Heaven In The Later Middle Ages

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HEAVEN – CHOOSE ONE OF THE AFTER DEATH SITUATIONS (HEAVEN) AND ANALYSE WHETHER IT WAS PERCEIVED AS A PLACE OR A STATE DURING THE LATER MIDDLE AGES.
The period between 1300 and 1500 has been classified as the later Middle Ages, with Heaven finding a significant place in the minds of society at the time. Arguments and critics have surrounding the issue of Heaven as a state or a place, with the perceptions during the later Middle Ages forming a significant time period in the debate. However, arguably, heaven in the later Middle Ages was more regarding as a place within the perception of individuals, with elements of tangible, locational nature evident in much of the literature surrounding the debate.

It has been highlighted throughout the later …show more content…

Much literature also demonstrates perception of heaven as an ‘Edenic Garden’ much like the garden in which Adam and Eve were located in the book of Genesis. Heaven was frequently depicted in the terms of a garden during the later Middle Ages, with much imagery at the time illustrating heaven through flowery imagery and fragrant smells. By placing heaven in perceivable terms, it highlighted to the societies of the later Middle Ages the locational elements of heaven, not only giving individuals a perceived idea of heaven but also highlighting it as a realistic goal in the minds of the society. This idea was further emphasised through the writings of the time, with writings including the Ars Moriendi, recalling in the prayer for death the “joys of Paradise” surrounding heaven. Through this prayer, the images of heaven as a paradise a demonstrated, helping highlight heaven as having a locational sense attached to it. However it does illustrate another significant argument surrounding heaven, illustrating the idea that heaven was also a state of mind in which the individuals of the later Middle Ages accepted. J.B. Russell argues this idea of heaven in the sense of an edenic garden contributing more to the ideas of heaven being more of a state of mind, describing heaven as a concept of the Middle Ages society in …show more content…

These included the maps and cathedral images as well as folklore, poems and visions & . These apocalyptic visions highlight a significant element in understanding heaven as a place. These visions usually highlighted a tangible element including that of “a wind, a bird, an angel, or a chariot of fire” in which moves towards heaven . Heaven is further illustrated in the portrayal of Christ who is described as life, grace and heaven .
The relationship between place and state are further merged with Chidester demonstrating the symbolic nature of heaven as both eternal – timelessness – and earthly – time bound – further illustrating the issue of distinguishing between heaven as a state and

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