Topic 3 & 4 What do Christians believe happens when we die

Question 1

What are Christian views on the nature of hell?

Answer 1

• absence of God where ppl who reject God are rejected by him after death (hell in comparison with perfection of heaven)
• liberal christians -> hell = psychological pain caused by conscience when ppl face up to their sins
• liberal christians - no hell- god wld save all human beings

Question 2

What is purgatory?

Answer 2

• place of cleansing (temporary punishment for sins didn’t confess on earth)
• person can’t enter heaven until perfectly sinless
• Roman Catholics cos not in bible

Question 3

What do christians believe about heaven?

Answer 3

1. Fundamentalists: paradisical place where all gd christians go + where ppl will worship god(given resurrection body so can identify others)
2. Conservatives: souls of gd ppl go to heaven which is spiritual state of perfection with God
3. Liberals: levels of heaven due to John 14, sheep + goats

Question 4

What do Hindus believe about life after death?

Answer 4

1. Rebirth (cyclical)
2. Gain karma thru life
3. Atman reincarnated differently depending on karma gained
4. Good/bad karma = good/bad rebirth
5. Ultimate goal: escape cycle of samsara + reach Moksha
6. Moksha = union with Brahman
   - karma = law of cause + effect - no judgement, just consequences of bad karma etc

Question 5

What are the advantages of linear view of life after death?

Answer 5

1. Remain same person - not reborn
2. More purpose - only one chance
3. Attainable end in sight (reward in heaven)
4. Reunited w loved ones
5. Personal experience of god when dead - rather than absorbed into divine

Question 6

What are the advantages of cyclical view of life after death?

Answer 6

1. Many chances to get life right (rather than sent to hell for eternity)
2. Reborn on earth = familiar = more appealing than heaven
3. Non personal end to life + attain ultimate peace in non conscious sense
4. Comfort to relatives of deceased to know loved one has been reborn
5. Explains problem of evil + suffering - due to karma (linear doesn’t support this)

Question 7

How do laws of cause and effect relate to life after death (linear)

Answer 7

1. Fundamentalists : if believe in jesus according to John 14 you’ll go to heaven (literal place)

2.Conservatives:
Actions determine whether soul goes to be w god in heaven

3. Liberals:
   Actions of christians + non christians determine closeness to god in afterlife (sheep + goats)

Question 8

How do laws of cause and effect relate to life after death (cyclical)

Answer 8

1. Hindus: good deeds -> good karma -> eventually attain moksha + absorbed back into Brahman

Cause + effect inherent in reincarnation

Hindus do good things to get good karma