christianity section 4

• Heaven


  A state of being united with God and a realm of divine perfection
• Heaven


  • Where the souls of the righteous go in the afterlife
  • A state/condition of existence rather than a physical place
  • Some think it happens on earth when Christians experience the Kingdom of God
• Hell


  Where sinners who have not turned to Christ or repented will be condemned to eternity and/or separation from God
• Traditional ideas about hell can be very grim and frightening, for example, that it is a place of eternal torment
• Judgement


  God judges everyone after they die, this determines the life after death they will experience
• Purgatory


  • A third state for Roman Catholic Christians, a place/time of purification, after which souls will be able to enter heaven
• Some believe there will be an opportunity to repent after death, and that only a few who don't wish to have eternal life with God will be annihilated rather than sent to hell
• Some Christians believe that ultimately because of God's mercy all will be welcomed into heaven
• The story of the Sheep and the Goats

  Shows a King separating people into groups according to how they treated others
• Some Christians believe that this shows that on Judgement day, God will be more concerned with how people have lived than whether they were religious, or what they believed
• It's scary to think that God is watching all the time


  This could take enjoyment out of life and means people can live in fear about what might happen after death
• In this life, it can be comforting to know that Jesus loved everyone, and told his followers that they shouldn't judge others


  This can help people to feel valued and welcome in the Kingdom of God
• After death, God is the judge, and because he is all-knowing and all-good they can be reassured that judgement will be fair
• Some Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus paid the price for the sin of every single man and woman in history. This means that all can be welcomed into God's presence
• For bereaved Christians


  It could be comforting to think their loved one will be rewarded after death
• The prospect of heaven after death can be enormously comforting as Christians think of it as a place without pain or sadness or death
• Worship


  Going to church shows you are associating yourself with other Christians/ Christianity. It is a sign to others that your faith is real
• Worship


  • Showing love for God and each other within a Christian community is a source of encouragement
  • During formal worship with others there are opportunities to strengthen your faith, e.g. in, confession of sins, prayers and hymns
  • Prayer may be alone and have a personal focus, or may be shared with other Christians within a church
  • Christians can praise God through the singing of hymns
  • They remember The Last Supper and the sacrifice of Jesus by taking part in the Eucharist
• St Paul urged fellow believers not to give up meeting together. The church is the people that make it up, so worshipping together is vital
• Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This shows he intended Christians to meet together to worship
• Worship is about your personal relationship with God – not about others. Many very spiritual Christians have lived solitary lives in meditation and prayer
• The Kingdom of God happens when people show love to those outside the community of faith (add examples of ways in which Christians can love today's "outcasts"). This is true "spiritual worship"
• The story of the Good Samaritan suggests the true sign of real faith is love for others who are struggling
• Some find themselves unable to meet with others for worship due to isolation or ill health. They are no less real Christians, and no less able to worship God