heaven, hell + purgatory as physical Flashcards
as physical..
-throughout most Christian history, people have understood judgement, heaven, hell + purgatory as physical realities.
-in same way they accepted idea of physical resurrection, they believed that once raised the physical body would enjoy the delights of heaven or pains of purgatory+ hell.
-when these doctrines were being developed ppl were much more aware of the reality of death than people are today.
what happened during periods of persecution by Romans? + how does this link to physical.
-christians were tortured and killed in painful ways
-even after persecutions ended, death, pain+suffering were part of normal life. women often died through childbirth + men through injuries/infection.
-children failed to survive childhood, and some diseases + injuries that are now easily treated were fatal. People were more aware of physical suffering.
-people who were injured experienced full force of physical pain more often, more fiercely, than ppl today.
crime led to..
-also lived in time where crime had to brutal physical punishment by courts.
-serious crimes punished by death (hanged, burnt at stake, ripped apart, thrown off cliffs)
-lesser punishments (mutilation of eyes, limbs or testicles)
-rationale was to deter ppl from crime.
bible stories that people were taught
-when ppl taught Bible studies about judgement, heaven + h4ll with description of pain + suffering, people had no trouble believing in literal reality of eternal fire prepared for devil+his angels as punishment.
-church hope by focusing on suffering of sinners after death, deter ppl from committing sins. Purpose became especially important after Black Death. Taught that it was punishment from God for human sin, so it was essential for sinners to repent and avoid sinning in future.
heaven as physical
-idea of heaven reflects realities of life at the time. Heaven would be a place where there was no physical suffering or pain, no labour of suffering ( in life these thing were product of wealth, found where rich lived in comfort)
-heaven to which saved are led by angels shown as walled city. References from Bible to heavenly banquet promise abundant food and celebrations. for example Luke 14:15-24
doom paintings
-presence of doom painting in most churches served to reming people that they were under judgement.
-hell section of doom paintings (always at bottom r of image to reflect fact that ‘goats’ were sent to left of Christ the judge) included flames+demons torturing unhappy damned
outcome of these beliefs?
-people feared death, they were prepared to go to great lengths to avoid hell, reduce amount time they might spend in purgatory.
-Catholic Church developed teaching on ‘indulgences’ which gave sinners opportunity to acquire some of virtue of risen saints by going on pilgrimages, visiting and touching relics, making donations to Church.
-sinners could be persuaded to do these things at enormous personal cost out of fear of suffering.
-over time abuse of indulgences to fund expensive building project in Rome was one of things that caused Luther to protest which led to Protestant reformation.
