Death and the afterlife - Heaven and hell

Question 1

Parable of sheep and goats

Answer 1

Matthew 25:31-46
All people will be gathered, not just Christians
Some will go to Heaven, some to Hell - implies these are real places
Heaven is a part of God’s plan
Salvation seems to be based on action, not sola fide
Jesus is found in the outcast and needy (whatever you did for the least of one of these brothers… you did for me)
Both Heaven and Hell seem eternal and purgatory is not mentioned

Question 2

Beatific vision

Answer 2

Aquinas
The state of eternal happiness when we are face to face with God

Question 3

Protestant view of Heaven

Answer 3

Everlasting, not eternal
Heaven is a place alongside God with our loved ones

Question 4

Catholic view of Heaven

Answer 4

Not “with” loved ones as the way we relate to other people will change

Question 5

Parousia

Answer 5

The second coming

Question 6

Non physical view of Heaven

Answer 6

Heaven is more a state than a place - the body is not needed and the soul continues
Supported by Platonic philosophy
Some argue this is closer to what Jesus described and Paul added the description of a physical place later

Question 7

NT Wright on Heaven

Answer 7

Argues that Revelation reveals that Heaven is a future state of this world

Question 8

Hell as a physical place

Answer 8

“lake of fire”
Catholics argue that the main punishment is actually separation from God
They argue that we bring ourselves to hell and God would rather have us in Heaven
Could be argued without punishment there is no point in moral laws

Question 9

Hell as a spiritual state

Answer 9

Tillich - the alienation from God is the only punishment
The medieval images of hell are products of their time

Question 10

Hell in symbolic terms

Answer 10

Some argue that God would not punish people unjustly with torture, and so hell is the “second death” described in Revelation - the soul is simply annihilated

Question 11

Evidence for hell as a physical place

Answer 11

Parable of rich man and Lazarus - New Testament

Question 12

St Paul analogy

Answer 12

Tent - earthly bodies are like tents, whereas in Heaven they would be houses - permanent

Question 13

Bernard Williams criticism

Answer 13

Argued Heaven would be boring
We enjoy life because we have categorical desires we pursue, which would be exhausted in Heaven