Do you think death is a comma, a full stop, or a question mark?

. , ?

Life After Death Christian Beliefs

• • • To describe what Catholics believe about life after death and explain this belief from the resurrection of Jesus To be able to give evidence that support this belief To

explain

how beliefs about life after death affect the lives of Christians

Christian Teachings about Life after Death

• Complete the table: either – write out the missing bible quote – Or give the quote a heading – Or explain what it means

What do Christians believe about LAD ?

remember BJC !!

• • • BIBLE quotes (use your table): – What heaven is like – the body after death – importance of belief in Jesus – who will be admitted to heaven (sheep and goats) JESUS’ resurrection: CHURCH Teaching (Apostle’s Creed) – Resurrection of the body and eternal life – The immortality of the soul

Do beliefs about LAD affect the way Christians live their lives?

Create the table as below, and fill it in using the bubbles. Belief How it affects the way Catholics live 1 . Only get to heaven if believe in Jesus And follow his teaching.

2.

Parable of Sheep and Goats: only those who have done good to others will be given heaven at the Last Judgement

will try to follow Jesus through Church & bible teachings 3. Sin prevents people from living with God (=heaven), so Catholics will try to live a life free of sin (follow the bible and church teachings, seek forgiveness reconciliation) 5. Heaven means eternal life with God, so Catholics will try to know God on earth through prayer, reading the bible, using the sacraments, following Church teachings.

4. Belief in LAD gives meaning to life, and the reasons for which you do things (live for love, avoid sin). This affects the way you live.

Heaven

, Hell or

Purgatory ?

Only

Catholics

believe

Purgatory

exists as a

third

possibility for the soul after death. The prayers of the saints and of the Church on earth can help these souls be purified and reach heaven

Heaven =

blissful union with God. If you die in grace.

Hell =

perpetual state of self torment (a self-chosen rejection of God/ preference of evil)

Purgatory =

a state of purification. The soul’s perception of God’s love and awareness of having gone against this love (its own past wrongdoing) is painful to the soul, and purifies it from sin.

Exam Question

Choose one question to answer (8 marks) (both questions are asking how Christians understand heaven. Remember to mention purgatory: only Catholics believe in it) • What do Catholics believe about life after death?

• or Describe some different Christian beliefs about life after death.

Orthodox/ Protestants: The moral progress of the soul, either for better or for worse, ends at the very moment of the separation of the body and soul; There is no way of repentance, no way of escape, no reincarnation and no help from the outside world. Its place is decided forever by its Creator and judge.