Death and the Afterlife Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is the Christian concept of a soul?
Soul is capable of surviving death
No reincarnation, but a renewed spiritual body
Jesus’ tomb was empty show?
He had been resurrected from death to eternal life
Many Christians believed Jesus continued in a transformed physical body when he spoke to people after his death
Who is Doubting Thomas and what did he do?
Didn’t believe it was Jesus, Jesus showed him the punctures in his body as proof
Symbolises that Jesus had the exact same body after his death
Why was the tomb empty?
Jesus rose from the dead (Christian belief)
Grave robbers
What questions does Jesus’ resurrection bring?
Is Jesus resurrection a literal thing or a metaphor for everlasting faith?
What happens if you are cremated?
What happens if you are horrendously dismembered?
Is this resurrection unique to Jesus?
Is there a Purgatory?
Are disability, deafness, or blindness resurrected?
Is “Hell” motivator of good?
What does St. Paul say about death and the after life
Natural bodies ‘perish’ and our spiritual body is ‘imperishable’
St Paul uses the example of a tent being replaced by a more solid structure in the afterlife
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16
‘the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side … in Hades … he was in torment’
Matthew 25
The Sheep and the Goats
‘he will separate the people … to eternal punishment … to eternal life’
Personal identity
personhood, who you are
Anthony Flew
if Joe witnesses his own funeral, who is the ‘Joe’ observing and who is the ‘Joe’ being buried?
How is Heaven depicted?
‘My Father’s house has many rooms’ John’s gospel
‘The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass’ Revelations
Catholics: ‘beatific vision’ (Aquinas)
Protestants: everlasting existence
What does Bernard Williams critique about Heaven?
If eternity is really desirable?
- wouldn’t it get boring living in perfection
- does boredom
What does Rahner (catholic theologian) say?
our limited earthly lives give us meaning now, so what gives us meaning in unlimited spiritual lives?
What does Aquinas say on the afterlife in ‘De Anima’
The soul is a ‘life principle’ and ‘form’ of living things
Humans have a ‘rational soul’ which is capable of surviving death because our ability to be intelligent is a non physical skill
So, the soul allows us to fulfil our telos
What do Catholics believe about Purgatory?
Some souls are not in a sufficient state of grace to warrant heaven
Some souls may need punishment, but not eternally
What does Rahner say about Purgatory?
It allows for a self recognition of personal wrongdoings
What are some depictions of Hell?
Eternal seperation from God
A place of eternal pain and punishmentd
What do Hume and Hick say about Hell?
It questions God’s justice
How could a benevolent God eternally punish people? This view was developed as a means of societal control, encouraging people to not disobey religious authority
What does Romans say about predestination/election?
And those he predestined, he also called
What does Calvin say about predestination/election?
All are not created on equal terms, but some are predestined to eternal life others to eternal damnation
What is limited election?
The idea that only a few Christians are saved
What is Pelagianism and why did Augustine disagree?
That we are born with a blank slate
We are born with ‘original sin’, and God chooses who will be elected?
What does Calvin
Double election/predestination
Influental for protestants, yet this view of his is not universally accepted as it compromises free will
What is unlimited election>
Election to all
