Philosophy 1 – The End of Life

• In this topic you will be addressing Christian beliefs and teaching about;

• Body and Soul

• Life After Death

• Funeral Rites

Grab a pen and lets start taking notes!

What is the soul?

A part of a human that is not physical

A part of a human that lives on after we have died

A part of a human that allows them to relate to God

Immortality of the soul –

i.e. the soul never dies.

Why do Christians

believe this?

1. Jesus conquered

death and was

resurrected

2. In the Bible Jesus

refers to Moses,

Abraham and Elijah

living in another realm

What is the relationship between the body and the soul?

• The body is a vehicle for the soul.

• When your body dies your soul reunites with God. Many Christians believe the

body and soul are in conflict –

the body wants desires and

pleasures to be fulfilled but

the soul wants to please God

What is the Christian idea about life after death?

• They will become reunited with God

• They will be reunited with loved ones

• The immortal soul carries on its journey

What do Christians believe about Heaven, Hell and Purgatory?

HeavenChristians who have followed Gods path

will go to heaven

Sinners who repent will go here

A place to spend eternity with God

A place where evil and suffering does not exist

HellA place where you

spend an eternity

without God

A place of pain and

suffering

Some think it’s a

place of fire and

brimstone

Others an eternity

with NOTHING

PurgatoryRoman Catholics believe

this is where souls go when

they are not ready for

heaven.

Not heaven, not hell, a

place in-between

The living can pray so they

can reach heaven

What do Christians believe about Salvation, Redemption and Suffering?

Jesus was crucified on Good Friday

A Redeemer where he save others from

damnation

He is seen as Saviour of the World

meaning he saved people from sins

He resurrectedon Easter Sunday

Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to redeem

believers from the original sin – now

people were forgiven by God and allowed to

enter Heaven

What does Christianity say about God as a judge?God as a

creator –

he is

eternal

and was

there at

the start

at the

world

Individuals will be

judged by their

actions, the way they

have lived their life and

their faith.

The Bible states that at the end of life

there are two books – one containing the

deeds people have done in their life, and

another which contain the names of

those who have shown belief in the death

and resurrection of Jesus.

How will people be judged?

The parable of the sheep and goats

Those who have lived good lives = Heaven

Those who have sinned = Hell

Some sheep and Goats

What is the relationship between God the judge, life on earth and the

afterlife?Leading a good life = REWARDS

Therefore during a Christians life they willFollow the 10 CommandmentsHelp OthersFollow the BibleLive morallyAnything which does not ANNOY God – so they can get into heaven

A Christian FUNERAL service reminds people that one day a Christian’s SOUL will be raised up to eternal life with Jesus. This is called RESURRECTION.

Christians, like everyone else, are sad when someone they love dies. But a Christian funeral service teaches that death is not the end. Christians believe in life after death.

A Christian funeral service reminds people that all life is given by God, and that God is also responsible for taking life away.

What are funeral rites?

What happens at a Christian funeral and how do funeral rites reflect

beliefs?1. A reading from the Bible,

which will often reflect

Christian ideas of the

afterlife. E.g. John 11:25-

26‘Jesus said, I am the

resurrection, and I am the

life; he who believes in me,

though he dies, yet he will

live, and whoever believes in

me shall never die’

2. A Psalm is read (Psalm

23, 90, 121 or 130 are

common)

3. Hymns are sung. These will often have been suggested by the deceased or chosen by the family.

4. A eulogy about the deceased will be read. This is a talk by either the vicar or priest o a family relative. The life of the deceased is spoken about and remembered with memories being shared.

5. Prayers

are said for

both the

dead and

for the

living

6. The committal - either

burial or cremation if it is

a burial the following

words are used: ‘We

commit (name of

deceased) body to the

ground, earth to earth,

ashes to ashes, dust to

Features of a Christian funeral:

1. Take place in a Church, where a service is led by a priest or minister.

2. Passages from the Bible are read to offer comfort for the bereaved and provide hope for eternal life.

3. Prayers are said to ask for comfort and to give thanks for the life of the dead person.

4. Friends or family may give a Eulogy to celebrate the dead person’s life.

5. Hymns are sung to praise God and give thanks to Him for all He does.

6. The Committal – either burial or cremation. Traditionally RC’s would only bury, but cremation is now accepted.

CBPEHC: Cold Banana’s Peel Easier in Hot Countries

How do funeral rites aim to support the bereaved?

• Family and Friends can draw comfort

• The life of the deceased can be celebrated

• The bereaved can express their feelings and emotions for the deceased

• There is a sense of closure

funeral