However, different denominations of Christianity interpret Jesus’ death differently and many have varied views of what will happen to us when we die.
Firstly, denominations of Christianity disagree on whether the after life will be a physical, or if it is their soul that lives on. Protestants for example feel, as Michael Keane wrote in ‘Religion in Life and Society’, that they “stay in the Earth and then they are judged.” Because of this, some Christians believe cremation is wrong, as it destroys the body and therefore cannot be resurrected and reunited with their souls. These types of Christian believe this because in the creed it says “I believe the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” Scientists would be cynical of this view on death and what comes next. A scientist would argue there is no evidence or proof of any of the above happening and that it is impossible for a human to come back to life after it has died, especially due to wasting and decomposing of the body.
Yet these scientists would probably agree with other Christians, such as Roman Catholics. They believe that the body is unimportant and is merely a vessel for our life on Earth. This belief is called ‘immortality of the soul’. They think that it is their soul that is judged and life in heaven will be a spiritual one, not a corporeal one.
There are also various Christian opinions on what heaven and hell are. Some feel that they are real places where the soul is either rewarded or punished. On the other hand, some Christians think Heaven is a place where they are close to God and can feel love and happiness. Hell is the opposite to this; a place of being deprived of seeing God and being happy. Roman Catholics also have another view on what will happen. They believe that before going to heaven, a majority of peoples souls on Earth are not yet holy enough to be with God, and that these souls will go to place called Purgatory. Purgatory is a place in between Heaven and Earth, where souls can be purified until the person is sinless enough to go to heaven.
Based on our actions on Earth and the sins we have committed, Christians believe that when they die they will be judged. They have faith that as long as you believe in Christ, the lord, and live life according to the bible, you soul will be saved. ‘Life Issues – A Christian Perspective’ by Chris Wight claims “suffering, injustice and sin are against God’s promise and therefore God will bring them to an end.” This is why Christians believe in life after death.
