death and the afterlife (2)

Question 1

Matthew 25:31-46 (Sheep and goats)

Answer 1

“All the nations will be gathered before him”
people will be divided based on whether they deserve to go to heaven ‘sheep’ and ‘goats’ who dont.
they are blessed because they looked after the hungry, the poor.

Question 2

what can we know from matthew 25:31

Answer 2

The parable teaches that it is what people do and not their faith that gets them into heaven.
In the parable it is clear that the time of judgement is unknown and it could be any time.

Question 3

final/particular judgement

Answer 3

final: some christians believe that death is sleeping whilst we wait for final judgement
particular: Catholics teach this. we are judged at the moment of death

Question 4

Augustine and Calvin

Answer 4

Calvin thought dead were consious whilst they waited for judgement
Augustine thought souls were judged immediatley and they are glorified in same flesh

Question 5

God’s judgement takes place immediatley after death

Answer 5

• Biblical evidence for God welcoming people immediately into heaven, Lazarus Luke 16:19
• it doesnt make sense for judgement to be delayed
• if heaven and hell arent literal places then it makes no sense for there to be a wait

Question 6

God’s judgement takes place at the end of time

Answer 6

-majority of biblical evidence seems to delay judgement until after death, book of revelation says trumpet on last day
- we need our bodies for reward and they decay, there must be a moment when all resurrect
- time means something different after death, sleep until existence

Question 7

quotes on hell

Answer 7

eternal fire (Mark 9:43), weeping (Matthew 22:13)

Question 8

modern church and hell

Answer 8

most christians still believe in this idea of torture, some believe this is pyschological

Question 9

CS Lewis

Answer 9

considers Hell an eternal seperation from God, he said this would be punishment enough. Catholics say Hell is a place that people go to for actively rejecting God

Question 10

inifinite punishment

Answer 10

many christians struggle with the idea that a finite God would cause infinite punishment. some believe this should be proportionate.

Question 11

spiritual state

Answer 11

some say Hell is a place for the soul. langauge of the bible is symbolic and Hell is too. by focusing too much on literal you lose track of real message.

Question 12

Hell as a symbol

Answer 12

symbol of a person’s life on earth. if that person has a guilty consious that will be faced with Jesus on judgement day. approaching it this way ephasises the pyschological power that punishment has on peoples decisions.

Question 13

Hell is eternal

Answer 13

• both Bible and Church speak of Hell as eternal
• makes sense that people who are aware of Jesus’ way should be held account if live badly
• people cannot be given an ultimate number of chances to improve

Question 14

Hell is NOT eternal

Answer 14

• some argue that those who dont get into heaven are just extinugished after punishment
• as you cannot experience punishment outside of time
• many reject hell as God wouldnt punish, especially babies who may die and go to Hell

Question 15

new testament heaven

Answer 15

It is where we will be see God face-to-face (Corinthians 13:12), place of eternal reward (Luke 16)

Question 16

earliest christians

Answer 16

believed that Jesus would return to the Kingdom of God during their lives. by the 2nd century people seemed to believe that heaven was divided based people

Question 17

beatific vision

Answer 17

the state of eternal happiness when we come face-to-face with God. this is an eternal reward for doing good with God

Question 18

heaven as symbolic

Answer 18

solves criticism that heaven would be boring, a state of communion with God would not be. They focus us on good moral conduct rather than specific reward.

Question 19

life on earth

Answer 19

some people think heaven is our perfect life on earth, as when we live like God then we are happy

Question 19

heaven is the transformation and perfection of the whole of creation

Answer 19

• book of Revelation describes end of time as ‘a new heaven and a new earth’
• some christians might point to the fact we need to rebuild God’s kingdom on earth
• following the effects of the fall, the christians duty to re-find the paradise lost

Question 20

heaven is something other than the transformation and perfection of the whole of creation

Answer 20

• biblical texts point towards heaven as a future place and not something that will occur on earth, “Today you will find me in paradise”
• some may say that heaven is not to be taken literally, it is a symbol of life
• heaven is a future place that you could get glimpses off here on earth, through observation

Question 21

purgatory (catholic)

Answer 21

helps with critism that a loving God wouldnt condemn people, it is an intermediate state which purges us of sins. time of cleansing where people are sent at judgement if unfit.

Question 22

purgatory teachings

Answer 22

all those who die friends with God but not fully purified will be cleansed, fire is not literal merely mental, it is possible to pray for those who have died and be forgiven of sin

Question 23

matthew 12:31

Answer 23

some sins cannot be forgiven but most can. ‘every type of sin and slander can be forgiven’- we must need a chance to make up for them.

Question 24

2nd century

Answer 24

intermediate state dates back to, writings if Origen and idea of redemption.

Question 25

universalism

Answer 25

Hick’s idea that a loving God would never condemn anybody to Hell and he belives all people will be saved.
when we die we arent perfectly God’s likeness, soul making continues after death.

Question 26

one true religion

Answer 26

this inspired Hick, cultures have their own view on divinity. christians believe in Jesus’ unqiueness and people criticise Hick for making Jesus’ sacrfice pointless.

Question 27

purgatory is a state which everyone goes through

Answer 27

• more in line with the biblical presentation of God as an all loving being
• exists in traditions
• allows for the greys areas of life to taken into consideration
• nobody can be God’s perfection

Question 28

purgatory is not a state through which everyone goes

Answer 28

• no need for purgatory as God will reward those who live good lives
• may be medieval creation of wishful thinking
• tradition of praying for the dead v rare

Question 29

limited election

Answer 29

augustine believed that because of OS nobody could gain salvation, he believed God chooses those to be saved (predestination)

Question 30

calvin and predestination

Answer 30

God predestines some to Heaven and some to Hell, Calvin thought it was wrong to say God was no in control of the universe so he must choose who to save.

Question 31

double predestination

Answer 31

idea some can and some cannot receive Grace. view that God decides where people are, humans cannot know who God has chosen

Question 32

catholics and predestination

Answer 32

did not think The Fall has impacted people in the same way. believe God elected some for Heaven but those who go to Hell chose that. single predestination- God chooses who ca go to Heaven

Question 33

unlimited election

Answer 33

all people are entitled to go to Heaven but not all will be saved. developed by Barth who maintain JC centrality, as he took on human form anyone can be saved. unlike Hick, he thought JC needed for salvation

Question 34

all people will be saved

Answer 34

• a loving God would never allow anyone to be condemned for suffering
• Bible emphasises that God calls everyone
• Religions can reflect their culture and so it cant be wrong to say one culture worships God well

Question 35

NOT all people will be saved

Answer 35

• universalism removed freedom from people to choose their fate
• Bible as authorative text, shows Heaven and Hell both possibilities
• incarnation and sacrifice would be devalued without Hell