Hi, my name is Miss Minton, and welcome to this Christianity: Beliefs lesson on "Beliefs about the afterlife: heaven and hell." Now by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain Christian beliefs about heaven and hell and the significance and influence of these beliefs.

Now, lots of our learning today will be new to you, but please don't worry because I'll be here to guide you through each step of this lesson today.

And I'm confident that by the end of the lesson, you will have achieved this outcome.

So let's make a start by taking a look at the key words for today.

We have afterlife, heaven, hell, and sin.

Now, the afterlife refers to what follows this physical life on earth, so life after death.

Heaven refers to the belief that after death Christians can enter a state of being with God for eternity.

Hell refers to the belief in a place of eternal suffering or a state after death of being in separation from God.

And sin refers to behaviour that goes against God's laws and his wishes or against the Christian principles of morality.

Now, our lesson today will have three parts.

We'll start by looking at Christian beliefs about heaven.

We'll then move on to look at Christian beliefs about hell.

And then finally, we'll look at how belief in heaven and hell influence Christians.

So let's get started and take a look at Christian belief about heaven.

So for many Christians, the afterlife consists of heaven and hell.

And heaven is the state of being in the presence of God for eternity.

So in other words, being with God forever.

And for many Christians, the belief in heaven is directly linked to the belief in judgement.

So the belief that God will decide who is eternally rewarded and who is eternally punished.

And this is because many Christians believe that God will only allow the righteous and the people who lived a good life and followed Jesus to enter heaven.

Now, these beliefs are known as eschatological beliefs, and that's because the word eschatology refers to the belief in and study of last things.

So judgement , heaven and hell are all last things.

They're things that happen at the very end.

Now, although many Christians agree that the afterlife consists of heaven, within Christianity, there are different beliefs about what heaven is.

Now, traditional beliefs about heaven include that heaven is a physical place, that it's a place where God resides.

So it's a place where God is and where God lives.

It's a place of peace and a place of beauty, and it's a place where there is no suffering or pain.

Now, traditional beliefs about heaven come from the Bible, and an example of a passage that highlights traditional beliefs about heaven is 2 Corinthians 5:1, which says this, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." Now, I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

How might this passage from 2 Corinthians be interpreted to show that heaven is a physical place? Off you go.

So this passage can be interpreted to show that heaven is a physical place because it refers to heaven as being a building from God and an eternal house.

And that suggests that heaven is a place that exists physically.

So let's check your understanding.

Which statement best describes traditional beliefs about heaven? A, that heaven is a peaceful mythical realm where there's no suffering, or B, heaven is a physical place built by God where there is no suffering? Fantastic, the correct answer is B.

The statement that best describes traditional beliefs about heaven include that heaven is a physical place built by God where there is no suffering.

Well done.

Now, we've seen that one of the views within Christianity about heaven is the traditional view that heaven is a physical place where God lives and there's no pain or suffering.

But contemporary or modern views about heaven include that heaven is actually a spiritual dimension or a state of mind, rather than being a physical place.

And that heaven is a state where humans are happy and fulfilled because they they know God and they're in the presence of God.

Now, these contemporary beliefs about heaven come from a metaphorical interpretation of the Bible.

Now, we're already familiar with this passage from 2 Corinthians 5:1, which says, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." Now, we've looked at this passage from the point of view that it shows traditional beliefs about heaven being a physical place, but actually, Christians can also interpret this passage as being metaphorical rather than taking it literally.

Now, for Christians who take this approach and view this passage as being metaphorical and symbolic, they would argue that heaven isn't literally a building or a house that's been built by God.

Instead, this language of calling heaven a building and a house is actually symbolic of heaven being God's creation and symbolic of heaven being a state where humans can know God rather than it being a physical place.

Now, Christians who believe that heaven is a spiritual realm or a state of mind, might refer to teachings on eternal life to support that view.

For example, John 3:16 says this, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." So that phrase, eternal life is used within this passage.

Now, I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me or have a think to yourself, how might teachings on eternal life support the belief that heaven is a spiritual dimension or a state of mind rather than a physical place? Off you go.

So teachings on eternal life like this teaching from John 3, can be interpreted as referring to a spiritual life with God that lasts forever rather than a physical place.

And the phrase, eternal life alludes to an existence.

And some Christians interpret that to be a non-physical existence or a spiritual existence.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false? All Christians believe that heaven is a physical place where God lives.

Well done, that statement is false.

But why is that statement false? Well, it's because although some Christians do believe that heaven is a physical place, not all Christians agree with this.

Some Christians believe that heaven is a spiritual dimension or a state of mind rather than being a physical place.

So well done for identifying that that statement was false and for identifying the reason why.

Now, as well as there being different beliefs within Christianity about what heaven actually is, there's also different beliefs about who will enter heaven.

Now, these views can be categorised into three: Exclusivist, which means only people who believe in Jesus will go to heaven.

Inclusivist, which means the belief that people who believe in Jesus and people who live a life that pleases God, even if they don't realise that will go to heaven.

And finally, Pluralist, which refers to the belief that all beliefs and all ways of life can lead to heaven, not just Christianity.

Now linking to this question of who will enter heaven, some Christians believe that people who will enter heaven actually need to be cleansed and purified first.

Now, this is a belief that's taught by the Roman Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a place or state before heaven that's known as purgatory.

And this is where a person is cleansed and purified before they can enter heaven.

So in other words, they're made ready to be in the presence of God.

Now, not all Christians accept this belief in purgatory, and actually, most Protestant Christians reject this belief completely.

Now, the 39 articles of religion that's used within Anglican Christianity explicitly rejects the teaching of and belief in purgatory.

So it's not a belief that shared across all of Christianity.

So let's now check your understanding.

Which of the following refers to the belief that people who believe in Jesus and people who've lived a life that pleases God will go to heaven? Is it a Exclusivist, B, Inclusivist, C, Pluralist, or D absolutist? Fantastic, the correct answer is B.

Inclusivist is the word that refers to the belief that people who believe in Jesus and people who live a life that pleases God have the possibility of going to heaven.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

I would like you to complete this table to explain Christian beliefs about heaven.

Now, the table has two points.

These are: Some Christians believe that heaven is a physical place and some Christians believe that heaven is a spiritual dimension or a state of mind.

To complete the table, you should: Provide a Christian source of authority to support each of these views and develop each point and teaching with an explanation.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work during that task, completing the table to explain Christian beliefs about heaven.

Now, your answers might include this: For the point that some Christians believe that heaven is a physical place, you may have given 2 Corinthians 5:1 as your source of authority and said that this describes heaven as a house built by God.

You may have then developed this by saying that this shows heaven is a physical place that was created by God and where he resides.

For the second point that some Christians believe that heaven is a spiritual dimension or state of mind, you might have used the source of authority that the Bible makes references to eternal life, which includes John 3:16.

And you may have developed this by saying that for Christians who believe that heaven is a spiritual state, they interpret teachings on eternal life as referring to a spiritual existence that lasts forever.

So well done for your work completing the table and explaining Christian beliefs about heaven.

We're now moving on to the second part of our lesson, which is to look at Christian beliefs about hell.

So we've seen that heaven refers to a place or a state in the afterlife where a person is in the eternal presence of God, so they're with God forever.

Now, if this is the definition of heaven, I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner or have a think to yourself about what you think hell might be.

Off you go.

So because heaven is a place or state in the presence of God, hell refers to a place or a state of being separated from God.

So living outside of God's presence.

Now, for many Christians, the belief in hell is also directly linked to the belief in judgement , and that's because for many Christians, hell is seen as a self-inflicted punishment for sin and the rejection of God.

Now, just as we've seen that there are different beliefs about heaven within Christianity, there's also different beliefs about hell.

Now, traditional beliefs about hell within Christianity include that hell is a physical place of suffering and torment, and it's a punishment for sin.

That it's a physical place without God, so a place where a person will be outside of God's presence.

And hell is often shown as a fiery place of torment where the devil resides.

So where the devil lives.

Now traditional beliefs about hell also originate from the Bible.

Let's take a look at Matthew 25:41, which says this.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

'" Now this passage from Matthew is from "The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats." And it describes Jesus separating those who've lived according to his teachings from those who've rejected him and sinned.

Now, I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me or have a think to yourself.

How does this passage from The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats describe hell? Off you go.

So this passage describes hell as an eternal place of fire that was prepared or made for the devil.

So let's check your understanding.

Which of the following best describes traditional beliefs about hell? You can select two answers.

A, a place of peace.

B, a place of torment.

C, a place of fire or D, a place of cleansing.

Fantastic, the correct answers are B and C.

So a place of torment and a place of fire are two ways to describe the traditional beliefs about hell.

Now, as well as there being traditional beliefs about hell within Christianity, there are also contemporary beliefs.

and contemporary beliefs about hell include that hell is a state of separation or self-exclusion from God rather than it being a physical place of torment and pain.

And that this separation is due to sin and a rejection of God and that the pain and suffering a person experiences in hell is metaphorical rather than literal.

Now here, the phrase self-exclusion has been used.

I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me or have a think to yourself.

What does it mean to be self-excluded? Off you go.

So to be self-excluded means that you're not allowed to take part in or go somewhere, but as a result of your own actions.

So you are being excluded, you are being left out, but it's because of your own actions.

Now, contemporary beliefs about hell come from interpretations of biblical teachings on hell.

For example, in Matthew 7:21, Jesus describes his response to people who have not followed God's word and not lived by his teachings: And Jesus says, "Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you.

Away from me, you evildoers!" Now I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself, how might Christians interpret this passage to show that hell is a state of exclusion from God rather than a physical place of pain? Off you go.

So this passage suggests that sinners and evildoers are separated away from God, and this passage can be interpreted by Christians as suggesting that the punishment is separation rather than eternal torture and pain.

Now later sources of authority have also emphasised that hell is a state of self-exclusion from God.

For example, the catechism of the Catholic church teaches that hell is a definitive self-exclusion from communion with God.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false? Some Christians reject the belief that hell is a physical place of pain and torture.

Fantastic, that statement is true.

But how do we know that that statement is true? Well, it's because contemporary beliefs about hell include that hell is a state of separation from God rather than a physical place of torture and pain.

So well done for identifying that that statement was true and for identifying the reason why.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

Aisha is explaining Christian beliefs about hell.

She says, "One Christian belief about hell is that it's a state of separation from God.

This is supported by the Gospel of Matthew which describes Jesus sending evildoers away." Now, Aisha has not developed the source of authority that she's used, which is the Gospel of Matthew.

I'd like you to add to Aisha's answer to explain what the source of authority she's used teaches in relation to the point that she's given.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work during that task.

So you asked to add to Aisha's answer to explain what the source of authority teaches about hell in relation to the point she gave.

So Aisha had said, "One Christian belief about hell is that it's state of separation from God.

This is supported by the Gospel of Matthew, which describes Jesus sending the evildoers away." Now your explanation might look something like this.

This shows that to be in hell means to be away or separated from God and that this is a result of humans rejecting God and committing sins.

So well done for your work developing Aisha's answer.

We're now moving on to the third part of our lesson, which is to look at how the belief in heaven and hell influence Christians.

Aisha and Lucas are discussing why Christian beliefs about heaven and hell might be important to Christians.

Aisha says, "I think that this belief is important for Christians because it reminds them that God is just." And Lucas says, "I think that this belief is important to Christians because it provides Christians with comfort during difficult times." Now, I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me or have a think to yourself.

Why do you think Christian beliefs about heaven and hell are important for Christians? Off you go.

So as part of your discussion or your thinking time, you might have considered that heaven and hell are important for Christians because heaven is a reminder of God's omnibenevolence.

So heaven is a reminder of God's love or that the existence of heaven and hell might justify some of the evil and suffering that we see in the world.

And that the belief in heaven and hell can guide a Christian's moral actions.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false? The belief in heaven and hell is not important for Christians because the afterlife is outside of human control.

Fantastic, that statement is false.

But why is that statement false? Well, it's because for many Christians, the belief in heaven and hell is important because it's a reminder that God is just and omnibenevolent and it helps guide Christian moral behaviour.

So well done for identifying that that statement is false and for identifying the reason why.

Now, for many Christians, because the belief in heaven and hell are important, it influences their beliefs, their thoughts and their actions.

Tia, Fiona and Danielle discuss how their belief in heaven and hell influences them.

Tia is Methodist and she says, "My belief in heaven reassures me that there is hope of an afterlife in the presence of God.

My belief in hell helps me to understand the importance of following the teachings of Jesus in my everyday life.

I don't want to be separated from God and God does not want to be separated from me.

So I try my best to behave in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus." Fiona is Anglican and she says, "My belief in heaven influences the I respond to the death of a loved one.

I attend funerals of people I know who have passed away and I pray for them.

The funerals at my church usually contain references to heaven and the afterlife which provides me with comfort." Danielle, who is Roman Catholic says this, "My belief that hell is a self-exclusion from the communion with God reassures me that God is omnibenevolent.

This is because hell is a result of humans' own actions rather than God's decision.

I know that I will have life in heaven with God because I want to be united with him and not separate myself from him through sin." Now through the discussion between Tia, Fiona and Danielle, we've seen that there's often more than one way that a belief can influence an individual.

Now, let's imagine I've been asked to give one way the belief in heaven might influence a Christian.

My answer is that it might influence them to pray for the dead.

Now, I'm going to ask you the same question, I'd like you to give one way that the belief in heaven might influence a Christian.

So pause the video and have a go.

Okay, so you may have said that one way the belief in heaven might influence a Christian is through attending funerals.

But you may have also said that it might influence Christians to feel comforted by God's love or that it might influence them to follow the teachings of Jesus.

So well done.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

I'd like you to explain two ways in which the belief in heaven and hell influences Christians today.

Now, good practise when responding to this task would be to give a point showing how the belief in heaven and hell can influence Christians and then develop that point by explaining how and why this is.

Then repeat that process by giving a second point and then develop and explain that point as well.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work explaining two ways in which the belief in heaven and hell influences Christians today.

Now your answer might look similar to this.

One way the belief in heaven and hell can influence Christians is that it provides them with comfort.

The belief that there is a possibility of eternal life with God can reassure Christians and comfort them during difficult times, particularly during the death of a loved one.

Another way the belief in heaven can influence Christians is that it can guide their moral behaviour.

This is because many Christians desire to live in the presence of God in the afterlife, so they'll follow the teachings of Jesus in the hope of eternal life in heaven.

We've now reached the end of our lesson on beliefs about the afterlife, heaven and hell.

But before we finish up, let's recap some of the key things that we've learned today.

We've learned that for many Christians, the afterlife consists of heaven and hell and that heaven and hell might be interpreted differently based on biblical teachings.

We've also looked at how traditional beliefs about heaven and hell include that they are physical places and as an alternative, a contemporary interpretation of heaven and hell is that they are spiritual states of existence and that hell is a self-exclusion from God rather than a physical place.

And finally, we've looked at how beliefs about heaven and hell might influence Christian attitudes towards moral behaviour and influence practises such as funerals and provide comfort, whilst grieving.

A huge well done for all of your work during this lesson.

It's been wonderful learning with you today.