life after death (key beliefs) Flashcards
Catholic teaching about life after death
The resurrection is proof for Catholics that there is life after death. The Creed, Bible and Catechism also convince them that there is eternal life and a belief in eternal life gives life meaning and purpose. Catholics believe that the soul goes to heaven (if they die with no unforgiven sins), purgatory (if they die with unforgiven small sins and/or do not know God), hell (if they die with unforgiven big sins and/or refuse to believe in God).
Other christian teaching about life after death
Some Christians believe that the body stays in the grave until judgement day when all are raised. Others believe that all souls go to heaven immediately because on the cross Jesus said to the criminal ‘today you will be with me in paradise’.
Other beliefs about life after death
Some non- religious people believe in life after death due to their belief in ghosts, psychics, near death experiences, reincarnation accounts etc. Some atheists (humanists) believe that the dead live but only in photographs, memories and the soil (if buried). Others reject a belief in life after death and propose arguments such
as: there is no evidence; death means the end of life so life after death doesn’t make sense; Jesus’ body may have been stolen from the tomb etc.
Jewish beliefs about life after death
The afterlife is often called olam ha ba (the world to come). As there are no direct references to the nature of an afterlife in the Torah there are different beliefs and interpretations. Some Jews believe there is a life after death and other Jews believe that what lives on is how you remember the person for the good deeds they have
done in their life. For most Jews their concern is not what happens after death but what good they do while alive.
