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Year 10
AQA

Beliefs about the afterlife: heaven and hell

I can explain Christian beliefs about heaven and hell, and the significance and influence of these beliefs.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

Beliefs about the afterlife: heaven and hell

I can explain Christian beliefs about heaven and hell, and the significance and influence of these beliefs.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. For many Christians, the afterlife consists of heaven and hell.
  2. There are different interpretations of heaven and hell based on Biblical teachings.
  3. Traditional beliefs about heaven and hell include that they are physical places a person goes based on God's judgement.
  4. Contemporary beliefs about heaven and hell include that they are spiritual states, and hell is a separation from God.
  5. The belief in heaven and hell can help guide moral behaviour, provide comfort and influence practices such as funerals.

Keywords

  • Afterlife - what follows the physical life on earth; life after death

  • Heaven - belief that after death Christians can enter a state of being with God for eternity

  • Hell - belief in a place of eternal suffering, or a state after death of being in separation from God

  • Sin - behaviour which is against God's laws and wishes/against Christian principles of morality

Common misconception

The belief in heaven and hell only influences Christians to behave well.

The belief in heaven and hell can guide a Christian's moral behaviour, however, the belief can also influence Christian attitudes towards death and Christian funeral practices.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Beliefs about the afterlife: heaven and hell, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to remind students of Christian beliefs about judgement prior to this lesson.
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Adult supervision recommended

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What does 1 Corinthians 15 teach about the nature of the resurrection body?
It will be exactly the same as the earthly body.
Correct answer: It will be imperishable and transformed.
It will only exist in a spiritual sense, not physically.
Q2.
Which Christian teaching affirms belief in the resurrection of the body?
Correct answer: The Apostles’ Creed
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Ten Commandments
Q3.
Why do many Christians believe Jesus’ resurrection is central to their faith?
It proves Jesus was a prophet.
Correct answer: It is evidence of life after death and salvation.
It marks the beginning of Christian teachings.
Q4.
How does belief in resurrection influence Christian actions?
Correct answer: It encourages them to follow Jesus’ teachings.
It means they no longer need to obey religious laws.
It leads them to focus only on the afterlife, not the present life.
Q5.
Which of the following best describes Catholic beliefs about resurrection?
Correct answer: The body and soul will reunite at the final judgment.
Only the soul continues after death, not the body.
Resurrection is only symbolic, not a real event.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is a traditional Christian belief about heaven?
Correct answer: Heaven is a physical place where God resides.
Heaven is only a symbolic idea, not a real place.
Only people who never sinned can enter heaven.
Q2.
What is a contemporary Christian belief about hell?
Hell is a literal place of fire and punishment.
Correct answer: Hell is a state of separation from God.
Hell is temporary, and everyone eventually goes to heaven.
Q3.
is a temporary place that many Catholics believe souls will be cleansed before entering heaven.
Correct Answer: purgatory, Purgatory
Q4.
How does belief in heaven and hell influence Christian moral behaviour?
Correct answer: It encourages Christians to follow Jesus’ teachings.
It makes Christians fearful of God’s judgment.
It has no influence on how Christians behave.
Q5.
Which of the following best describes an inclusivist view of heaven?
Only those who believe in Jesus will enter heaven.
Correct answer: People who live good lives may enter heaven, even if they are not Christian.
Everyone will go to heaven, no matter what they believe.
Q6.
How might belief in heaven and hell influence Christian funeral practices?
They believe funerals are unnecessary because only actions in life matter.
They focus only on mourning, as there is no hope after death.
Correct answer: They may pray for the dead and find comfort in God’s love.
They avoid funerals, as they believe death is the end.