Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

By the end of the next two lessons:

• You will understand the Christian beliefs of heaven, hell and purgatory

• You will know why Christians hold these beliefs

• You will learn what the Bible teaches about these places

Sistine Chapel -

Michelangelo - Last Judgement

ONETask:1. Make sure you have completed your,

‘what's the evidence’ sheet from last lesson.2. Draw a table in your books – write in 3

arguments for/against life after death.3. PowerPoint slide 9. Write one point one

explanation for each part.

Reason Why might it be convincing?

Why might it not be convincing?

Near-DeathExperiences

Evidence ofGhosts

Evidence of Mediums

Evidence of reincarnation

Lots of people who have had near-death experiences describe similar things, e.g. moving towards a light. They can’t all be wrong or liars, so this suggests that there is life after death.

Perhaps people who claim to have near-death experiences are hallucinating, and so the experience is just in their imagination.

Some people claim to have seen spirits and ghosts. If ghosts exist, then it suggests that there must be life after death.

It is possible that those who claim to have seen ghosts were mistaken – they may have been frightened and thought they saw a ghost.

Mediums claim to be able to contact the dead. If they really can do this then there must be life after death.

There is no real proof that Mediums can contact the dead – it may just be made up stories.

Hindus and Buddhists believe in reincarnation and have collected evidence for this. Clearly, if this is true then there is life after death.

People cannot remember having a past life – this shows that they did not have one and so reincarnation is not evidence for life after death.

Arguments for Life after Death

• There is a lot of evidence that the mind can affect the body.

• We must have a mind separate from our body. It is not material and so must survive the death of the body.

• All the religions teach that there is life after death, so there must be something.

• The evidence of religious experience and all the reasons to believe in God make it likely that there is life after death.

• Evidence of the paranormal: ghosts etc. • Evidence from people who have had near

death experiences.

• Death is the end of life. Therefore life after death is a logical contradiction

• Scientific evidence for the origins of humanity shows that our mind has developed from a material process.

• Physical evidence suggests that when your body dies everything about you dies.

• The medical condition of brain death shows that the brain can die before the body.

• We can only recognise each other because we have bodies.

• The universe is a vast material place, so where could life after death take place?

Arguments against Life after Death

• There is no “other world” after you die.• Once you are dead there is nothing (annihilation).• However, what truly matters is how you lived this

life.• The only afterlife is other peoples memories of you.

To be remembered as a good person is as close to heaven as you can get. To be remembered as a bad person would be like hell.

Humanist

WonderfulHelpfulSpecial

Kind

Samsara

Collect karma

Death

Rebirth -

reincarnation

Birth

Moksha

Reincarnation

Sub heading: original sin Task: 1. Summarise Genesis 3 – 6:12. Adam and Eve.2. What does Christianity teach about original sin?3. Where does original sin come from? (include quote)4. What did the resurrection of Jesus show? (include

quotes).

TWO

Original Sin…(links to the soul)• Christianity teaches that when Eve picked

the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden, she introduced ‘original sin’ into the world. (Genesis 3: 6-12, 16-19)

• According to the Roman Catholic Church, original sin is the way in which humans are born with a lack of holiness about them.

• It is different from any actual sins that people commit themselves during their life.

Genesis 3:6-12

Snake/serpent

Adam was told that his work would be hard. It would become toilsome (hard work) (Genesis 3:17-19).

The Rest of the CurseGod told Adam and Eve in the beginning that they would die on the day they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One death was immediate. They were spiritually separated from God. However, their physical bodies continued to live. But they would not live forever as God apparently intended. They would become old, sick and die.

All three (Adam, Eve and the serpent) were put out of the garden and the curse came not only on them but on the whole world. They had to provide for themselves with their own hands. They no longer had a personal relationship with God.

The Future for Adam and Eve

They had many children (Genesis 4). Sadly their firstborn son killed their second son. Their lives were so different than what God intended. Adam died at 930 years of age (Genesis 5:5).

• Some people believe that being made in the image of God, humans would have been immortal but that they lost their immortality when they ate the fruit.

• Where does original sin come from?It does not appear in the Bible…but (sin) appears in the

writings of St Paul (New Testament):

‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive’ (1 Corinthians 15: 22).

• This explains Christian teaching about the importance of the crucifixion of Jesus (re-introduces a spiritual connection with God – proves there is an afterlife).

What did the resurrection of Jesus show?

• Death and sin have been conquered.• That mankind could be forgiven of their

sins.• That the Kingdom of Heaven was open

once again. • People will not come back to life on earth

but will find a new life in heaven. • Shows that there is life after death.

• Jesus, as God, in human form died (crucified), was resurrected (back to life) after 3 days.

• This atoned (made up) for the original sin of Adam and Eve and overcame the power of death.

• This meant that human souls were now able to survive death and reach heaven.

• ‘Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believe in me will live even though he dies; and who ever lives and believes in me will never die’ (John 11: 25-26).

THREESub heading - Christian ideas about life after deathTask:

1. Explain what Christians’ believe about life after death.

2. Why do Catholic's believe in life after death? (use quotes – highlight them)

The Christian idea about life after death

• Life is not the end• There is a life after death• Cannot explain fully what life after death will be

like• Christians believe they will be reunited with God• Some believe – reunited with loved ones.• Jesus promised a place for anyone who

believed in him• Death is not the end; the immortal soul has

eternal life in heaven, hell or possibly purgatory

Ideas about the after-life…• Christian ideas about heaven and hell are

ways of describing something that is very difficult to put into words.

• Although some Christians believe that they are real places, most believe that those who have been faithful to God and lived good lives will be with Him in death and those who have not lived well will be punished and separated from God.

Why do Catholics believe in Life After Death?

• The belief in life after death is based on the bible.

• John14:1-2 “here is life after death with God” • This passage teaches that God has a place for everyone after death.

• 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 “The body is transformed at death” • This passage teaches that after death the body will be raised.

• Matthew 25: 41-46 “Christ will judge the living and the Dead” • This passage teaches that you must be prepared to love strangers as

they are god’s children too.

• Revelation 20: 15 “Hell” • If you do not go to Heaven, you will go to hell.

• The Apostles Creed • “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to

come.”

Christian Beliefs about Life After Death

• All Christians believe that: • The resurrection of Jesus proves that there is

life after death. The Soul is immortal • That physical death is the beginning of new

life • At the end of time God will raise everyone

and judge them. Christians whose sins are forgiven will go to Heaven

• Those who sin and do not repent will go to Hell

FOURSub heading: Heaven, Hell and PurgatoryTask:1. Divide a page into three; in each section describe heaven, hell – OR

draw a picture for each (how they may look).2. Copy the drawing and explanation of purgatory on slide 253. Make sure that you have explained the protestant view4. Find out about ‘Dante’s’ inferno.

Heaven?

So when can you go to heaven?• Some Christians believe you can go as soon as

you die.• Catholics believe you must spend time in

purgatory for purification of their souls.• Others Christians believe you must wait until

Judgement day (the Parousis- the “second coming” of Jesus.

• On this day the soul will be judged as to whether they will go to heaven or to hell.

What is heaven?• A Total Union with God in a loving relationship • Peaceful • Free from the limitations of this world • A type of existence, not a geographical location • A place where we are no longer subject to

temptation or sin • We will never “die” again • Free from pain • As the book of Revelation (21: 4) states ’there

will be no more death of crying or pain’.

PURGATORY

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is another place, called PURGATORY. People who have lived mostly good lives, but have also sinned, must go to PURGATORY in order to cleanse their souls. It is a common belief that almost everyone will go to purgatory before being allowed into heaven.

Copy out the diagram below under the heading ‘Purgatory’

Purgatory only applies to people who will be admitted into heaven. It is not part of hell, nor is it some kind of intermediate state between heaven and hell. It is in a sense the entranceway into heaven.

Protestant belief…Protestants do not normally accept the concept of

purgatory. There are several reasons.

1. It implies that Christ's death for us isn't enough. 2. The Bible says in several places that any interaction

with the dead is forbidden.3. It look like the Catholic Church (16thC) was selling

salvation, or release from Purgatory.4. Against prayers for the dead – (Catholics’ pray for

the dead and their families)

HELL

Traditionally, hell is a place of torture with everlasting fires

Pictures of hell were often painted in churches to remind the congregation of what could happen to them

Christian beliefs about Heaven and Hell…

• Based on Jesus' teachings and other sources of revelation.

• Christians believe that God created human beings to live eternally in fellowship with him.

• The future as described in the Bible includes

the resurrection of all people, a judgment, and eternal life in either heaven or hell.

Dante’s inferno

FIVESub heading – JudgementTask:1. What do Christians understand by judgement?2. Explain the Parable of the Sheep and Goats.3. What book of the Bible is it in - include a quote (highlighted)4. Find out information about ‘Hieronymus Bosch’5. Draw the ‘how people get to God’ slide and explain it.6. Answer the, ‘to think about questions’

Judgement…• Christians believe that there will be a day of

judgment, where there will be a resurrection of the body.

• Everyone's life will be evaluated. Those who depend upon Christ for salvation will pass this judgment.

• However the quality of their lives will still become

known, and everything in their lives that was not built on Christ will be purged.

Salvation

Belief in Jesus opens the gateway to God

• One Christian position is that anyone who rejects Christ will end up in hell.

• Does this mean that only Christians can be saved? The Catholic church and many Protestant churches don't think so.

• They believe it is possible that Christ can come to someone in an inward and spiritual way, even if they've never heard of Christ.

• Thus someone can be an "anonymous Christian." That is, they can know Christ spiritually without realising it.

Judgement DayHieronymus

Bosch

“I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36/37

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:42

The Parable (story with a moral) of the Sheep and the Goats.

• The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats was told by Jesus to explain what to expect on Judgement Day.

• People will be divided into two groups. Those who lived good lives helping others and following Jesus will be rewarded; those who have not will be damned to an eternity in Hell without God.

• Jesus taught to ‘Love thy neighbour’. (The Good Samaritan)

To think about…• Could Hitler end up in heaven if he repented at the last

minute?

• It seems unfair for God to save people just because they are Christians. There are lots of rotten Christians and lots of good non-Christians.

• Hitler looks particularly evil. But someone completely

unremarkable may be just as evil, but may not have had enough political power to have the terrible effect that Hitler did.

• What happens to someone who is relatively good in this life, but who does not have faith?

• It is said that a good God would not condemn people to an eternity of torture. Do you agree.

Salvation, redemption and the suffering of Christ.

• Christians believe that they will receive salvation and redemption through devotion to Jesus.

• Christianity teaches that the behaviour of Jesus should be followed. Most people are not able to reach these standards.

• (Catholic confession)

Show your understanding…

1) Explain Christian concepts of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory (6 marks)

2) ‘Heaven and Hell are just invented to give us hope and fear of the afterlife’

Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer

(12 marks)

A MESSAGE for you - you should have finished this 5 minutes ago…

Kyle, Indy, Natalie, Kira, Bryony, Eli, Helen, Jake, Nick, Gabbie, Carys, Alicia, Lily, Bethan, Josh, Dylan, Aaliyah, Sophie, Shelly, Lucy, Fionnuala, Nick, Abi, Michelle, Inderpreet, Kennedi, Emily, Kirsty, Izzy, Amber, Harris

• Make sure you have completed all tasks before ending this lesson – or else!!!