How did the Church use the Afterlife?
History: KS3, topic 8.1.5
How Did the Church Use the Afterlife to Control People?
All medieval Europeans were Catholic Christians and their aim was to enter Heaven in the afterlife and avoid being sent to Hell. The Church was the gatekeeper of Heaven, and so controlled the lives of those who wanted to reach it.
Doing as the Church said
- The Church could persuade people to live good, Christian lives by promoting the splendour of Heaven and the joy of salvation in Jesus.
- In the weekly church services, priests spoke about the importance of prayer, charity and obedience to the Church.
- If people wanted to enter Heaven and live an eternal life with God, they needed to do exactly as the Church said.
The threat of Hell
- The Church could also control people with the threat of Hell.
- Hell was a place of everlasting pain and suffering, and separation from God, which nobody wanted to end up in.
- Many medieval churches used Doom Paintings to show exactly how bad it would be; in an age where few people could write, images were the easiest way to get the message across.
Doom Paintings
- For example, there is a Doom Painting is in a church in Chaldon in Surrey which is one of the few medieval examples to survive.
- At the top, you see Heaven, with angels and saints welcoming souls. Below, you see the seven deadly sins being punished by large demons.
- This would have been a terrifying sight every Sunday, and would have persuaded the congregation to do as the Church dictated!
Purgatory
- In Catholicism, there is a place between Heaven and Hell called Purgatory.
- This was believed to be like a waiting room, where your soul had to pay off its smaller sins before entering Heaven.
- You would be helped along if your relatives prayed for your soul after you died, or if you had left money to the Church for monks to pray for you.
Reducing time in purgatory
- It was possible to reduce your time in purgatory while you were still alive.
- You could go to confession and admit your sins to a priest who would give you a punishment so that you could atone for your sin before you died.
- For example, reciting extra prayers or donating money to the Church.
Indulgences
- The Church also sold indulgences, which were special documents from the Pope forgiving you of your sins.
- However, there were many accusations of their forged indulgences, and corruption, as it was seen the rich could buy their way into Heaven.
Church's influence and profit
- The Church's ability to reduce your time in purgatory meant that they could again influence your life and behaviour, as well as profit for themselves.
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