Death and the Afterlife

What are the main interpretations of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory?

• Physical places – resurrected bodies inhabit them; described physically in the Bible.

• Non-physical/spiritual states – involve the soul immediately after death.

• Symbolic/metaphorical – do not exist literally, but represent life on earth or moral consequences of actions.

Are Heaven and Hell eternal?

Traditional view: Yes, they are eternal. Eternality is implied in passages like the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25) and the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16).

Does Heaven exist now or only as a future transformation (New Earth)?

• Present existence: Some passages suggest Heaven exists now (e.g., Jesus and the thief on the cross – Luke 23:43).

• New Earth theory: Heaven is a future state where God transforms creation into perfection (Revelation 21, N. T. Wright, Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come”).

• Resurrection of the righteous occurs at the end of time; heaven as a physical place exists then.

When does God’s judgement occur?

• Immediately after death – Rich Man and Lazarus, thief on the cross.

• End of time/general resurrection – New Earth theology; ultimate judgement and resurrection bodies.

Does everyone go through Purgatory?

No, it is mainly a Catholic belief: only those who die in venial/minor sin undergo purgation before entering Heaven.

Mortal sinners go to Hell immediately; purgatory is a temporary, non-physical state.

What does the Rich Man and Lazarus story suggest about the afterlife?

• Physical descriptions (water, finger, chasm) → Heaven & Hell as physical places.

• Chasm implies eternity → Heaven & Hell are eternal.

• Immediate post-death judgement → Heaven exists before end of time.

• No purgatory → not everyone passes through Purgatory.

• Suggests unlimited election → moral failure leads to Hell, not faith alone.

Counter-argument: Martin Luther on Rich Man and Lazarus?

• Parable teaches a moral lesson, not literal events.

• Resurrection body not possible yet → story is metaphorical.

• Moral: do good or face consequences, but we cannot take literal post-death implications.

• Supports predestination: Rich man lacked grace, so he failed morally.

Evaluation: St Jerome on literal interpretation?

• Story includes a name (Lazarus) → unlike generic parables.

• Could be literal with some metaphorical elements (finger/water as figurative).

• Suggests Luther’s purely symbolic interpretation may be incorrect.

What is the New Earth view?

• God will transform creation into perfect Eden.

• Righteous will receive resurrected bodies and eternal life there.

• Heaven does not exist now as a physical place; judgement occurs at the end of time.

• N. T. Wright: Lord’s Prayer supports this (“Thy kingdom come”).

Biblical support and counter-evidence?

• Revelation 21: “new heaven and new earth” → no suffering.

• Counter: Luke 23:43 (Jesus & thief) → Heaven exists now.

• Evaluation: Comma placement in Greek text allows future interpretation; New Earth theory remains consistent.

Physical view of the afterlife?

• Resurrected, perfected, immortal bodies.

• Biblical references: Paul’s resurrection “first fruits” (1 Corinthians 15), Jesus’ empty tomb.

• Hell & Heaven described physically (Sheep & Goats parable, Matthew 25).

Spiritual view of the afterlife?

• Afterlife as state of the soul.

• Paul: “to be with Christ” (Philippians 1:21–24) → soul presence immediately after death.

• Influenced by Descartes: existence is fundamentally mental/spiritual, not bodily.

Evaluation of Wright’s balanced approach?

• After death: spiritual existence (Sheol/Hades).

• End of time: physical resurrection → souls reunited with bodies in New Heaven/Earth or Hell.

• Immediate judgement exists, final judgement at end of time.

What is Purgatory?

• Catholic belief; state of the soul before resurrection.

• Venial sins purged; mortal sins → Hell.

• Purpose: morally prepare souls for Heaven.

Counter-arguments to Purgatory?

• Protestants reject: not in Bible.

• Sheep & Goats → only Heaven or Hell mentioned.

• Luther: Purgatory invented for financial gain (“fabricated by goblins”).

• 2 Maccabees: praying for dead → some biblical support for intermediate state.

Evaluation of Purgatory?

• Abuse by Church valid criticism.

• Ethical justification: prevents sending partially good people straight to Hell.

• Moral sense: temporary purgation is fair.

Symbolic interpretation of Heaven, Hell, Purgatory?

• Enlightenment thinkers: Schliermacher, Tillich.

• Afterlife represents human experiences, moral consequences, ultimate meaning.

• Heaven → living well; Hell → suffering in life; Purgatory → need for moral correction.

Counter & evaluation?

• Traditionalists: symbolic view undermines authority of Bible.

• Evaluation: human authorship and diverse interpretations justify symbolic approach; ethics (agape) remain central.

Augustine’s limited election?

• Only Christians with God’s grace predestined for Heaven.

• Original sin prevents humans from achieving faith independently.

• Romans 8: predestined for justification and glorification.

Counter: Pelagius?

• Unjust to punish descendants for Adam & Eve.

• Genuine sin requires free choice; predestination undermines moral responsibility.

Unlimited election?

• All morally good people go to Heaven, regardless of religion.

• Biblical support: Sheep and Goats parable, Matthew 25.

• Catholic inclusivism supports: God works through conscience, natural law, or other religions.

Universalism & Hick’s soul-making?

• All people eventually saved.

• Biblical tension: Hell exists; passages on eternal punishment.

• Solution: interpret Hell symbolically; post-death soul-making/purgatory allows moral development.

• Extreme sinners (e.g., Hitler) eventually redeemed in physical/purgatorial afterlife.

Evaluation of Universalism?

• Aligns with omnibenevolence.

• Ethically preferable: rehabilitative punishment rather than eternal torture.

• Consistent with Christian idea that no one is truly lost.