Paper 1: Unit 3 - Afterlife and Funerals in Christianity

What is meant by afterlife?

the belief that one’s existence continues after death (having life after death)

Identify one reason why the concept of the afterlife is important in Christianity

1. It gives union with God
2. It gives reward for commitment to God
3. It gives the Christian faith purpose

Finish the quote from St. Paul “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is…”

“useless and so is your faith.”

When talking to the criminal next to him on the cross, Jesus said “today you will be with me” where?

In paradise

Identify one description of Hell

1. Place of torture and punishment
2. Sad, traumatic place where people weep and gnash teeth
3. A place filled with evil
4. A bottomless pit
5. Being shut out from the presence of God

Where do Catholics say the majority of people will go before they die?

Purgatory

What happens in Purgatory?

Souls are cleansed

Why do souls need to be cleansed in purgatory?

Because nothing unclean can go before God (according to Revelations in the Bible)

For the majority of Christians, what moves on to the afterlife?

The Soul

What is the soul?

Human nature in spiritual form

Who do Christians say gave us our soul?

God

Finish the quote from the Bible “Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth and the breath of life will..”

“go back to God, who gave it to us.”

What is meant by resurrection in Christianity and who is the main demonstration of this?

The action of coming back to life, just as Jesus did, 3 days after his death

What is the name given to the event in which Jesus comes back to judge the living and the dead?

The Day of Judgement

What term refers to the act of healing the damage between God and humans?

Atonement

What event in Christianity marked the point where they were saved from their sins?

Crucifixion of Jesus

Finish the quote from the Bible “I am the resurrection and”

“the life”

In which parable does Jesus suggest that good people will receive eternal life and bad people will go to Hell?

The Sheep and the Goats

Identify two important features of a Christian funeral

1. Hymns
2. Prayers
3. Eulogy
4. Readings
5. Committal
6. Burial

Identify one feature that may be different about Catholic funeral rites/practices

1. They may read/perform their last rites
2. They have a Mass (Holy Communion) in service
3. They traditionally only allow burial

In a Christian funeral, why do mourners wear black?

As a sign of grief and sadness

Why is “I am the resurrection and the life” often read at a Christian funeral?

1. To reflect belief in life after death
2. To remind mourners that life after death is only achieved through Jesus

Identify arguably the most common hymn sung in Christian funerals?

The Lord is my Shepherd. It remembers that God and his teachings guide people into the afterlife

What do candles often symbolise?

That Jesus is the ‘Light of the World’ bringing hope into a sad situation

What is said during the committal?

“earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust”

Identify one thing the committal remembers

1. The account of Genesis where Adam was made from the earth and told that he would return to it
2. That Jesus came back to life and so will we

Why did Christians traditionally not approve of cremation?

They believed in a bodily resurrection

Why don’t Humanist funerals focus on Heaven or Hell?

They do not believe in God an afterlife

The Wales Humanist society says their funerals focus on what?

The person

Identify two reasons why funerals are still important

1. They provide an opportunity to say goodbye
2. They reflect religious beliefs about life after death
3. The celebrate the life of the individual
4. They remind people of the need to prepare for the next life
5. Jesus himself had funeral rites performed as a mark of respect

Identify two reasons why funerals are not important today

1. The person is no longer there so there is little point
2. Funerals are expensive
3. Funerals can be overly religious which has no relevance for atheists and humanists
4. funerals may show a lack of faith in the fact that the person is now with God in a better place