life after death

• Death


  The end of physical life. When the physical body ceases completely to function
• Heaven

  Those who have accepted God’s grace and forgiveness in this life will enjoy an eternal existence in God’s presence in the next life. This face to face encounter with God is what we call “Heaven”
• Judgement

  The belief that each individual will be held to account by God for the things they do, or fail to do, during their lives
• St Paul in Corinthians said “I declare to you that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Listen I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep: but we will be changed”
• Catholic teaching on death can only be understood in a context of eternal life
• Catholic teaching on the meaning of death
• Christians can hope to go to heaven and spend eternity with God
• Magisterium

  The teaching authority of the Church, exercised by the bishops in communion with the Pope. The magisterium is given grace by the Holy Spirit to faithfully interpret the Scriptures and Tradition
• The funeral rite includes imagery and symbols that reflect belief and hope in eternal life. Prayers are said for those who have died
• Respect the value of their lives until their natural death
• Resurrection

  The raising of the body to life again after death. Christians believe that Jesus has already experienced and that all people will experience it at the end of time
• Eternal life


  Life in heaven after death. Also, the phrase Jesus uses to describe a state of living as God intends which leads to this life in heaven
• Hell


  Those who through the exercise of their own free will ultimately reject God’s grace and forgiveness will have chosen to live eternally outside of God’s presence. This total lack of God for all eternity is what we call “Hell”
• Catholics believe that a death life has changed not ended
• St Paul also said “O death where is you victory? Death where is your sting?”
• Soul


  The eternal part of a human being given at conception which lives on after the death of the body. Also a name for a human being’s rational nature – their mind
• The Catholic Church rejects Euthanasia and assisted suicide as ways of ending life
• When Jesus died on the cross, he paid for our sins and when he rose from the dead, he defeated death
• For Catholics, it is important to help those who are facing death to prepare well and seek palliative care
• Palliative care aims to reduce pain and allow the individual to retain as much dignity and quality of life as possible
• The Church believes that God is the sole giver of life, and therefore, only He can take it away. They do not accept that people have the right to die. Catholics care about quality of life and encourage the use of palliative care to make life comfortable for those who are suffering. Pope Francis stated in a recent interview that Euthanasia is always wrong.
• The Catholic Church believes Euthanasia and assisted suicide are always wrong
• Is there a right to die?
• Humanists
• Other Christian beliefs
• Palliative care and Catholics

  Palliative care aims to reduce pain and allow individuals to retain dignity and quality of life. The Catholic Church supports palliative care as it respects individuals until natural death. Some pain-relieving drugs may hasten death, which some object to. Pope John Paul II's document Evangelium Vitae states that palliative care allows people to reject painful treatments, maintain dignity, and some quality of life.
• Sanctity of life and quality of life


  The belief in the sanctity of life asserts that life is sacred as it originates from God, and only He has the right to end life, hence there is no "right to die". Quality of life refers to an individual's wellbeing and the extent to which life is pleasurable and meaningful. While some argue that individuals with severe disabilities or terminal illnesses should have the right to die due to low quality of life, Catholics believe that only God can end life and do not accept the concept of a "right to die". They prioritize quality of life and advocate for palliative care to ensure comfort for those who are suffering.
• The Church teaches that deliberate killing, such as euthanasia or assisted suicide, violates the 10 commandments "do not kill". Catholics believe in the sanctity of life and that life is a precious gift from God, so only He can give and take life. They believe there are always alternative options such as palliative care. The Catholic tradition also teaches that individuals can learn and develop from suffering, growing in strength and faith.
• Explanation of why the Church believes Euthanasia and assisted suicide are always wrong:
• Humanists prioritize quality of life and believe it is an individual's decision to determine if their life is bearable. Rejecting the concept of a sacred life, they do not believe in God.
• Liberal Christians view Euthanasia and ending suffering as acts of love and kindness, following Jesus' teachings of loving one's neighbor and the golden rule. They believe that individuals should be able to end their suffering if they feel they have no quality of life, using their God-given free will with the help of others.
• Humanists

  • Do not reject palliative care but believe the law should support assisted dying as an alternative
  • Dignitas is a clinic in Switzerland allowing assisted suicide legally, believed to give back dignity and control over death
• Humanists


  Regard quality of life as the most important thing, believe in individual's decision on life's bearability, reject the idea of life being sacred, support individual's choice in ending life
• Quality of life argument: Numerous people have lived valuable lives despite difficult circumstances
• Catholic belief in bodily resurrection: Understanding the distinction between earthly bodies and spiritual bodies
• Catholic belief about life after death
• St Paul's belief in the transformation of humans into a heavenly form
• Early Christians believed in bodily resurrection and eternal life with God
• Resurrection defined as the raising of the body to life again after death
• CCC 2280: '“We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of”'