1.1.6 Life after Death Flashcards
What is a soul?
The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone to God. The soul is often regarded as nonphysical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.
What do Christians believe regarding life after death? (4)
- Belief in life after death is a central Christian belief; after death Christians hope that they will have eternal life with God.
- Throughout life Christians aim to achieve salvation through the way they live and, for some, through participating in sacraments. * They believe that after death there will be a day of judgement when they will be judged on how they lived and treated others.
- This will decide what happens next, although Christians do not all agree on the details of life after death
What do Dualist Christians believe regarding the body and the soul? (5)
- They believe that the body and soul are two separate parts.
- The soul resides within the body but is not part of the body, as such it can survive the death of the physical part of us.
- According to this believe the soul is eternal.
- Christians who believe this might believe that the afterlife is spiritual – that a physical body is not needed; after death it is the soul only that is united with God.
- Other Christians might believe that the soul will be reunited with the earthly body at the end of time when all physical bodies will be resurrected.
What do Non-Dualist Christians believe regarding the body and the soul? (4)
- They believe that the body and soul form a whole and cannot be separated; when the physical body dies the soul will temporarily cease to be.
- God will resurrect the soul and body together.
- Evidence for ‘bodily resurrection’ is the resurrection of Jesus; Biblical accounts of the resurrection of Jesus suggest that it was a physical resurrection – his body was missing from the tomb and on one occasion Jesus showed the wounds of his crucifixion to the disciples to prove that it was
him. - In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul suggests that after death the person will be raised as a ‘spiritual body’; this is not the same as spiritual existence without a body (existence as a disembodied soul).
What do Christians believe about the soul? (3)
- Christians believe that the soul is created by God at the moment of conception; it is the “self”, what makes you, you – it forms our personality and individuality.
- Each soul is unique and is divinely created.
- Christians believe that it is the soul that connects each person to God; during their life Christians work towards salvation which is to save the soul from sin in preparation for judgement after death.
What does 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 say (about the soul - non-dualist? How do some Christians interpret this passage?
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory, it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
* Some Christians interpret this passage to say that the spiritual body will be the same as the earthly body but perfected or made better – It will be glorified; illness and pain will no longer exist.
What is judgement day?
Judgement day is a time in the future when human existence on the earth will cease and God will decide who will be rewarded and punished. At this time Jesus will return to earth to judge people on how they have lived; this is known as the ‘Parousia.’
What does the Bible teach people they will be judged on? (2)
- Their belief in Jesus and how they have responded to his teaching.
- How they have treated others. The Parables of the Sheep and the Goats and the Rich Man and Lazarus teach that the way you treat others is important – those who fulfil the Law of Love, are concerned about the suffering of others, and help those in need, will be rewarded. Good works are evidence of faith – they follow the teachings and example of Jesus.
What does John 11:24-26 say - relates to Jesus being important part of Judgement?
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. ’
What do Christians believe about heaven?
- All Christians believe heaven is a place of reward in Gods presence.
- There are few descriptions of heaven in the Bible; most Christians believe these passages are symbolic and depict a state of existence beyond human knowledge and imagination, a state of serenity and love.
- Some Christians believe that heaven is a physical place, others believe it is spiritual.
What does 1 Corinthians 2:9 say about heaven?
“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’”
What do Christians believe about hell? (2)
- Hell is believed to be a place of punishment where those who have rejected God and have failed to treat others well will be separated from God.
- The belief is based on passages in the Bible which refer to punishment in the next life and on the belief that God is just and will not allow wrongdoing to go unpunished.
What does Revelations 20:15 say about hell?
“and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
What did many Christians believe hell was traditionally?
Traditionally many Christians believed that hell was a physical place of fire where people suffered eternal pain – some Christians (for example literalist Christians) still believe this today.
Why do many christians disagree with traditional beliefs about hell?
Many Christians disagree and argue that this does not reflect God’s loving, forgiving and just nature – it can never be just or loving to punish somebody for eternity when an earthly life of wrongdoing is short in comparison.
What do many christians believe about the symbolic nature of fire in hell?
Fire was traditionally used to cleanse and purify, it burnt away disease and infection, as such many Christians believe that hell is a place of purification or correction. It is not a place of physical torture but is a state of separation from God.
Why do some Christians believe hell is temporary - with Biblical quote?
- If Hell is a place of purification it follows that Hell must be temporary – after the individual is purified or ‘corrected’ their separation from God ends.
- This believe can be supported by Revelations 21:27;
“But nothing unclean shall enter [heaven]”
What is another idea about judgement - involving fire and bright lights (not purification)?
Another idea is that at the judgement everything a person has done and all that they are is revealed to them, some will not be able to stand this revelation. The presence of God’s Holy light will be a burning fire to them, whist for others it will be a joy.
What are the 5 (s)kandhas?
- Physical form
- Sensation
- Perception
- Mental formations or response
- Consciousness
Do Buddhists believe in a soul?
The self, or consciousness, is constantly changed by karma (pratityasamutpada) – there is no ‘soul’ which is reborn into a new body.
What do Buddhists believe about rebirth? (2)
- The self, or consciousness, moves from lifetime to lifetime - this is the cycle of samsara; death is a stage in the cycle, it is not an end.
- The self, or consciousness, which is reborn arises out of the previous life and is changed by karma.
What are 2 analogies that illustrate Buddhist beliefs about there being no permanent self?
- It is like the seed that becomes the tree – the tree is different to the seed but has developed out of the seed and as such the essential ingredients are the same.
- It is like milk that becomes butter – butter is different to milk but it comes out of milk and as such has the same essential ingredients.
What do Buddhists believe about ‘judgement’ - karma? (4)
- Karma is not a punishment - Buddhists do not believe in a creator God who judges individuals on their moral actions; all actions have proportionate consequences which will be experienced by the individual in this life or the next.
- Our lives at this moment are the effect of our actions in the past.
- All actions have effects; Positive actions = positive effects, negative actions = negative effects.
- Your life is a collection of things waiting to happen – things which you have caused to happen through your actions.
Is a person different when they have been reborn - Buddhism?
When a ‘person’ is reborn they are not the same person who previously existed because they have been changed by their karma.
