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The End of Life
The Soul
Interpretation one - Plato
According to Plato the soul is the essence of a person, eternal and it is with our soul that we decide how to act. The
soul is made up of three parts:
Logos – mind allows logic to be used in decision making
Thymos – emotional motive for behaving in certain ways
Pathos – relates to our physical needs
Interpretation two - Aristotle
Soul is not eternal and not separate from the body. It is the essence of our being but he believed that the body is
why we act in a reasoned way. However, our souls give us the capacity for rational activity and make us who we are.
Christian beliefs about the soul
1. It is immortal / eternal
2. It is distinct from the physical body and cannot be seen and makes us different from all other creatures
3. Humans are made in the image of God and therefore human life is sacred.
4. God breathed the breath of life into humans and so we received life in a different way and are different
5. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit but are imperfect and so die. It is the spiritual body that will be
resurrected
6. The resurrection and ascension (going up to heaven) of Jesus shows that there is life after physical death
7. Christians believe that the soul and the body are often in conflict with each other: the body wants to satisfy
its desires and pleasures, e.g. food, and the soul wants to please God
Christian beliefs about heaven, hell and purgatory
Beliefs about hell in the fourteenth century
The nine pits of hell that are said to exist in Dante’s Inferno were thought to really exist and were created when the
angel Lucifer fell to earth and became Satan, having been thrown out of heaven for seeking to be greater than God.
Christian understanding of hell
Traditional view
1. Hell was thought to be a place of eternal torture for non-believers.
2. It was used by the church to get people to follow their religion. We now know that a physical hell on earth as
described in Dante’s Inferno does not exist.
3. Some Christians today still believe that hell is a physical place of suffering for non-believers but they try to
encourage people to seek a loving God rather than scare them into belief.
Hell as annihilation (modern view)
This idea of hell is that it is annihilation, i.e. the body and soul just cease to exist at the point of physical death.
Another modern view
Hel is not a physical place but rather a way of expressing eternal existence without God’s presence or blessing. Hell is
therefore a symbolic way of helping people to understand a difficult idea. They believe that God exists and that it is
better to be in His presence than abandoned by Him.
Christian understanding of heaven
1. Is being in the eternal presence of God.
2. Biblical descriptions include that of blinding light, singing and beauty. In the book of Revelation in the Bible it
is described as ‘a rainbow resembling an emerald’ encircling the throne of God. Most Christians believe this
is an attempt to show how perfect and awe-inspiring heaven is.
3. Suffering and evil no longer exist in heaven. There is no death or mourning, crying or pain.
4. This encourages people to want to serve God, is a comfort during suffering and somewhere they will spend
eternity after death.
Christian understanding of purgatory
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Purgatory is a Catholic belief.
Catholics believe that if you die in a good spiritual state, in friendship with God, you will go to heaven. However, if
you are not pure enough to go to heaven you can go to purgatory for purification before entering heaven. This is
described in the catechism. This Doctrine explains why Catholics pray for the dead; it is to help people in purgatory.
Salvation, redemption and the suffering of Christ
Salvation
1. Salvation means to be saved from the punishment by God for sin. Christians believe that this punishment
occurs after death and is called Hell.
2. While a person is on earth their sin destroys their relationship with God, e.g. by acting as if God does not
exist by not obeying his commandments and not worshiping him.
3. God loves us and is gracious (He wants to forgive us for our sins even though we do not deserve it).
4. He is willing to forgive us if we ask for his forgiveness and repent (are truly sorry) because of His great love.
5. Salvation means that the relationship between man and God is restored and whilst they are on earth they
will worship Him, and He will live in them through the power of the Holy Spirit.
6. After death they will be saved from punishment in hell and be given a place in Heaven in the presence of
God.
Redemption and the suffering of Christ
1. Christians believe that salvation comes at a price; they have to be redeemed.
2. To redeem means to recover ownership of something by paying a sum.
3. Christians believe the cost of human salvation was the death of Christ. The Bible tells us ‘Christ was sacrificed
once to take away the sins of many people.’ Only Jesus could make this sacrifice because he was without sin.
4. When Jesus was crucified he cried out ‘My God why have you forsaken me.’ At this time Christians believe
that God turned his back on Jesus and he endured the punishment for all mankind.
5. Christians believe that anyone who accepts this sacrifice will no longer be punished by God.
God as Judge
Christians believe that God will judge them after death on their faith in Him and their actions. They believe that God
possesses all the qualities to be a perfect judge.
The parable of the sheep and goats
This parable tells us that we will all be judged. God will separate the sheep from the goats; the sheep being those
who will go to heaven and the goats being those who will go to Hell. He will judge them on how they have behaved
towards others, e.g. did they feed the hungry? Did they invite strangers into their home? Did they look after the
sick? That judgement will lead to eternal punishment or entering heaven and being with God for eternity.
Repentance and forgiveness
1. Christians believe they will not be sent to hell if they fail to do the right thing all the time. They believe that
God is loving and forgiving and through their confession and repentance they can gain forgiveness from God.
2. Christians believe that judgement by God depends on their faith in God and behaviour whilst alive.
Therefore they try to behave in a way that would please God, e.g. following the principles and teachings in
the Bible, e.g. Ten Commandments and trust him to help them live in a way that he wants them to.
Christian funeral rites, and the ways in which these reflect belief and aim to support the bereaved
A funeral marks the end of life on earth but for Christians it is also a reminder of the hope of an afterlife with God.
A Christian funeral service thanks God for the dead person’s life on earth, celebrating it as an act of love.
How do mourners benefit from attending the funeral service?
1. It acknowledges that the person is no longer there but in God’s care.
2. Provides comfort because the dead person lives with God.
3. They feel happiness that the dead person’s life is celebrated.
4. Provides an opportunity to publically express love and admiration for the dead person.
5. Marks the beginning of life without the person who has died, in which the loved one is remembered.
What happens at a funeral service?
Bible reading
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Focuses on the hope of eternal life ‘I am the resurrection he who believes in me will live, even though he dies.’
John : 11:25
Prayers
These are said to ask God for support for the friends and relatives of the dead person to help them move on.
In the Catholic service prayers are also said for the dead person to help to reduce their time in purgatory.
Eulogy
A talk or speech in which the person’s life is remembered and their achievements are acknowledged often
through sharing memories of the person.
The minister might also remind the congregation of Christian beliefs about life and death.
Hymns
These focus on the hope of an afterlife with God.
Holy Communion
Catholic funerals – Mass is almost always performed. It is not uncommon in other denominations (churches). It
reminds mourners of the death and resurrection of Christ which provided the possibility of eternal life with God.
The dead person might be buried or cremated. It is usual for further prayers to be said at the graveside before
the final committal statements by the minister. This is said at a cremation as the curtains shut around the coffin.
The words used in the committal statement vary, e.g. Church of England: ‘We therefore commit his (or her) body
to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to
eternal life.’
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Test your knowledge
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What are the differences between Plato’s and Aristotle’s views of the soul.
What most Christians believe about the soul?
What did people believe about hell in the fourteenth century?
What is the traditional view of what hell is?
What do Christians mean when they describe hell as annihilation?
Many modern Christians do not believe that hell is a physical place. Explain how these Christians define hell.
What do Christians understand / believe heaven to be?
Which Church believes in purgatory?
What is purgatory?
What do Christians think salvation is?
What do Christians believe happens when they state that we are redeemed through the suffering of Christ?
Explain what Christians believe when they state that God is a judge.
What does the parable of the sheep and the goats mean?
How, according to Christians, do confession, repentance and forgiveness help us get into heaven?
How do mourners benefit from attending a funeral service?
Make notes on what happens at a funeral service.
Now turn to the next page to have at look at the questions that have been set in past exam papers; plan
and write answers to some of these questions. Talk to your teacher if you are stuck so that they can help
you if needed.
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Past exam questions
B601 June 2010
Section C: End of Life
(a)
What is the meaning of rites?
[1]
(b)
Give two examples of Christian funeral rites.
[2]
(c)
Describe the relationship between the body and the soul for a Christian.
[3]
(d)
Explain how beliefs about life after death might affect a Christian‟s moral behaviour.
[6]
(e)
“We only have one life and it is on earth.”
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and your own
point of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
[12]
B601 May 2011
Section C: End of Life
(a)
What is purgatory?
[1]
(b)
State two things that happen in a Christian funeral.
[2]
(c)
Describe one Christian belief about the soul.
[3]
(d)
Explain how Christian funerals might support the bereaved.
[6]
(e)
“It‟s my life so I can do what I want.”
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and your own
point of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
[12]
B601 June 2012
Section C: The End of Life
(a)
What word means „rising to life again‟?
[1]
(b)
Name two places a Christian might go in the afterlife.
[2]
(c)
Describe Christian belief about redemption.
[3]
(d)
Explain the importance of the soul to Christians.
[6]
(e)
“Heaven can be reached by everyone.”
Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and your own
point of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
[12]