Death and Afterlife: OCR Religious Studies

[@stephh7054]

hi! i just finished my rs a level yesterday, and I wanted to let you know that your videos have been so helpful! They have honestly saved me, so thank you so much.

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

You are very welcome, I am so pleased my videos helped ☺️

[@martamonticelli7456]

I dont see anything on the ocr spec on reserection. How come a question could come up just on this?

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

That is a very good question. I doubled checked the spec and you are right. However it is mentioned in some detail in the key text books as it works well when discussing the afterlife, when do we go to heaven if resurrected? If resurrected and it is physical does this imply the afterlife is also physical etc? Hope this helps to see how to link it in to your discussion :)

[@martamonticelli7456]

@@IThinkThereforeITeach Thank you!

[@martamonticelli7456]

Hi again! On the spec it also says in the bullet points: whether or not heaven is the transformation and perfection of all creation. What does this mean? what would one write on an essay for this? Is it just heaven being a literal place or not?

[@mollycooper532]

I was wondering this too

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

I would explore the parts separately, so transformation does this I.ply bodily transformation/links to resurrection etc and what problems/pluses this poses. Then is heaven perfect? Do these ideas work? It is just a fancy way of saying what is heaven? Hope that makes sense :)

[@martamonticelli7456]

@@IThinkThereforeITeach Thank you so much!!!!

[@micheal_cera_lover]

Hi, I was looking at the specification and there is a question on whether or not God's judgement takes place after death or at the end of time. How would you suggest approaching this? Thanks

[@Daffiestchip716]

The argument that God’s judgement takes place after death immediately, may be persuasive considering certain language used in the New Testament and in parables told by Christ Jesus. In this essay, I shall discuss the logistics of “The rich man and lazarus” and biblical views from scholars such as Luke, one of the Gospel writers and Peter, one of Jesus' disciples. The parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, is a story in favour of immediate judgement. This is made somewhat clear where after the rich man goes to hell for treating the less fortunate (Lazarus) with negligence, he had wished to return back to earth to warn people. “For I have five brothers, let him warn them” Luke 16 verse 28. This however makes the key assumption that there were people still alive on earth to return to. From this, it can be inferred that people are judged and sent to heaven or hell immediately after death. Historically speaking the parable would have been taught by Jesus, therefore giving it extra validity as biblical evidence in support of the immediate judgement view point. On the other hand however, the story in being a parable, can be argued as being perhaps more symbolic as opposed to a realistically accurate account for what happens to sinners when they die. This would make the view significantly less persuasive. Another key account of potential evidence for immediate judgement lies in Luke 23:43. This chapter describes the death of Jesaus of Nazareth. Jesus says “truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”. The use of the word “today” by Jesus, heavily suggests that the man he was conversing with would be in heaven with Jesus that day. This would mean that the man had been judged by God after death immediately. However this also opens up new possible explanations for the timing /dating of judgement. This is because the man beside Jesus had already been judged by God/Jesus and accepted into heaven (for humbling himself before God and admitting his sin) before he had died. Regardless, the evidence suggests that the judgement had occurred that day or beforehand. Despite previous evidence, the quote used; Luke 23:43 may be interpreted differently. In Hebrew, or at least in ancient Hebrew, there was no use of commas. This means that the meaning of the verse can be changed from “truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” to “truly I tell you today, you will be in paradise”. The distinction is important because Jesus Christ could be saying how the man beside him will be in “paradise” with him that very day; or Jesus could be simply stating how it was that specific day to which he was telling him that he’s going to be with Jesus in “paradise”. This may not be suggesting in favour of immediate judgement, however it does not argue against it either. Therefore this argument against immediate judgement is ineffective. Despite all of this, there is key biblical evidence to suggest that there is a singular day of judgement for everyone at once. In 2 Peter 3:7 it states, “...the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly”. The bible is very explicit in stating that there is a specific day for judgement, it is less so explicit in telling whether or not this day is for the individual or for a collective. The distinction between the two is, once again, important, seeming as if judgement were to happen immediately after death it would not make sense for everyone to be judged together as people die at different dates. On a different hand however, part of the verse where it states “and destruction of the ungodly” suggests that both the day of judgement and this so-called destruction both take place at a singular point in time for everyone to experience. In taking a deeper look at the verse 2 Peter 3:7 there are two very important things mentioned. The verse doesn’t exclusively mention judgement for those on earth but for the “heavens and earth”. This may in fact suggest that those of whom had already been judged and gone to “heaven” will be judged again. This point of view accepts both views that judgement can happen straight after death and at the end of time. This view aligns itself with scripture and cancels out any perceived contradictions. It is therefore a logical conclusion. Therefore the view that judgement takes place after death is most definitely convincing; especially seeming as it doesn’t entirely contradict the day of judgement that many christians believe God has planned for them at the end of time.

[@Daffiestchip716]

I also love Michael Cera ; )

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

You would discuss judgment (sheep/ goats and Lazarus), personal identity of who is being judged based on what (maybe some links to NOG) and then what afterlife looks like heaven, hell or purgatory, I think that would be easiest way to answer it :)

[@micheal_cera_lover]

@@IThinkThereforeITeach Thank you that's really helpful

[@Letik3x]

@@Daffiestchip716 amazing essay !

[@emilydenby9250]

If we were to get a question tomorrow about judgement happening straight away would we juts compare heaven/hell with purgatory using relevant stories and quotes?? also thank you for all of your videos and livestreams they've really helped me :)

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

That would work well and the different times judgement could happen...is it straight away or at end of time? Plus what judgement would look like e.g sheep and goats :)

[@eliseperkins-c1f]

would you need to discuss Dante when assessing belief in afterlife!?

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

You would not need to discuss Dante as that is wider reading but would open up good discussion if you do use it as part of your line of argument. Just make it clear how it is relevant. If you can’t make it relevant to the Q/ your discussion leave it out :)

[@chloew968]

Do we need to revise the discussion questions separately also? Thanks :)

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

Yes these are always important as they often influence the questions in the exam :)

[@coragane5127]

Hi Amy, just had a thought… does Calvin philosophy of the ‘elect’ and not knowing that you are the ‘elect’ tie in with Kant? If Calvin believes that it’s best to be a good christian, work hard etc, and then in the end you will know if you’re judged; is this like Kant’s ‘treat as means not ends’ in a way? As Kant would also think [if he was arguing for this] that we have to follow our duty [as Christians] and keep in line with our duty so as to not treat people as means (and the whole universalisability thing of if everyone did this…). I’m not sure if I can link this, but I just thought it might be a… thought. [I sent this on your membership website, but I wasn't really sure how to see if there was any replies- or if it got to you...)

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

Hi Cora, yes I saw your other comment too (thanks for getting in touch). I think this presents a really good potential link and discussion. It could also link into Kant's postulates of autonomy and immortality and the idea you will be rewarded with the summon bonum for freely following your duty in life. I think the only difference is that Kant believes that God will ensure all are rewarded who are deserving (this world cruel and unfair whereas not in the afterlife) however calvin's theology is more deterministic so if God just sees our actions that he then elects that words but Calvin's theology can imply that we are on paths with little control and could potentially be good people who end up not being elect. A really interesting link for an essay though :)

[@chloeh8974]

Hello, how would you recommend answering whether heaven, hell and/or purgatory are physical or not?

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

Hi Chloe, I would do one paragraph on heaven, one hell and one purgatory and discuss within each whether it is physical or not and the different interpretations/ approaches that can be taken as to whether it is physical or not :)

[@patjones2544]

​@@IThinkThereforeITeach is it important to speak about all three or would it be ok to just speak about say heaven and hell

[@eliseperkins-c1f]

can you make a synoptic link with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus by signifying aquinas natural law and how it is above human therefore he would possibly believe in survival of the fittest 'dog eat dog' and furthermore counter with divine law being the highest so in actuality behave like christ in preparation for judgement.?

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

I think I am following what you are saying here. I would say that natural law would not support the rich man not helping someone as this does not support ordered society etc even though it is not law to help (human law). I like your link to divine law guiding us into the image of Christ ready for judgement :)

[@iixjessa]

hi miss, thank you so much for the videos, they really help!! do you think you could please be able to do potential questions they may ask for this years upcoming exams?

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

I am really pleased my videos are helping :) I will be focusing on putting together a list of past Q and possible gaps next half term ready for the June exams so will be coming soon.

[@iixjessa]

@@IThinkThereforeITeach okay thanks miss! :)

[@user-ip8lg3uz2u]

Thanks Aimee

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

You are very welcome ☺️

[@Letik3x]

For the renewed spiritual body you could talk about the body Jesus resurrected with, all his scars and cuts were healed it was just the holes of the nail thst was Left in his palms and his feet, you could then say that this shows the significance of the cross and the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross inordere to allow other Christian’s to have a renewed ‘ spiritual body’

[@IThinkThereforeITeach]

That is a very good interpretation and works well when discussing spiritual body :)

[@Letik3x]

@@IThinkThereforeITeach thanks Mrs this is going to be my 4th exam this week and I also have chemistry on Friday 😭 but it’s worth the pain and suffering . I’ll be living in solidarity until results day xD 🫡🫣