests that Jesus didn’t complete the final act of salvation
What do Catholics believe about purgatory
It is a state of cleansing after death before someone enters heaven
Everyone who will go to heaven goes to purgatory first even if it is only for a short time
What is mortal sin
Catholic belief of sin that is a deliberate turning away from God, done with full knowledge and consent
Anyone who dies without repenting for mortal sin will go to hell
What is venial sin
Catholic believe of sin that is done without full knowledge or consent
Weakens the sinners relationship with God but is relatively slight
What is said about hell in the bible
No mention of it in the old testament
New testament describes it as ‘eternal punishment’ (Matthew) where non believer’s go
What was believed about hell in the middle ages
Was accepted as a physical place
What are modern interpretations of hell
Reinterpret hell in psychological terms, as infinite punishment does not fit with a living God
What do traditional interpretations of hell involve
Eternal punishment doesn’t contradict God’s love, as love includes justice, and turning away from God’s love deserves punishment
What does the catholic church believe about hell
It is an actual place, with the main punishment being living in a world without God
People commit themselves to hell when they sin
God made hell to guide people to do good
What do existentialists believe about hell
Hell is a state of being on earth
E.g. finding no purpose in life, finding no joy in music or art
What is limited election
The idea that only a few Christians are saved - heaven is only for those whom God chooses
Supported by augustine
What is single predestination
God elects only those who he ordains to enter heaven
What is double predestination
God elects those who he ordains to enter heaven, and also decrees that sinners are destined for hell
What is antelapsarian decree
The idea that God decreed who were the elect and reprobate at the moment of creation before the fall
What is postlapsarian decree
The idea that God decreed who were the elect and reprobate after the fall
What did Calvin believe about election
Believed in limited election and double predestination
What did Aquinas and the catholic church believe about election
Limited election
Single predestination
God chooses who will go to heaven because, even though we have free will, he knows how we will act in our lives
What is unlimited election
Idea that all people are called to election but not all are saved
The promise of heaven in the afterlife is possible for all
How did Karl barth develop the belief in unlimited election
Said that when Jesus died he made it possible for anyone to go to heaven
What is universalism
Idea that all people will be saved and he’ll is not eternal
