Funerals

Question 1

Beliefs about death and afterlife

Answer 1

• “I am the resurrection and the life. THe one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:17-21)
• “There is a resurrection from the dead, as spiritual bodies”
  John 11:25-26
• Humans have a soul, the spiritual part of being
• There is eternal life after death, received through faith
• There is a heaven, entry to which is dependent on belief in Jesus and treatment of others
• There will be a judgement which will determine a soul’s future
• There is a hell - the opposite of heaven - a place of separation from God

Question 2

Importance

Answer 2

• To remember a person’s life + achievements
• Give people a chance to grieve + help those left behind to understand they have died
• Mark transition into afterlife
• Celebrate that they will be resurrected
• To mark the end of a person’s physical existence
• Pray for the person’s soul
• Come together as a community to support each other

Question 3

Features

Answer 3

• Prayers are said for the dying person and they can ask God for forgiveness
  →Shows importance of establishing a relatinoship with God through asking for forgiveness
• Roman Catholics have the Last Rites in whcih the priest gives Holy Communion
  →Catholic - Jesus is present in the wine transubstantiation
  →Jesus himself is there - symbolises his sacrifice
  →Importance of the sacraments + belief in forgiveness of sins through Christ
• In the funeral service the words “I am the resurrection and the life” are said
  →His words
  →Belief in eternal life, the importance of Jesus’ teachings
  →Those who believe can spend eternity with God
• Candles may be lit for a funeral in church
  →Jesus’ prescence symbolised - he is the light “the light of the world:
  →Guides a passage to heaven
• Some Christians (Catholic) consider it important to be buried rather than cremated
  →Demonstrates belief in physical resurrection @ Judgement Day - they need their bodies to physically resurrect
  →Bones of the dead will reform at final judgement

Question 4

6 Marker - explain how a funeral shows Christian beliefs about life after death

Answer 4

• Funeral service, the words… are said
  →This shows the Chrsitian belief that those who believe in Jesus and follow his teachings will be resurrected and spend eternity with God
• Candles
  →This reflects the belief that Jesus is the ‘light of the world’, guiding the person’s passage to heaven
• Buried over cremated - Catholic
  →This demonstrates some Christian’s belief that they will be physically resurrected on the Day of Judgement