Eschatology

• Catholic beliefs about death

  Catholics believe that death is the end of physical life. However, they see this as more of a change than an ending. For instance, they believe that our

  physical bodies will die (they are buried or cremated) but we will receive a spiritual resurrection body and have the possibility of eternal life with God.
• When a person dies, Catholics believe in 'particular judgement', where God judges their soul
• Each person is responsible for their own actions
• There will be a final judgment where the whole of creation will be judged
• Catholic beliefs about Judgement are presented in three of Jesus' parables
• The 'Unmerciful Servant' parable helps Catholics understand beliefs about forgiveness and life after death
• The 'Sheep & Goats' parable teaches that God will separate the 'good' and the 'bad' like a shepherd separates sheep from goats
• If you show mercy and forgive others, God will show mercy and forgive you
• The 'Rich Man & Lazarus' parable informs Catholics about the actions required to gain access to heaven with God
• Catholic beliefs about Heaven and Hell

  Catholics believe that a person who has lived a holy life will be rewarded with eternal happiness in heaven. Heaven is eternal existence in God’s

  presence. In the Bible, heaven is often described as a banquet or a feast, but Christian ideas about it vary widely. The Bible teaches that there is no

  sadness, pain or suffering in heaven. Christianity teaches that hell is a lack of God for all eternity. An unrepentant sinner is someone who does not regret

  the things they have done wrong and refuses God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.
• Catholics believe in a state after death called purgatory
• Purgatory comes from the word "purge", meaning to cleanse or get rid of sin
• Most people are not bad enough to go to hell but not good enough to go straight to heaven, as they have sinned in their lives on earth
• Purgatory is a state of purifying, a time of cleansing and preparation to enter heaven
• St. Paul used the image of fire in his first letter to the Corinthians to describe purgatory
• Protestant Christians do not accept the idea of Purgatory as it is not directly mentioned in the Bible
• Catholics believe they can help the souls in purgatory by praying for them
• There is a long tradition of praying for the dead in the Catholic faith
• Catholics can ask God for mercy to forgive the soul's sins so they can enter heaven and have eternal life more swiftly