DEATH AND THE AFTERLIFE BETTER Flashcards
Describe literal Christian view on heaven
A place to go after death where we are united with God
*
Biblical evidence for a literal Christian view on heaven
“Abraham gave up the ghost and died in a good old age… and was gathered to his people.” GENESIS 25:8
3 Strengths of a literal Christian view on heaven
- Christian
- Reassuring/Comforting- you can be reunited with family
- Rewarding: encourages moral good behaviour
2 Weaknesses of a literal Christian view on heaven
- Would experience a loss in identity
- Our soul would be different on an eternal time line compared to on a linear timeline- it wouldn’t really be us going to heaven
Bernard Williams’ criticism of a literal Christian view of heaven
An eternity in heaven would not be desirable and it would become boring
Counter crit Williams’ criticism
- God would be able to use his omnipotence to ensure that we would never get bored, like how we wouldn’t suffer
- However this does take away free will
Describe symbolic Christian view on heaven
Represents a state of euphoria
*
Aquinas’ view on heaven and who did he get it from
- Beatific Vision: Our soul moves on after death to go face-to-face with God for eternity
- Aristotle
Strength of the Beatific Vision
It’s helpful as it gives us something to work towards
Weakness of the Beatific Vision
Can’t be the same person in a timeless form- your characteristics will disappear
Aquinas’s belief about the human soul
- The form/distinctive character of things
- All living things have a soul in that they have definite characteristics
- Humans are the only souls to continue after death
Aquinas’ view on the eternity of heaven
Heaven is one single eternal moment, a single simultaneity rather than an everlasting timeline
Strength and Weakness of Aquinas’ view on the eternity of heaven
- Strength: Heaven would not become boring because there is no before or after
- Weakness: Unbiblical: Bible refers to activities taking place- activities need a ‘before’ and ‘after’
Literal Christian view on the eternity of heaven
Eternal heaven is an everlasting timeline rather than an everlasting moment
Strength and Weakness of Literal Christian view on the eternity of heaven
- Strength: More compatible with us now going to heaven as we can still experience time progressing
- Weakness: Infinite heaven/hell for finite sins/good deeds
Strength and Weakness of Symbolic Christian view on the eternity of heaven
- Strength: Motivates and causes good moral behaviour
- Weakness: Not Christian
Symbolic Christian view on Heaven
heaven can be eternal in our minds for as long as we live because we will always feel the euphoria from doing good things, but it can be negated by feeling the symbolic ‘hell’
Biblical metaphors to describe Heaven
- City of Gold (revelation): heaven is a place of great wealth without suffering, pain or death
- Comforting home: Jesus tells his disciples “My Father’s house has many rooms”
Literal Christian view on hell
It’s a place of suffering and eternal damnation that is distant from God
Separation from God for all eternity
Biblical evidence to support the literal Christian view on hell
Revelations 21:8, “the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death”
3 Strengths of the literal Christian view on hell
- Acts as a deterrent
- Punishes wrong doing
- Provides justice for those who have been violated
Weakness of Literal Christian view on Hell
We would develop immunity to hell and its pain and suffering
Hume’s Criticism of the Literal Christian view on hell
God would have to sentence people who committed a finite sin with infinite punishment
(however, wronging God is arguably an infinite sin
Hick’s criticism of the literal christian view of hell
- Omnibenevolent god wouldn’t condemn anyone to eternal pain and suffering
*
Symbolic Christian view on hell
State of mental pain when bad actions are committed
Origins of Purgatory
- Catholic teaching developed by Pope Gregory to help explain praying for the dead
- Priests would exploit mothers of dead babies for money by saying they’ll pray for a quick journey through purgatory
Liferal Christian view of purgatory
A place after death where the soul is purged before the person is ready to enter heaven/recieve final judgement
Biblical evidence for the literal Christian view of purgatory
- Matthew 12:30-2
- “shall not be forgiven in this age or in the age to come?
3 strengths of Purgatory
- Necessary step towards salvation of souls (need to be perf to enter heaven)
- Fits with God’s image as just and omnibenevolent
- Allows for redemption and forgiveness after death (a second chance)
3 Weaknesses of Purgatory
- Jesus died on the cross to remove all sin- either follow Jesus or don’t
- Corrupt origins
- Weak biblical support
Karl Rahner’s argument about purgatory
- It’s the soul’s awareness of the consequences of sin
- Pain of purgatory is self inflicted as we come to terms with the idea of repentance
2 reasons why prots reject purgatory
- Jesus’ sacrifice was total in its defeat of sin - tetelestai
- Those who accept Jesus should be able to go straight to God
Literal Christian view on Judgement Day
Everyone raised from death and sorted into heaven + hell
Biblical evidence to support literal Christian view of Judgement Day
- 1 Corinthians 15:42/44
- “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”
1.
Strengths of literal Christian view of Judgement Day
- Offers second chance at life
- Eternal life tempting concept
- Fits with Jesus’ corporeal resurrection
Weaknesses of literal Christian view of Judgement Day
- Hard to believe + far fetched
- Illogical: new body from God- not body we have when we die- is it even us?
Symbolic Christian view of Judgement Day
Represents personal growth after a recognition of guilt
Strength of symbolic Christian view on Judgement Day
Helpful- would make world a better place if people grow from their misdeeds
Final and Particular Judgement
- Final: last judgement- God brings everyone back and judges them for all eternit
- Particular: Judgement undergone immediately after death to decided the general climate of perpetual waiting
Immediate Judgement - argument in support of this
- People go straight to heaven or hell when they die- many christians refer to dead people as if they are already in heaven
- Story of Lazarus suggests this is the case
Biblical evidence to support immediate judgement
Luke 23:42-3: Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise
Criticism of biblical evidence that supports immediate judgement
Placement of comma can completely change the meaning:
“I tell you today, …” or “I tell you, today…” have opposing meanings
Paraousia
Second coming of Christ
Literal Christian view of Paraousia
- Event in which Christ will return to earth to complete whole plan for creation, to judge people and to take up his rule
Symbolic Christian view on Paraousia
- Paraousia: the transformation and perfection of creation is already underway and is the role of Christians in the world today
Metaphorical interpretations
- Heaven, hell and purgatory can be understood as spiritual states rather than physical places
- some may say heaven, hell and purgatory are symbols of person’s moral and spiritual life as experienced on this earth rather than after death
Someone might go to heaven when ……
Someone might go to ……
Someone might go to ……
