topic, and prior to Christ…
If not, why? That doesn’t seem fair…
If so, what was different?
And for every other people unaware of a monotheistic God, what happens to them in the afterlife? Did everyone go to hell or purgatory? Is there some truth to what happens to people as described in their religions? (ie. a unique afterlife according to their beliefs?)
tyia
Well, for one, before Jesus, no one went to heaven except a certain few (for example: Elijah). Everyone else went to the abode of the dead (Hades, sometimes called hell). There were two sections of Hades, one for the people who were out of God’s favor, and those who were in God’s favor called the Bosom of Abraham where they would be protected until the coming of the Messiah who would preach to them and bring those who would believe into heaven.
Two, the Israelites were the chosen people of God, so they would be the ones God revealed himself to, and the ones who would be the ones to tell others about the one true God. They were chosen with a specific purpose in God’s plan for salvation.
Three, Catholic teaching tells us that it is not for us to judge whether someone goes to heaven or hell and that through God’s grace, mercy, justice, and love it is possible that those who are not Christian could (key word, could) get into heaven (after being purified, of course) by participating in God’s will.
Four, Purgatory is a process of purification for those in God’s grace, bound for heaven, but whose spirit is still not yet clean. It is not a place separate from heaven or hell.
