Final answer:
In the Middle Ages, most people saw life as a doorway to either heaven or hell. The dominant religion of the time, Christianity, taught that those who followed the teachings of Jesus and lived righteous lives would ascend to heaven after death, while those who committed sins and rejected God would be condemned to hell.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Middle Ages, most people saw life as a doorway to either heaven or hell. The dominant religion of the time, Christianity, taught that those who followed the teachings of Jesus and lived righteous lives would ascend to heaven after death, while those who committed sins and rejected God would be condemned to hell. This belief in the afterlife heavily influenced people's behavior and shaped their worldview.
The sacraments and ceremonies of the Church played a crucial role in medieval life and were believed to offer spiritual salvation. People attended regular church services, confessed their sins to priests, and received absolution. They believed that by following these religious practices, they could secure a place in heaven. Conversely, failing to follow the teachings of the Church was seen as a pathway to dam-nation.
Overall, the concept of an afterlife and the moral expectations set by the Church deeply influenced how people perceived the meaning and purpose of life in the Middle Ages.