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Different interpretations of heaven, hell + purgatory - Coggle Diagram
Different interpretations of heaven, hell + purgatory
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...as physical
In history, most have understood it as a physical reality
At this time, pain + illness etc were much worse - much more aware of reality of death, more aware of physical suffering
Church thought that focusing on suffering of sinners after death, they would deter people from committing individual sins - especially important after Black Death (Church taught that it was a punishment from God for sin + was essential for sinners to repent + avoid sinning in future)
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Doom paintings in most churches to remind people they were under judgement - hell section at bottom right to reflect that 'goats' were sent to Christ's left)
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Catholic Church's teaching on 'indulgences', gave sinners chance to obtain some virtue of risen saints: pilgrimages, visiting + touching relics, making donations to Church
...as spiritual
Modern thought, concept of physical resurrection not as popular
Concepts of heaven, hell + purgatory must be changed to fit idea that spiritually resurrected souls may have eternal life with God, or eternal torment
Resurrection of dead = spiritual reality, so is final judgement, purgatory = spiritual purging
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For some believers in spiritual judgement, ideas of individual judgement = conflated
For God, time has no meaning, so no difference between when person dies + end of time. So, only 1 spiritual judgement at time of death + final destination is decided at that time
Having left world + physical bodies, afterlife starts with judgement, then eternity in heaven or hell. Idea of purgatory loses force in this world view, as time for cleansing would depend on time having meaning in eternity
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