RS a level DCT - death and the afterlife

content and evaluation

quote from the Apostle’s creed about death and the afterlife

“he will come to judge the living and the dead: I believe in… the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.”

quote from John about how to get to heaven. state the verse

“no one comes to the Father except through me.” 14:16

what does Wright argue about life after death

those who die in Christ are not ultimately destined for heaven but rather enter a state of “sleep” in the presence of Christ, awaiting the resurrection at the end of time

He emphasizes a “life after life after death” where at the end of time, God will re-make our physical bodies and return us to a newly restored earth

Heaven is seen as important but not the final destination

quote from the book of Daniel on judgement

“multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”

what did Aquinas argue regarding the afterlife

the eternal soul survives the death of the body, and is capable of beatific vision

beatific vision is eternally being in the presence of god

one limitation of Aquinas’ argument

if the soul is timeless, how can it be the same “person” who existed temporarily on this earth?

three ways of understanding the Christian afterlife

literally, metaphorically, symbolically

explain the literal approach to the afterlife

heaven and hell are physical places. fits with the bible, as Jesus ascended to heaven in his physical body

explain the metaphorical approach to the afterlife

heaven and hell are spiritual states; eternally in God’s presence. the person must have a conscious beyond death

explain the symbolic approach to the afterlife

a persons moral and spiritual life as experienced on this earth, or glimpses of states that we will understand fully after death

which approach rejects the idea of hell

universalism

which parable supports unlimited election

the sheep and the goats - Matthew 25

what is purgatory

as proposed by Pope Gregory VI, it’s a temporary state after death where people are cleansed of sin before entering heaven

what did Rahner argue, regarding death and the afterlife

purgatory is a metaphor for the souls greater awareness of the consequences of sin in the time between death and judgement

what is election

refers to those who God has chosen for eternal life

what are the three approaches to election

limited election, unlimited election, universalism

which religious group believes in limited election

Jehovah’s Witnesses

name a theologian who supports universalism

Hick

criticism of unlimited election

relies on the premise that humans have free will

criticism of limited election

the bible suggests that Jesus died for everyone’s sins

criticism of universalism

not just to send evil people to heaven

what does Jesus say to the good criminal on the cross? which gospel is this from?

he will enter heaven “today”. Luke

how does the Catechism of the Catholic Church define heaven

literally, “perfect life with the most holy trinity”

quote from Catechism of the Catholic Church showing literal interpretation of hell

“those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer”

how is hell described in the book of revelation

“burning lake of fiery sulphur”

how does the Catechism of the Catholic Church describe purgatory

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

quote from Matthew 22:14 showing limited election

“many are invited but few are chosen”

who argues that literal heaven would get “boring”

Williams

how does Luther interpret heaven and hell

symbols of the state of conscience people experience after doing moral good or bad

which parable does Luther use to show his symbolic interpretation of the afterlife

Rich Man and Lazaurus

quote from Calvin showing limited election

“some are preordained for eternal life, others to eternal damnation”

argument from Barth for unlimited election

all people have the possibility of being saved because of Jesus’ sacrifice

Symbolic interpretation of purgatory

The final moment of repentance in a persons life

John 10 quote

"I am the door of the sheep"

Luke 16 (parable of Rich Man and Lazarus) quote

Lazarus says “I am in agony in this fire”

why does Hume think hell is unjustified

it is infinite punishment for finite sin

Dawkins on hell

it is a damaging belief