Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone, and I'd like to welcome you to this lesson on beliefs about death and the afterlife.

Today, you will be able to understand different Christian beliefs about life after death and explain how they respond to arguments against them.

Keywords that we'll be using today are heaven, hell, purgatory, and resurrection.

Heaven is a place of eternal happiness and union with God for those who have lived righteously.

Hell is a state of eternal separation from God for those who have rejected him or lived sinfully.

Purgatory, in Catholic belief, is a temporary state of purification for souls who are destined for heaven, but need to cleansed from sin.

And resurrection is being raised from the dead, the form that many Christians believe the afterlife will take, referring to either physical or spiritual bodies.

Today's lesson will take three parts.

We'll be looking at biblical teachings on death and the afterlife and Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife and the arguments for and against the afterlife.

So let's get started on biblical teachings on death and the afterlife.

Christian beliefs about life after death centre around the resurrection of Jesus.

And here's a really important quotation from Matthew 28:5-7 that stresses the importance of Jesus going from crucifixion to resurrection.

"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for, Jesus who is crucified.

He is not here, he has risen just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay.

'" What is the word for being raised from the dead? So take a moment to think about your answer, pause the video, and come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you said resurrection.

Let's look at biblical teaching as a source of authority about the afterlife.

From John 11:24-27, where Jesus is talking to Martha about her brother, Lazareth, who has died.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.

The one who believes in me will live even though they die.

And whoever lives by believing in me will never die." So Jesus tells her that anyone who believes in him can be resurrected.

"So will it be with a resurrection of the dead.

The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable, it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory, it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, it is sewn a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." This is from 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.

And this teaches Christians that the body will be transformed when it is resurrected.

It will go from weakness and decay to eternal glory and spiritual life.

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast." And this is from Ephesians 2:6-9.

This teaches Christians that they can have eternal life in heaven and it's made possible by God's love and his free gift of grace.

"Christ was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits.

You are saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand." And this is from 1 Peter 3:18-22.

So Jesus proclaiming to imprisoned spirits suggests that Christ has power over evil and that even those who had died before him can still be saved.

So it really emphasises that power.

Let's check your understanding.

Is this true or false? The Bible teaches that, after death, the body will be resurrected and transformed from a perishable to an imperishable state.

Take a moment to think about your answer and also have a think about why.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to check.

So, well done if you said that it was true.

But why? Well, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 teaches the body will be changed after death, and it will go from being weak and decaying to being strong and eternal.

Let's practise our understanding on biblical teachings on death and the afterlife.

For each of the statements below, I'd like you to decide whether it's taught in the Bible and suggest what it says about the afterlife.

One, believers in Jesus will live after death.

Two, life after death is becoming one with the universe.

Three, the soul is reincarnated after death.

Four, the resurrection body is transformed into a spiritual body.

And five, the resurrection shows God is victorious over death.

So take your time to think about the teachings that we've looked at today and see if they link in with any of these ideas.

Remember to explain what they are saying about the afterlife as well.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

So you could have said for number one, believers in Jesus will live after death.

This is taught in the Bible, and it's in John 11:25-26, and it suggests that believing in Jesus means someone gets to go to heaven.

For number two, life after death is becoming one with the universe.

You should have said that this is not taught in the Bible, as life after death is individual.

For number three, the soul is reincarnated after death.

You should have said that this is not taught in the Bible, because the Bible teaches resurrection, not reincarnation.

For number four, the resurrection body is transformed into a spiritual body.

You should have said that this is taught in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, and it means believers will receive a new body in heaven.

For number five, the resurrection shows God is victorious over death.

You should have said that this is taught in the Bible, Matthew 28:5-7, and it means that God has the power to send people to heaven.

So, well done if you manage to work out which ones link with the biblical teachings and to explain how.

For the second part of our lesson, we're going to be looking at Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife.

There is diversity amongst Christian beliefs about life after death.

So if death is the first stage, we have most Christians believing that the body remains on earth while the soul transitions to an afterlife.

Particular judgement is the first stage.

The soul is judged immediately after death.

Now, views on heaven and hell do vary.

But the idea usually is, that in heaven, the soul enters God's presence and hell is separation from God.

Purgatory is a specifically Catholic belief.

It's taught in the Catholic catechism, and it's temporary purification before heaven.

Final judgement.

For some Christians, they believe this will happen at the end of time.

So having been judged individually at particular judgement , they will be resurrected and reunited with their soul, and everyone will be judged again together to confirm the final judgement.

Let's check your understanding.

What is purgatory? a, Catholics believe it is a place where the soul is purified before entering heaven.

b, Baptists believe it is a place where souls are punished for their sins before entering hell.

c, Methodist believe it is a place where the soul is temporarily separated from God.

Or d, Anglicans believe it is a place where souls are reunited with their bodies before the final judgement.

So take some time to think about your answer, pause the video if you need to, and then come back when you are ready.

Well done if you put a, Catholics believe it is a place where the soul is purified before entering heaven.

Niamh, Charlie, Tia, and Fergus have been asked what they think happens when we die.

Niamh says, "When we die, we are judged.

If we've lived a good life, we go to heaven.

And if not, we may go to purgatory to be purified before heaven.

A final judgement at the end of time confirms everyone's eternal destiny." As a Catholic, Niamh believes in particular judgement immediately after death and also a final judgement at the end of time.

For her, heaven, hell are actual places, and purgatory is a temporary state of purification.

Tia says, "Once we have been judged, if we've lived in line with God's will, we go to heaven, which is a peaceful place of harmony with God.

And if we've rejected him, we experience spiritual separation, which is hell.

As a Methodist Christian, Tia believes in individual judgement.

She emphasised the spiritual aspects of heaven and hell and sees hell as separation from God rather than as a literal place.

Charlie says, "After we die, we are judged.

Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour go to heaven, which is a place of peace and joy with God, while those who reject him go to hell, which is eternal punishment and separation from God.

As an evangelical Baptist, Charlie believes salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

He reads the Bible literally and believes that heaven and hell are real places.

Fergus, who's a liberal Anglican, says heaven and hell are not literal places but are part of the ongoing spiritual journey.

God's mercy is broad enough to offer the possibility of a relationship with him to everyone regardless of their beliefs or actions during life.

As a liberal Anglican Christian, Fergus does not read the Bible literally.

For him, heaven and hell are metaphorical, and he believes anyone can have a relationship with God even if they rejected him on earth.

So, which statement best describes Christian beliefs about the afterlife? Is it a, they all believe heaven and hell are literal places, b, some believe heaven and hell are literal places and others view them metaphorically? Is it c, they all believe heaven and hell are metaphorical? Or is it d, they all believe everyone can go to heaven.

So take a moment to think about your answer.

Pause the video to give yourself some time and then come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you put b, some believe heaven and hell are literal places and others view them metaphorically.

So for Task B, for Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife, I'd like you to explain two Christian beliefs about life after death.

Here's some guidance.

Point, develop, point, develop.

For a point, you need to give one relevant and accurate Christian belief about life after death.

For example, one Christian belief about life after death is.

To develop it, you need to explain this teaching, for example, this means.

For your second point, you're going to give another relevant and accurate Christian belief about life after death, for example, another Christian belief about afterlife is, and you're going to develop that one too.

You're gonna explain this teaching, for example, this means.

So take some time to think about two Christian beliefs and how you could develop them.

Pause the video whilst you write your answer, and then come back and see what you could have written.

Let's have a look at what you could have said.

One Christian belief about life after death is resurrection and eternal life.

The Bible teaches that after death the body will be resurrected and believers will live forever in heaven with God.

This means death is not the end, but a new beginning with God.

Another Christian belief held by Catholics is purgatory.

The Catholic church teaches that some souls may undergo purification before entering heaven.

Catholics believe purgatory is a temporary state for those who are saved but still need cleansing before reaching eternal happiness.

So you might have picked different beliefs to explain, but well done if you managed to make two different points and to develop them with an explanation.

For the third part of our lesson, we're going to be looking at arguments for and against the afterlife.

Zoe, who is an atheist, has asked Charlie, who's a Baptist, why Christians believe in life after death.

Charlie says, "We believe in life after death because of the resurrection of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 explains that because he was raised from the dead, we can have eternal life too." Zoe says, "How can you be so sure about this?" Charlie's reply is that, "It comes down to trusting in God.

Ephesians 2:1-10 says that salvation comes through faith.

Believing in life after death comforts me in difficult times, and I can trust that I'll be reunited with loved ones who've passed away.

So what does Charlie base his belief in life after death on? Pause the video.

If you're able to turn and talk to someone nearby, please do, or you can talk to me, and come back when you're ready to rejoin the lesson.

Zoe says, "Your beliefs are based on faith, and the fact they comfort you doesn't make them true.

This doesn't change the fact that there's no evidence for what you believe in." Charlie says, "For me, the evidence is in the impact they have on my life.

Believing in life after death gives me a purpose.

I don't need to prove my faith empirically.

It's grounded in spiritual truth and biblical teachings, which give me guidance and hope beyond what I can see." So why isn't Zoe convinced by Charlie's beliefs? Pause the video again.

Turn and talk to someone nearby if you can or you can talk to me.

Come back when you are ready to rejoin the lesson.

Let's check your understanding.

Which two reasons for belief in life after death can be found in the Bible.

a, the resurrection of Jesus.

b, the fact that it is taught in all religions.

c, salvation through faith.

Or d, personal spiritual experiences.

So remember, you are choosing two from that list.

Pause the video, think about what Charlie has just said, jot down your answers and then come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you put a, the resurrection of Jesus, and c, salvation through faith.

Zoe also talks to Niamh, who is a Catholic.

And she asks whether belief in life after death can be based on anything other than faith.

Niamh says, "I think there is evidence for life after death.

Sometimes people remember past lives or describe near-death experiences where they glimpse an afterlife.

There are also reports of ghosts or spirits." Zoe responds, "So your beliefs are based on both faith and evidence?" Niamh says, "Yes, and I also think they're logical because they ensure justice.

If we believe we will be rewarded or punished after death, we will behave better in this life." Could someone who is not religious agree with Niamh's arguments? Have a think.

Pause the video.

Turn and talk to someone nearby or you can talk to me again.

Come back when you're ready to rejoin.

Zoe says, "Many of these claims, like ghosts, past lives, or near death experiences, could be explained away or be fraudulent.

I see life after death as a form of social control, ensuring people behave through fear of punishment." Niamh replies, "For me, the empirical evidence is backed up by what the Bible says and by my own and other people's religious experiences.

All of this points to something beyond this life.

I don't think life after death is about fear or control.

It's about the hope that there's purpose beyond this life." So why isn't Niamh convinced by Zoe's arguments against her evidence? Turn and talk to someone nearby, pause the video, and come back when you're ready to rejoin.

Let's check your understanding.

What does it mean to say belief in life after death is a form of social control? Take some time to think about some of the things that Zoe has said.

Write down your answer.

Come back when you're ready to check what you might have written.

You could have said, it ensures people do good and avoid wrongdoing because they fear punishment.

So it's the idea that these beliefs have developed not because they're true but because they're a way of controlling people in society.

Jun has written part of an answer to this evaluation question using non-religious arguments to support the statement.

"Death is the end.

There is no afterlife." As part of a full evaluation question, you would need to evaluate the statement.

And in your answer, you should give reasoned arguments in support of the statement.

You should give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view.

You should refer to religious arguments, you may refer to non-religious arguments, and you should reach a justified conclusion.

So your task is to continue by writing a paragraph explaining how Christians would respond to his points.

Here is Jun's paragraph.

"Many non-religious people would agree with this statement.

They would argue there is a lack of evidence for an afterlife, with no scientific proof to support its existence.

Reports of paranormal activity and near-death experiences are often seen as fraudulent accounts or misunderstandings.

Additionally, belief in an afterlife can be viewed as a form of social control, encouraging good behaviour through the promise of rewards or punishments." So, take your time to write your paragraph from a Christian perspective, responding to these points.

Pause the video, and come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, from a Christian point of view, belief in an afterlife comes from the Bible, especially the resurrection of Jesus, which shows that life continues after death.

Even though there's no scientific proof, faith is based on trusting God and personal experiences that many Christians have felt.

The hope of life after death gives comfort, purpose, and strength, especially in difficult times.

It also provides a sense of justice where good people are rewarded in heaven and those who did bad are held accountable.

For Christians, this belief is part of their faith and helps guide their actions in life.

So, well done if you talked about the idea that it's in the Bible and that even without scientific proof, they have that personal experience and connection and feel the comfort and guidance from believing in life after death.

In our lesson today, we have learned that Christian belief in life after death is based on belief in Jesus' resurrection.

The Bible teaches the body will be resurrected and transformed after death.

Christian views on the afterlife vary.

Some Christians view heaven and hell as literal places, while others see them metaphorically.

Catholic belief includes purgatory, a temporary purification state before entering heaven.

Arguments for life after death include the resurrection of Jesus and evidence based on remembered lives or the paranormal.

Arguments against life after death include the possibility of fraudulent accounts and social control.

Thank you so much for your hard work with me today in this lesson.

Well done.