different interpretations of heaven, hell + purgatory?

Question 1

what was believed about judgement?

Answer 1

-at end time, dead who had been sleeping in their graves, would be awoken by sound of a trumpet which would herald end of all things. Christ would come again in glory. He would be seated on throne surrounded by angles and each individual would be judged according to their deeds written in the book of life.

-those who were judged holy would gain immediate entrance to heaven and would be led there by angels

-those who were judged sinful would be sent to suffer burning, pain + torture. if sins were unforgivable they would spend eternity suffering in hell, tormented by demons. If sins forgivable they would undergo period of suffering and pain to cleanse them of evil in state called purgatory and then they would be admitted to heaven.

Question 2

what is catholic teaching about purgatory?

Answer 2

-purgatory is a state that soul undergoes in preparation for final judgement.

-“all who die in Gods grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve holiness necessary to enter joy of heaven” CCC

Question 3

The Divine Comedy

Answer 3

-Dantes long poem, The Divine Comedy
-Many of details widely believed about heaven, hell + purgatory became popular from poem.

-Dante described journey in which he was conducted through hell, heaven and purgatory by Roman Poet Virgil.

-intended to be allegory describing journey of human soul towards God, but vivid descriptions of the fate of historical characters caught public imagination

Question 4

what about other denominations?

Answer 4

-orthodox churches of east have diff teaching about judgement

-they believe 40 days after death there will be particular judgement of each individual Christian, when God will decide where soul will wait until second coming go Christ.

-‘general’ judgement, when dead rise, Christ through Gods grace will grant salvation, although deeds of individuals will be taken into account as in Parable of sheep and goats

-the judgement of those who aren’t Christian isn’t defined in orthodox theology, but its though that they will be judged with mercy

Question 5

quotes

Answer 5

“truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”