what do catholics believe about everlasting life?

Question 1

definition for heaven

Answer 1

this is a place where your soul will spend eternity in the presence of God after death

Question 2

why do Catholics believe in an immortal soul?

Answer 2

In Genesis, it says that God ‘breathed’ life onto us and as a part of God we can’t die

Question 3

How do we get in to heaven?

Answer 3

If you live a good life and life a life as said by the bible

Question 4

what is heaven like?

Answer 4

it is described as ‘paradise’ in the Bible
jesus said this when dying in the cross ‘You will join me in paradise’

Question 5

definition of hell

Answer 5

This is a place where your soul goes when you have rejected God’s grace to be eternally separated from him

Question 6

what is hell according to the CCC?

Answer 6

it is a separation from God
“We shall be separated from Him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor”

Question 7

Why does God not condemn us to hell?

Answer 7

It is our choice to reject God and sin. We condemn ourselves through our own actions
“separated from Him forever by our own free choice”

Question 8

Why does God not send us all to heaven if he is omnibenelovent?

Answer 8

It is through our own choices and a conscious decision to turn away from God

Question 9

definition of purgatory

Answer 9

a place or state of purification, inhabited by the souls of sinners who are making amends for their sins before going to heaven

Question 10

what happens in purgatory?

Answer 10

where the purification of sin from a person who has died happens so they can come close to God in heaven.

Question 11

what are those in purgatory referred to and why.

Answer 11

‘Church suffering’ because they are not in heaven yet and need to be free from sin first.

Question 12

Why do Catholics believe in purgatory when no other Christians do?

Answer 12

Due to it not being in the Bible, but Saint Paul says “the builder will be saved, but only as through fire”. that it will test our work and purify us from sin

Question 13

how do catholics get out of purgatory?

Answer 13

Through prayer and those on earth praying for your soul too.

Question 14

how does the CCC describe purgatory?

Answer 14

where souls “undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven”

Question 15

definition of judgement

Answer 15

at the end of our life, we will be faced with an ultimate choice to choose God or reject God. The decision we take leads to judgment and decides whether we ‘go’ to Heaven or Hell

Question 16

What impacts how we are judged?

Answer 16

By our actions in our life on earth and if people truly repent for things they have done wrong then they will be forgiven

Question 17

why is forgiveness believed to be possible?

Answer 17

Jesus was crucified to take the punishment for their sin.
example: In the parable if the sheep and goats where ‘whatever we did for the least of our brothers’ is remembered and determines our faith.

Question 18

definition of resurrection

Answer 18

the raising of the body tim life again after death. Christians believe Jesus has already experienced resurrection and that all people will experience it at the end of time

Question 19

What is the proof of us being able to resurrect?

Answer 19

Jesus’ example gives the idea that other people may experience resurrection, as it is proof of victory over his death showing us we can live too even though we die.

Question 20

What does it mean to say “We are Easter people”?

Answer 20

Christian faith is based on message if Easter (resurrection) so we live with the idea that Jesus can come back alive again