The Afterlife-- Heaven

Question 1

Acts 1:9 Jesus’ ascension

Answer 1

“he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

Question 2

Revelation 8:1-2 2nd Coming of Jesus- heaven is a physical place

Answer 2

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Question 3

John 14:2- Who is saved

Answer 3

In my Father’s house there are many rooms

Question 4

Luke 23:43- When is judgement

Answer 4

Truly I tell you, Today you will be with me in Paradise

Question 5

Parousia

Answer 5

The second coming of Jesus as described in Revelation. He will descend and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth- transforming and perfecting creation in the process.

Question 6

Parable of the Sheep and the Goat on Jesus’ second coming

Answer 6

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

Question 7

Beatific vision

Answer 7

Heaven is not a place but a spiritual state in which people are reunited with the glory of God in an eternal moment of bliss- Aquinas et al

Question 8

Heaven on the reinstation of a relationship with God

Answer 8

Returns to prelapsarian state in the Garden of Eden: sin and doubt will cease to exist and the epistemic chasm (Calvin) will have been closed.

Question 9

Canon Catholic view on heaven

Answer 9

The beatific vision- spiritual state.

Question 10

How do souls interact with the spiritual plane of heaven

Answer 10

They will conjoin with God outside of the constraints of time. Platonic Dualism- souls are eternal, and bodies are temporary.

Question 11

Scholars for heaven as a symbol

Answer 11

Tillich, Sartre, Hick (Sometimes), Origen

Question 12

Tillich’s view on heaven’s symbolism

Answer 12

It is a symbol for moral virtue in which you help others (As per the PofS&G) and earthly blissful happiness

Question 13

Support for the existence of heaven in any capacity

Answer 13

Kant’s moral argument
Scriptural
Jesus has ultimate authority on eschatology, and he supports particular judgement.

Question 14

Support for heaven as a physical place

Answer 14

NT Wright- the rule of heaven will come to earth- and will transform it into God’s kingdom.
Rahner: the afterlife is timeless
Propositional revelation– Heaven is spoken of in purely physical terms (PofS&G and Rich man and Lazarus)

Question 15

Support for heaven as a symbol

Answer 15

Liberation theology- heaven is an idealised society rather than a physical place, brought about by instilling Christian moral principles in the world- especially surrounding empowering the marginalised poor.
The symbolism of heaven respects the “Cloud of unknowing” (Moses Maimonides) that God, in his transcendence, should have.

Question 16

Criticism of heaven’s existence

Answer 16

Necessitates a dualistic belief in a soul- materialists Dawkins, Ryle + Aristotle (Body cannot separate from its soul).
Bernard Williams- heaven can’t be heaven because it would be boring, thus heaven cannot exist. Especially true if heaven exists temporally on earth because under these laws, happiness and even shear beatific bliss must be aesthetic qualities which will dissipate over time.
Establishing a kingdom of God and living under his presence in fear undermines human free will and human moral virtue. Augustine’s theodicy- people choose a relationship with God and that is what makes it meaningful. Reinforces Epicurian dilemma to that end.