This document discusses reasons why people believe in life after death from both religious and non-religious perspectives. Religiously, Christians believe in life after death based on passages from the Bible describing heaven and hell. The resurrection of Jesus also supports the idea of an afterlife. Non-religiously, some cite paranormal experiences like ghosts or near-death experiences as evidence. However, others remain unconvinced due to lack of scientific evidence or inconsistencies between religious accounts of the afterlife.

1. Why believe in life after death?

2. In this lesson you’re going to learn: Why Christians believe in life after death Non-religious reasons for believing in life after death

3. Is there any evidence for life after death? The paranormal Near death experience Religious belief

4. Non-religious explanations:

5. The Paranormal Unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes, for example, ghosts and mediums

6. Near Death Experience: When someone is about to die and has an out of body experience – but then is brought back to life

7. Why don’t some people believe in life after death? If there is no God, nothing is non-material. There is no Heaven to go to after death The different religions have different ideas about life after death, whereas, if they were true, they would all say the same things about it The evidence for life after death is either based on holy books, and there is no way for a non-believer to decide which holy book should be believed, or the paranormal, which has been criticised by scientists

8. Reincarnation: Children re-calling past lives... Several children re-call ‘past lives’ They explain their parents They explain places they used to live They sometimes even explain how they died and what their old age was like...

9. Religious Explanations:

10. The Bible The Bible is the holy book for Christians The Bible talks a lot about life after death, including Heaven and Hell It also tells us what we have to do in order to go to Heaven

11. Bible Examples: “ Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise” (Luke 23:43) “ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19) The Parable of the sheep and goats

12. The Resurrection of Jesus The resurrection of Jesus is a big reason why Christians believe in life after death Every time the Apostles’ Creed is said, they state that “I believe in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting” Jesus died, and on the third day he rose – and in this he showed there is a life after death, and ensured we too could have eternal life

13. Potential Exam Questions: B) Do you think Catholics are right to believe in life after death? Give two reasons for your point of view C) Explain why Catholics believe in life after death D) “Catholics only believe in life after death because they’re scared of dying” i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you