Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain different Christian beliefs about life after death and how they impact on them.
Key learning points
- Christians believe in life after death because of Jesus’ resurrection and the promise of a transformed body.
- Christian views vary: some see heaven and hell as real places, others see them as symbolic.
- Catholics believe in purgatory as a place of purification.
- Belief in an afterlife influences Christians by giving them comfort and hope.
- It also encourages them to help others, as they believe good deeds prepare them for eternal life.
Keywords
Heaven - a place of eternal happiness and union with God for those who have lived righteously
Hell - a state of eternal separation from God for those who have rejected him or lived sinfully
Purgatory - in Catholic belief, a temporary state of purification for souls who are destined for heaven but need to be cleansed of sin first
Resurrection - being raised from the dead; the form that many Christians believe the afterlife will take, referring to either physical or spiritual bodies
Common misconception
All Christians believe in heaven and hell as literal places.
Some Christians interpret them metaphorically as states of being, such as being in God's presence or being separated from God.
Teacher tip
Recap key concepts including atonement, crucifixion, resurrection and salvation.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How does palliative care differ from euthanasia?
Q2.Which Christian belief might lead some to accept euthanasia in certain cases?
Q3.Which Christian teaching suggests suffering can have a purpose?
Q4.A living is a legal document stating a person’s medical treatment preferences in case they cannot make decisions.
Q5.Some Christians fear legalising euthanasia could lead to a slippery , where it becomes easier to justify ending lives in more cases.
Q6.The Catholic Church opposes euthanasia but allows pain relief that may shorten life. This is called the principle of effect.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.According to the Bible, those who believe in will receive eternal life.
Q2.One of the main reasons Christians believe in life after death is Jesus’ , which showed victory over death.
Q3.In Catholic teaching, what happens in purgatory?
Q4.Why do some people question the idea of an afterlife?
Q5.How do Christian beliefs about life after death affect their behaviour?
Q6.All Christians believe in heaven and hell as literal places.
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Issues of life and death unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.