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

. , ?

• 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

Life After DeathChristian Beliefs

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

Christian Teachings about Life after Death

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

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.

Do beliefs about LAD affect the way Christians live their lives?Create the table as below, and fill it in using the bubbles.

1. Only get to heaven will try to follow Jesus through Church & bible teachingsif believe in Jesus And follow his teaching.

Belief How it affects the way Catholics live

2. Parable of Sheep and Goats: only those who

have done good to others will be given heaven at the Last

Judgement

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)

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 Catholicsbelieve 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 heavenHeaven = 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.