Death and afterlife

Question 1

what is heaven

Answer 1

is the eternal state of perfect happiness in the presence of God

Question 2

what is the idea of an everlasting heaven?

Answer 2

where we can experience things and meet our family and friends. We can live in a perfect world that is perfect for us

Question 3

what are some criticisms of a everlasting heaven?

Answer 3

• how can there be a perfect world for everyone, we all have different preferences and different ideas of perfect. you may like someone and want them present in your perfect heaven while the other person secretly hates you - god could create other versions of a person but that feels like you are being cheated by god.
• how can we be in a place for eternity without getting bored? - Bernard Williams

Question 4

Eternal heaven

Answer 4

we exist in an eternally perfect moment in a timeless place forever while constantly being surrounded by the presence of god.

Question 5

what is hell

Answer 5

state of punishment and complete separation from god for eternity

Question 6

what is Origen’s idea of Hell? (spiritual state)

Answer 6

spiritual state where each sinner kindles his own fire. Not inflicted by god but is the internal anguish from being away from god

Question 7

What is Dante’s vision of hell?

Answer 7

• 9 circles of hell where every sin is matched with an appropriate punishment - more fair people are punished for what they did with their own freewill and autonomy.
• More serious sins (like betrayal) are punished more harshly than lesser sins (like lust), reflecting fairness in the severity of consequence.
• This hierarchical model supports a graded sense of justice, making the system seem morally ordered and fair.