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Christianity
What
does Christianity say about life after death?
Christian beliefs about life after death are based on
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus’
death and resurrection are part of God’s divine plan for humankind. Through his
death on the cross, Jesus pays the penalty for mankind's sin and mankind's
relationship with God is restored. This is called atonement. Christians believe
that three days after the crucifixion, God raised Jesus from the dead and he
once again appeared to his disciples. This is taken to mean that Jesus’
sacrifice was a victory over sin and death. Although physical death still
happens, those who believe in Christ and live good lives will be given eternal
life in Heaven.
Many Christians believe that after death, they will be taken into the presence of God and they will be judged for the deeds they have done or failed to do during their lifetime. Some of the guiding principles for what will happen upon death include:
Judgement
Many Christians believe that after death, they will be taken
into the presence of God and they will be judged for the deeds they have done
or failed to do during their lifetime.
Some Christians believe that this judgement will happen when they die. Others believe that there will be a Day of Judgement at the end of time, when everybody will be judged at the same time. Some believe that judgement will happen in two stages: an initial personal judgement when you die, followed by the definitive judgement at the end of time.
Heaven
Heaven is described as eternity in the presence of God.
Heaven is the ultimate aim for all Christians in order for their
soul to be reunited with God and united with Christ.
In the Gospels, Christ often describes and teaches about Heaven
using parables, such as the Mustard Seed and the Pearl.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.Matthew 13:45-46
Hell
Since God has given human beings free will, there must be
an opportunity for people to reject God. This is the basis of the idea
of Hell.
Hell has traditionally been depicted as a place of eternal fire that symbolises pain and suffering. This is seen as the result of the refusal to accept the happiness that God wants people to share with him.
Purgatory
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that after death
there is a state of Purgatory. This is a place where some people who have sinned are purified
in a 'cleansing fire', after which they are accepted into Heaven.
All
who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are
indeed assured of their eternal salvation: but after death they undergo
purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of
Heaven.Catechism
of the Roman Catholic Church para 1030, 1992
Most Christian churches do not accept the idea of Purgatory,
believing instead that once judgement happens, people will either be in Heaven
or Hell for all eternity.
The Christian creeds teach:
I believe in the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.Apostles Creed
There is no clear explanation of how this belief will come into practice. Some Christians say that at the end of time, everybody will be raised up in a physical state on a new Earth. Some people feel that this simply refers to the idea that the whole person will be present in Heaven.
Why
do Christians believe in life after death?
The main source of
authority for Christians is the Bible.
Christians find many reasons in the Bible to believe in life
after death. They include:
Eternal life - Jesus promised that his followers would have eternal
life.
Jesus said, I am the resurrection and
the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.John 11:25-26
Jesus' life as an example - God sent Jesus to Earth in
order that humans could overcome death and have eternal life.
God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life.John 3:16
Resurrection of the body - when Jesus rose from the
dead he rose with a body. St Paul teaches in the Bible that people will
have resurrection bodies like that of Jesus:
So
will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable,
it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it
is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is
raised a spiritual body.1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Immortality of the soul - Jesus told the criminal
crucified with him that he would go straight to paradise.
And
he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he
said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in
Paradise."Luke 23:39-43
Christians interpret the teachings of the Bible on life after
death to mean that humans will have a spiritual existence after death, rather
than a physical one.
Belief in life after death may be influenced by the meaning and purpose that it gives to the lives of Christians.
What does this mean in
practice?
The guiding
principle of life after death for Christians is that Heaven is seen
as a reward for those who have been faithful. Teachings are interpreted in the
following ways:
· Christians do not believe that they should do good actions
just to be rewarded but rather because they are the right things to do.
However, the consequence of good actions will be a place in Heaven.
· Christians try
to build up a relationship with God during their lives
through prayer and worship. This
relationship is also shown in living by God's laws, as expressed in
the Ten Commandments.
Most Christians
reject the idea of reincarnation. For Christians, God makes each
individual unique and he loves them as they are. This unique individual is made
up of body and soul. When this earthly life is over, this person will
continue into eternal life, not come back to this world.