Life After Death (P) Flashcards
What are the Islamic views on the soul?
Allah gave each person an individual soul which they try to keep as clean and pure as possible.
Humans are given a status above animals. Some feel eating meat distracts from a spiritual life.
The soul is unique and free and is what will be judged on the day of judgement.
What is the Buddhist view on the soul?
They do not believe in an external soul (teach anatta - no self).
They treat animals with respect and don’t think they can be used without regard to their own welfare.
What were Plato’s views on the soul?
He didn’t believe in god but believed there’s a soul which continues when we die.
He also believed the soul consisted of 3 parts in unity:
Reason (logos)
Emotions (thymos)
Desires (eros/pathos)
His opinion can be related to a horse and chariot. The soul is the chariot in control of the horse - the soul controls the mind and body
The soul pre-existed the body and death separates the two.
What were Aristotle’s views on the soul?
The soul gives body life. Body and soul cannot be separated.
Body + Soul = One
Without the soul, the very essence of the body wouldn’t exist.
This is described as the axe, the handle is the body and the axe itself is the soul.
What’s the modern psychological view on the soul?
It ignores or denies the existence of the soul.
They talk about ‘self’ which is what makes people individual.
It’s your conscious state but not an entirety itself.
What is death?
When physical life ends
What are the types of evidence for life after death?
Past life regression
Sightings of dead people
Spiritualism
Near death experiences
What is past life regression?
When people can remember details of their past lives - supports reincarnation.
Researchers check details which are so accurate they can’t be explained.
Disbelievers feel the person is either remembering details forgotten from their childhood or that people have psychological problems.
What takes place during sightings of dead people?
[Dr Chopra] argued that bodies are made of energy and when a person dies! their energy keeps the image of that person.
Others say ghosts are dead people who’ve come back and there are many arguments to prove they’re true.
Disbelievers feel sightings are tricks and seeing ghosts is just seeing past events.
What’s spiritualism?
The belief that it’s possible to communicate with people who’ve died (through a medium).
Mediums are people who are able to receive messages from the spirit world and pass it to loved ones.
Many messages are found to be accurate and personal which people find comforting.
Some believe it’s fake and clever guess work.
What happens during near death experiences?
Feeling like they're floating out or above their body No feeling of physical pain Feeling of bliss or peace Dead relatives and friends waiting at the end of the tunnel Told it's not their time Pass through walls Light at the end of the tunnel Presence of God
Some believe they’re not real and it’s caused by oxygen starvation and they’re hallucinating.
What do Christians believe about death and the after life?
The resurrection of Jesus shows there’s life after death and the immortal soul.
Physical death starts new life.
What are bible quotes on death and the afterlife?
‘Then he said “Jesus remember me when you come to your kingdom.” Jesus said to him “I tell the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Meaning he will die and go to heaven.
“There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going to prepare a place for you”
In heaven God has a house and has room for everyone and Jesus is preparing the rooms.
What do Christians believe about Heaven?
Medieval - a magical place with angels on clouds playing harps.
Modern - feel it’s an attempt to represent something too complex for humans.
There are descriptions that it’s like a stairway with gates and thrones
What are the Christian views on Hell?
Some believe it’s a real, physical place. People who don’t go to heaven go to hell.
Some believe hell is not a physical place but rather an existence without God. All of those who don’t go to heaven experience this.
Others believe a merciful God would not allow any of his children to go to hell. Non-Christians will get another chance.
What are the bible quotes on hell and purgatory?
“And if anyone’s name was not written on the book of life, he is thrown into the lake of fire.”
“And throw into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
What’s purgatory?
Purgatory is a Roman Catholic belief of going to a place before heaven where you will stay (and possibly endure suffering) until their souls are ready for heaven.
They believe it is like a waiting room where souls often are in pain or tortured however people who go to purgatory which reach heaven eventually and aren’t at risk of going to hell.
The church taught that living relatives could shorten the time souls stayed in purgatory by praying for the dead. In the Middle Ages, people bought ‘indulgences’ which were meant to give them time off purgatory by giving money to church. This was stopped as the system was abused.
What’s a quote for purgatory?
“Purgatory is a state of those who die in God’s friendship, assured of their eternal salvation, but who still have need of purification to enter into the happiness of heaven.”
