A few mind bending questions

[inchoate]

Hi All

I have a few questions which probably wont be able to be answered simply due to the fact that we don't quite know. But I'm hoping to get some insight and thoughts into the matter.

1) Where do all the non Christians go when they die. I'm talking about People who don't believe in god, have different faiths etc. All good people none that less e.g good heart strong values etc but simply don't share the same view as us? What will happen to these people, will we ever seem them if they are not in heaven?

2) I understand that we go through a purification state before we enter heaven and only those that have gone through this state will be allowed in. Would we be allowed to leave at will ( I suspect this could be tricky due to the whole purification thing) I know it sounds crazy but I imagine God has created many realms. The curious nature that man has now, will it still apply us there. ?

3) People always talk about family members who have died and say things like "we will see them again" I'm curious to know what kind of relationship will we have with our family in particular Parents and siblings. Will my parents still have that bond between each other in heaven. What will the connection between them and me be, or my sister?

Honestly it does my head in knowing that most of our questions will only be answered later on. It also saddens me sometimes when thinking about it.

Anyway what's everyone's spin on it? let me know what you guys think

 

[CrystalBrooke]

1. in my opinion if you're not a Christian the simple fact is that you go to hell.
2. i dont really know
3. i think we'll have the same bonds...i think that we'll be closer and happier tho bc we're in heaven.

 

[FullyMT]

1) Where do all the non Christians go when they die. I'm talking about People who don't believe in god, have different faiths etc. All good people none that less e.g good heart strong values etc but simply don't share the same view as us? What will happen to these people, will we ever seem them if they are not in heaven?

There's something called "Invincible Ignorance". God will judge everyone according to what they knew and what graces they have been given by God. We are not sure WHO is going to hell, so we must pray for all those who did not know Christ in this life, that God will have mercy on their souls and give them everlasting life.

2) I understand that we go through a purification state before we enter heaven and only those that have gone through this state will be allowed in. Would we be allowed to leave at will ( I suspect this could be tricky due to the whole purification thing) I know it sounds crazy but I imagine God has created many realms. The curious nature that man has now, will it still apply us there. ?

You would not want to leave the state of purgation once you are in it because you know you will soon (or rather "eventually", even though time doesn't entirely work after death) be with God in Heaven. God would send you to Hell if He knew you did not want to be with Him. God will fulfill all your longings when you come to Him.

3) People always talk about family members who have died and say things like "we will see them again" I'm curious to know what kind of relationship will we have with our family in particular Parents and siblings. Will my parents still have that bond between each other in heaven. What will the connection between them and me be, or my sister?

There is no marriage in heaven, and we will all be closely connected through our full communion with God. We will be able to see those we know and love who are in heaven with us, as we will with all those we didn't know in this life.
It seems that you have a lot of curiosity of what will happen to somebody AFTER death, and the Church can't tell anybody with a complete explanation. You have to be dead to find out! My best advice to you is to trust in God, do His will on this earth, and not worry about what the next life will be life.

 

[Carrye]

1) Where do all the non Christians go when they die. I'm talking about People who don't believe in god, have different faiths etc. All good people none that less e.g good heart strong values etc but simply don't share the same view as us? What will happen to these people, will we ever seem them if they are not in heaven?

We entrust every soul to the great mercy of God.

What about Protestants?
CCC1271 Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church: "For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church. Justified by faith in Baptism, [they] are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church." "Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn."What about those people who haven't heard the Gospel?Lumen Gentium 16: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience -- those too may achieve eternal salvation.

2) I understand that we go through a purification state before we enter heaven and only those that have gone through this state will be allowed in. Would we be allowed to leave at will ( I suspect this could be tricky due to the whole purification thing) I know it sounds crazy but I imagine God has created many realms. The curious nature that man has now, will it still apply us there. ?

On Purgatory - Catechism.
On Purgatory - Catholic Encyclopedia.

No, we won't be able to leave at will. That would, as you said, defeat the purpose of purging.

By "curious nature" do you mean, man's innate desire for knowledge? If so, yes. But that capacity will be actualized (fulfilled) by the Beatific Vision.

3) People always talk about family members who have died and say things like "we will see them again" I'm curious to know what kind of relationship will we have with our family in particular Parents and siblings. Will my parents still have that bond between each other in heaven. What will the connection between them and me be, or my sister?

The short answer is that we don't really know.

 

[inchoate]

It seems that you have a lot of curiosity of what will happen to somebody AFTER death

Yeah I know too much I think :-( my torment is trying to understand things which I'm not read to understand. What's that saying "patience is a virtue "

By "curious nature" do you mean, man's innate desire for knowledge? If so, yes. But that capacity will be actualized (fulfilled) by the Beatific Vision.

Exactly!! thanks for the link.

thanks for the replies everyone its helped a lot and put a few things into perspective.

 

[Benedicta00]

1) Where do all the non Christians go when they die. I'm talking about People who don't believe in god, have different faiths etc. All good people none that less e.g good heart strong values etc but simply don't share the same view as us? What will happen to these people, will we ever seem them if they are not in heaven?

We don't know, only God can judge them. They are either in heaven, hell, or purgatory.

2) I understand that we go through a purification state before we enter heaven and only those that have gone through this state will be allowed in. Would we be allowed to leave at will ( I suspect this could be tricky due to the whole purification thing) I know it sounds crazy but I imagine God has created many realms. The curious nature that man has now, will it still apply us there. ?

Unto death we will not have a change of heart the same way the angles can not have a change of heart.

3) People always talk about family members who have died and say things like "we will see them again" I'm curious to know what kind of relationship will we have with our family in particular Parents and siblings. Will my parents still have that bond between each other in heaven. What will the connection between them and me be, or my sister?

We will be perfected in heaven and we will all abide in a perfect divine love, not a human imperfect love we have experienced here. As Jesus said to love one another the way he loves us, this is how our relationships will be.

 

[RhetorTheo]

How do we know that after death there is only Heaven, Hell and purgatory? Is there a defined teaching on this?