Death and the afterlife - election Flashcards
Limited election
Augustine
OS has such a grip on humanity that God’s grace alone can save us
Both double and single predestination are forms of limited election
Double predestination
John Calvin
The view that God chooses who goes to hell and to Heaven, because he knows exactly what we will do
We cannot work out God’s will, and must act as if we have all been chosen as we don’t know who will be chosen
Morality is still important as even the elect are still sinners
Strength - still holds morality as important, makes sense with God’s attributes
Weakness - issues with free will
Single predestination
Held by Catholic church
States that God chooses who goes to Heaven, but people send themselves to hell
Weakness - it is still because of God that hell exists and so “people send themselves” seems like an excuse
Unlimited election
Karl Barth
Heaven is available to all but not everyone can be saved
By God coming to earth as Jesus, he elected everyone as long as they accept Jesus
Universalism
John Hick
Everyone must go to Heaven in order for God to be considered omnibenevolent
We will all have the chance to finish the soul-making process (purgatory)
Universalism assessed
Logically makes sense as the only way we could consider God to be all loving
However, this does seem to overlook the crucifixion and make moral choices irrelevant if we are all going to be saved anyway
Does this mean people like Hitler or Mao would be alongside people like Mother Theresa or MLK?
Particular judgement
Individual judgement at the moment of death
Supported by Jesus telling the thief on the cross that he would be with Jesus that day in paradise
However, this could reflect a different perception of time after death
Final judgement
As described in the parable of sheep and goats
Takes place at the end of time - until then people wait in a sleep-like state
Held by early Christians
Modern Christians tend to believe in particular judgement and then a final judgement at the end of time
