Non-religious beliefs about death and the afterlife
I can explain non-religious beliefs about the afterlife and the arguments for and against life after death.
Non-religious beliefs about death and the afterlife
I can explain non-religious beliefs about the afterlife and the arguments for and against life after death.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Some non-religious individuals believe in an afterlife or a soul.
- Non-religious views include psychological continuity, energy transformation, and technological immortality.
- Humanists reject life after death, focusing on the present.
- Arguments for an afterlife cite authority, widespread belief, and disputed evidence.
- Arguments against it stress brain-dependent consciousness, religious contradictions, and social control.
Keywords
Afterlife - what follows the physical life on earth; life after death
Consciousness - the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, thoughts, and surroundings
Soul - the spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone to God. The soul is often regarded as nonphysical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife
Common misconception
Only religious people believe in life after death.
People who aren't religious often believe in some sort of life after death; this can range from believing in a soul which lives on to believing that our legacy lives on.
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Non-religious beliefs about death and the afterlife, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Non-religious beliefs about death and the afterlife, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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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.
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