ELIZABETHAN BELIEFS ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH BY MAHVEEN, REHANA, ALAN AND ORTENZ

Catholic beliefs in hell is that it is the state of those who reject god. It is said for catholic Christians that ‘hell is the ultimate consequence of sin itself’. God is seen as good, benevolent and merciful but a man who chooses to reject his love and forgiveness ends up separating himself for ever from a joyful communion with him in heaven. Furthermore, Protestants believe that there is an eternal Hell where non-believers will spend eternity. Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Almost everyone in England in Shakespeare’s day was Christian Almost everyone in England in Shakespeare’s day was Christian. Everyone would go to church on a Sunday, or even more often. Catholics beliefs in heaven is that Heaven is Fullness of Communion with God. The main belief is that when this world has passed, those who welcomed God into their lives and have sincerely opened themselves to his love, even if it may simply be at the moment of death, will enter heaven. Furthermore, to Protestants heaven is a place where Christians will connect with and adore God. It is seen as the final destination, they believe that ‘they will not serve to get one into Heaven’.

Catholics beliefs in purgatory is that before we enter into full communion with God, every trace of sin within us must be eliminated and every imperfection in our soul must be corrected, without this the soul cannot be at rest. They express the belief that you cannot approach God without undergoing some kind of purification. However, for protestants there is no purgatory. Protestants did not believe in the existence of Purgatory, but they did concede that ghosts existed. However, they believed that these ghostly apparitions were demons, sent from Hell to seduce people into performing crimes or unholy acts.   BIBLE VERSE Matthew 5:26   Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

During the Elizabethan times, these traditional values and beliefs were very important, a lot of families tried to continue culture and teach their children how important religion and how important it is to be close to God. However, after King Henry created the Church of England denomination, this was a lot harder as there were more than one beliefs and different ideas and interpretations. It seems that the beliefs in hell and heaven are more or less the same, however the belief in purgatory differs. They worship the same God, nevertheless the principles of their faith are different. Catholicism and Protestantism have separate views on the meaning and the authority of the Bible. Catholics, do not base their beliefs on the Bible alone, they base their beliefs with the Holy Scripture and they are additionally bounded by the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. However, Protestants have a different view on the nature of the church, Protestants have beliefs based on the Bible and believe that you should pray directly to God.