Life after death in Catholicism and Islam

Explain the significance of a key belief within two religious traditions

AS 2.4 6 credits

Internal assessment

What happens to humans when

we die?

LO: What do Catholic believe happens after humans die?

-Where do these theories come from?

Personal Ponder

• What do we think happens to humans when we die?

• Where did we get these thoughts from? Church? Parents? Peers? Television?

• What did some of the World Religions say happens when we die?

Brief Discussion.

What do Catholics believe?

• Death is the end of earthly life. Yet, the soul continues to live on.

• Soul separates from the body. • There is a judgement at death• We come from God and return to God.• Death is not the end of life. • Diagnosing death is the responsibility of the

medical profession

So what is the soul?

• ‘Bart sells his soul’. Explore the question of what is the soul in more depth. Answer in your booklet the changes Bart goes through when he sells his soul

• Write a definition of your own in your booklet to explain what you think the soul is.

The Soul• The Soul is the spiritual principle of the human person. • The Catechism (official teachings of the church) describes the

soul as:

"the innermost aspect of humans, that which is of greatest value in them, that by which they are most especially in God's image: 'soul' signifies the spiritual principle in man.“

"is immortal: It does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection" (CCC 366).

Judgement at death

• At death there is individual judgement

• Final judgement will occur at the end of time(the second coming of Jesus)

• All souls living and dead will be Judged by Jesus Christ when he comes back to earth.

• The souls of those who die unrepentant of serious sins, or in conscious rejection of God, will at judgment day may be forever in a state called Hell.

• The Catholic Church teaches the creationist view that the spiritual and immortal soul is created immediately by God.

Vid - Christian teachings on life after death

What does the Old Testament say about life after death?

Look up the scriptures in the Old Testament andfind out about what happens after death. It ismentioned several times.

Look up the following passages for OT• Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 • Daniel 12: 2-3• Psalm 49:15

What does the New Testament say about life after death?

• John 14:1-6• 1 John 3:1-3• 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10 (Really good)

Where do we see life after death mentioned in

our Catholic practices?

Where do we see life after death mentioned in our Catholic rituals?

What rituals do we undertake as Catholics?A. mass, prayers, voluntary service, liturgy

We will focus on the Mass and Prayers

The Mass

What are the parts of the mass?

• Opening prayer• Penitential rite• Creed• Preface• Eucharistic prayer• Acclamation• Communion rite• Prayer after communion

Penitential riteThis is a general absolution and cannot replacegoing to the sacrament of confession. Wecannot receive the Sacrament of Communion ifdid not confess a mortal sin beforehand.

TASKRead the penitential rite and identify words orsentences that relate to life after death.(Handout)

I confess to almighty Godand to you, my brothers and sisters,that I have sinned through my own faultin my thoughts and in my words,in what I have done,and in what I have failed to do;and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,all the angels and saints,and you, my brothers and sisters,to pray for me to the Lord our God.P. May almighty God have mercy on us,forgive us our sins,and bring us to everlasting life.Amen.

CreedApostles Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: 2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: 3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: 5. The third day he rose again from the dead: 6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: 7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead: 8. I believe in the Holy Ghost: 9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: 10. The forgiveness of sins: 11. The resurrection of the body: 12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Copy three of the statements and describe what it says about life after death.

Apostles Creed• The Creed promotes the belief in eternal life.“And the life everlasting”• Christ will judge the living and the dead“he will come again to judge the living and the dead”• Communion of Saints- Those who are presently

living or passed away within the Catholic faith. (The idea of heaven)

“The communion of saints”

Nicene Creed

TASKRead the Nicene Creed and identify words orsentences that relate to life after death.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfilment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene Creed

Reference to life after death in the Creed

Jesus died, was buried, rose again from thedead, ascended into heaven, will come again.

We look for the resurrection of the dead and thelife of the world to come

Communion rite

Following the Lords prayer – as we wait in joyfulhope for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ

Breaking the bread – may this mingling of the bodyand blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal lifeto all who receive it.

Communion – may the body of Christ bring me toeverlasting life

How do we show we believe in life after death?

• Prayers of the faithful• Liturgy of the Eucharist

-Pray for specific dead people in the EucharisticPrayer-Pray for the dead in the prayers of the faithful-Pray for those who die in disasters and tragedies-Mass offered for deceased on anniversaries of their

death

Catholic prayers – where is life after death mentioned?

• We pray for the dead• Pray for saints to intercede on our behalf

(e.g. St Bede…….)• Rosary• Symbols R.I.P – requiescant in pace. Rest in peace.• Perpetual light – metaphor for light of Christ to continue

Examples of traditional prayers-May the souls of the faithful departed through themercy of God rest in peace-Eternal rest grant to them O Lord and let perpetuallight shine upon them

What do we believe about life after death?

TASKBased on our booklets, have we changed our opinions

on LAD?

What happens when we die?What options are there?What happens to our body?What happens beyond death?What happened to Jesus?

Some understandings• Death is a consequence of sin• Passing through death makes it possible for us to experience

God’s life• Death has meaning because of Christ’s resurrection• There is life after death• There is a resurrection of the body• There is a resurrection of the dead for judgement day• There is a final judgement on the last day when Jesus will return• People will be judged according to their faith and actions• In our life we are free to accept or reject God’s love

Purgatory

• After death because of the effects of sin some may need to go through purification to be ready for complete union with God’s love.

• It is a process rather than a place

What about Heaven and Hell?

Heaven

• People who die in God’s grace will meet God “face to face”- 1 Corinthians 13:12

• Beatific vision blessed sight of God at the moment of death (Isaiah 6:1-5 Acts 7:55-56)

• Experience the fullness of God’s life and love 1 John 3:2

• Communion of saints- 1 Corinthians 2:9• COS: is the spiritual union of all members of the

Christian Church living and the dead, those on earth, in heaven, and, for those who believe in purgatory.

Hell

• God continually offers his love and forgiveness• Hell is a state of total separation from God• It is a reminder of our freedom and that Jesus

conquered Satan

• John Paul II warned against taking biblical descriptions of judgement too literally

How do we know people value life after death?

• Rituals and practices• Prayers• Memorials

-all Saints day 1 Nov, -all souls day 2 Nov-Memorial cards-Months mind : a special mass offered

for the deceased 30 days after death

Do Catholics care about life after death?

• Prayers and rituals• Christian burial• Office of the dead• Recitation of the rosary• People stay with the body until burial• Cemeteries are maintained, flowers on graves

Practices and rituals

• Three funeral rites : Vigil, Funeral liturgy and Rite of Committal

Vigil• Gathering of family and friends following the

death

Funeral liturgy in detailDemonstration in our belief of life after death

Purpose of a funeral

• For the deceased it is an expression of an effective communion of saints between the Church in heaven and the Church on earth

• For the mourners it is a participation in that communion

• For the community it is the proclamation of eternal life.

Funeral Rite – 1)Welcoming of the body

Lighting of Easter candle

Easter candle is placed beside the coffin as a sign of Christ’s presence and victory over death

Pall is draped over the coffin

May be draped over the coffin as a sign of Christian dignity and baptism

Christian Symbols

These may be placed on the coffin

Sprinkling of the coffin

Holy water as a reminder of baptism

Presence of the Christian community

Sign of support, consolation and hope

Reading of the word of God

Reading of the Word of God shows the loving presence of God and provides hope and strength

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Eucharist as symbol of eternal life

Words of remembrance

Recollection of Christian Life

Final Commendation

Acknowledges the separation of death and the hope of the resurrection

Incensing the coffin

Honours the body as temple of Holy Spirit and as a sign of our prayers for the deceased person

Rite of Committal

• Commitment of the body to the earth (or cremation or sea)

• Blessing of the grave• Prayers• Sprinkling of holy water• Scattering of earth• Burial