unit 5 adavanced information

Question 1

2018 Paper

7(a) Discuss what one world religion teaches about final judgement. [5]

Answer 1

What do Christians believe about the last Judgement?
The Christian faith teaches that after death, individuals will be taken into the presence of God and they will be judged for the deeds they have done or failed to do during their lifetime. Some Christians believe that this judgement will happen when they die.

Question 2

(b) Explain non-religious teaching about the soul. [5]

Answer 2

NON-RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF THE SOUL AND AFTERLIFE
Secular belief in a soul and an afterlife
David Hume ………Athiests such as David Hume argue that there is no scientific or empirical evidence (knowledge from experience) for the existence of a soul or for life after death. They believe that, as with all other life forms, there is absolutely no possibility of any life beyond clinical death for humans.
Plato argues that the soul is of such and indestructible nature that not even evil can destroy the soul, for the soul, in its very essence, is immortal, and, hence, indestructible. Plato also maintains that souls are fixed, so that the number always remains the same; therefore, the soul must be immortal by nature.

Question 3

(c) “It is impossible to accept any ideas of life after death.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer showing that you have considered different points of view. [10]

Answer 3

Answers may include:
Agree:
• Atheism rejects any possibility of life beyond clinical death.
• There is no empirical evidence for the existence of a soul nor for life
after death.
• Humanity invents the notion of life after death because humanity fears
death and the unknown.
• The idea of life after death is a logical contradiction, a misuse of
language.
On the other hand:
• Many religions support the idea of life after death.
• For theism there is supporting evidence for life after death including the
evidence found in sacred texts.
• Near death experiences and past life memories may provide some
support for a belief after death.
• Materialists reject the idea of any supernatural existence.
Accept valid alternatives
(AO2)

Question 4

2019 Paper

1(a)(i) What is meant by the term heaven? [1]

Answer 4

• A place/state where one encounters the Divine.
• A place of reward and bliss.

Question 5

(ii) What is meant by the term hell? [1]

Answer 5

Answers may include:
* A place/state where one is excluded from God.
* A place of punishment and pain.

Question 6

(ii) What is meant by the term hell? [1]

Answer 6

Answers may include:
* A place/state where one is excluded from God.
* A place of punishment and pain.

Question 7

(iv) Name two “proofs” of life after death. [2

Answer 7

• Near-death experiences
• Past lives

Question 8

(b) Explain what one world religion teaches about reincarnation. [5]

Answer 8

Hinduism
Belief in reincarnation
The Hindu idea of birth, death and rebirth is a key aspect of Hindu belief in creation and it also applies
to individuals as well as the universe. So, for Hindus, humans are born, grow old, the physical body dies
and the soul lives on. The soul (atman meaning eternal self) is reborn into another being which is called
reincarnation and the cycle begins again.
Samsara is the word used by Hindus to refer to the process of reincarnation or the ‘wandering’ of the soul
from one body to another. Therefore, for Hindus the soul is eternal and Hindus are supporters of the dualist
philosophy.
The Bhagavad Gita states:
As a person casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so does the atman cast off worn bodies and
enter new ones.
The type of rebirth a soul has depends on the good or bad karma built up in the previous life. For example,
some Hindus believe that humans may be reborn in animal form if an atman has repeatedly failed to learn
lessons in human form. However, the atman can work off some karmic debt and eventually earns another
chance to act as a responsible human.
Living a good life through doing good deeds will create a positive effect and will eventually lead to moksha
which is the ultimate goal for Hindus. Moksha marks the end of the death and rebirth cycle when the soul
returns to Brahman. Some Hindu scriptures describe moksha as the atman becoming absorbed within
Brahman, from where each atman is said to originate.

Question 9

(c) “The promise of a life after death provides humanity with hope.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer. [5]

Answer 9

Answers may include:
Agree -
* Life after death provides comfort to those who are dying or bereaved that there is a new and better life beyond death.
* The idea of life after death proves god’s power and benevolence.
* The idea of life after death fulfi ls the promises within sacred texts and affirms belief in a deity.
* It encourages humans to feel that good moral choices will be justly rewarded.

On the other hand -
* Atheism rejects the idea of life after death as a false hope.
* Believers may fear the concept of judgement associated with afterlife.
* The afterlife promises both punishment and reward.
* There is no certainty of the existence of any form of life after death.