Heaven and Hell

Heaven is where God lives and is a place of eternal happiness. Hell is where the devil lives, and is a place of eternal punishment.

Last Judgement

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory...he will sit on his glorious throne. All nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” [Matthew 25: 31-33 NIV]
- This belief is very similar to the Muslim belief, where their lives are weighed in a balance of good and evil.
- In Islam, those who have done more good are welcomed into paradise (Jannah) but those with a balance of evil in their lives are punished in hell (Jahannam).

Depictions

There have been many attempts to describe what heaven and hell are actually like, using images from life on earth, such as pain and fire experienced in hell.
The certain Christian belief is that in heaven a person is with God, but in hell, they are separated from God.

Heaven

Heaven is mentioned in the Bible, but there are no clear descriptions of what it is like.
- Some try to describe heaven in terms of the physical pleasures they enjoy on earth.
- Others understand it is as a way their souls can be united with God.

Hell

Belief in hell can sometimes also be unclear, as it is mentioned rarely in the Bible.
- “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into a blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [Matthew 13:49-50 NIV]
- It is described by some as a place of punishment, using ideas of physical pain.
- Others interpret it as a permanent separation from God.

1Buddhism

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

4Islam

5Judaism

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