GCSE RE: End of Life

Christian  beleifs about the soul

The Soul

• A non-physical part of us with feelings and thought
• Is the real essence of a person
• Created by God
• It cannot be destroyed, immortal, eternal
• It leaves the physical body, when we die
• It reunites with God in heaven

• Quote: "God created Adam from the ground and breathed life into him" (Genisis 2:7)
• Described as the "breathe of life"

Christian Beleifs about

Life after Death 

• It is eternal
• Begining of new life - flowers are used at funerals
• There is no marriage in heaven
• You will be rewarded by how you lived your life of earth
• God will judge us according to our faith and actions - Day of judgement
• Purgatory:cleansing of the soul, ready for heaven, a catholic beleif
• Salvation: God saves us by giving us a chance to be fogiven and enter heaven
• Life on earth is preparation for the next life
• Quote: "I will create new heavens and a new earth" (Isaiah)
• Quote: The sheep and the goats - "I was hungry and you....." (Matt 25)

Others beleive:

• Atheists beleive this is the only life and our sould dies when we die.
• Hindu's believe in reincarnation - we come back as another animal depending on how we lived our life e.g a sinful person comes back as a cockroach.

Christian Beleifs about Heaven

Heaven

• Eternal presence of God
• Description - light, singing, beauty, peace, rainbow, throne of God, perfect, awe, no evil or suffering or mourning
• People who have lives thier lives for God and with with love for others will enter heaven.

• Quote: "The wolf and the lamb will feed together.....but dust will be the serpents food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holr mountain"
• Quote: The sheep and the goats (Matt 25)

Christians Beliefs about Hell

Hell

• The church used to see it as eternal suffering and torture for non - beleivers
• Used fear of hell to encourage people to be christians
• Salvation Army: Tries to help others to save thier souls from damnation
• People who have sinned throughout thier life will be given the punishement of hell
• The absense of God for eternity
• Others beleive in Annahalation: When the soul is also destroyed when we die.

• Quote:"If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person, for God's temple is sacred and you together are that temple" (Corinthians 3)
• Quote: The Sheep and the goats - "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat....."

Christian Funerals

Christian Funerals:

• Bible Readings - readings on afterlife and eternal life
• Eulogy: Talk or speech, sharing of memories, acheivements, usually friend or family member
• Prayers: Said for friends and family, for God to support them and the dead people is entrusted to the care of God.
• Hymns: Hymns about eternal life will be sung
• Holy communion: Reminder of Christ at the last supper, He died for us to save our sins and gave us eternal life.
• Body is cremated or put in a coffin
• Flowers are used as a symbol of new life
• Candles are used to remind us of the holy spirit which is in everyone.
• Quote: "I am the resurrection and the life, He who beleives in me will live, even though he dies." (John 11)
• Quote: Beginning prayer - "Lord, thank you for the gift of life both now and when we die"
• Quote: "Father, into your hands we commend our brother/sister"