Revision Library

revisionlibrary.co.uk

GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TB4 Death and the Afterlife

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used when discussing death and the afterlife.

(a)State what is meant by resurrection.(1)

(b)State what is meant by judgement, in a religious context.(1)

(c)State what is meant by Akhirah, in Islam.(1)

(d)State what is meant by barzakh.(1)

(e)State what is meant by heaven.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three facts about Christian beliefs concerning what happens after death.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two religious teachings about life after death. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting beliefs about the afterlife found within Christianity. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about religious and non-religious perspectives on death and the afterlife. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question: parts (a) to (d) are worth 12 marks; part (e) is the 12-mark evaluation.

(a)State what is meant by Jannah.(1)

(b)Give two reasons why belief in life after death matters to religious believers.(2)

(c)Explain two religious teachings about judgement after death. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting beliefs, religious and/or non-religious, about whether there is life after death. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Belief in an afterlife is the only reason to live a good life.' In your answer you should: refer to religious teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two non-religious arguments about death and the afterlife. Refer to Humanist or other non-religious beliefs in your answer.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three reasons why belief in an afterlife can affect how a religious believer lives their life now.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TB4 Death and the Afterlife

Question 1

(a) B1 being raised to life again, in a new form, after death, oe
(a) Answer: Being raised to life again, in a new form, after death.
(b) B1 God assessing a person's life/actions after death to decide their fate in the afterlife, oe
(b) Answer: God assessing a person's life and actions after death to decide their fate in the afterlife.
(c) B1 belief in life after death; one of the Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam, oe
(c) Answer: Belief in life after death; one of the Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam.
(d) B1 an intermediate state/barrier between death and the Day of Judgement, oe
(d) Answer: An intermediate state between death and the Day of Judgement.
(e) B1 a state or place of eternal life with God after death, oe
(e) Answer: A state or place of eternal life with God after death.

Question 2

B1 most Christians believe in life after death, based on the resurrection of Jesus, oe
B1 most Christians believe there will be a final judgement, when God assesses each person's life, oe
B1 many Christians believe the righteous will go to heaven and the unrighteous will be separated from God, oe
Answer: Any three: belief in life after death based on Jesus' resurrection; belief in a final judgement; belief that the righteous go to heaven.

Question 3

B1 point 1: many Christians believe Jesus' own resurrection is the basis for their hope of resurrection after death, oe
B1 development: 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 teaches that Christ has been raised from the dead as the 'firstfruits' of those who will also be raised, oe
B1 point 2: many Muslims believe there will be a bodily resurrection and a Day of Judgement, when every person's deeds will be weighed, oe
B1 development: the Qur'an teaches that whoever has done an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever has done an atom's weight of evil will see it (Qur'an 99:7-8), oe
Answer: E.g. hope of resurrection based on Christ's resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-22); belief that every deed, however small, will be weighed on the Day of Judgement (Qur'an 99:7-8).

Question 4

B1 belief 1: some Christians, particularly Catholics, believe in purgatory, a state in which a soul is purified before entering heaven, oe
B1 development: on this view, most people are not ready for heaven immediately after death and need a further process of cleansing from sin, oe
B1 belief 2: many other Christians reject purgatory, believing that a person's fate (heaven or separation from God) is decided immediately at death or at the final judgement, with no intermediate stage, oe
B1 development: on this view, salvation depends on faith in Jesus alone, so there is no further purification needed after death for a believer, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: belief in purgatory as a purifying intermediate state (mainly Catholic) vs rejection of purgatory in favour of immediate judgement based on faith.

Question 5

(a) B1 paradise; the place of reward for those who are judged worthy, in Islam, oe
(a) Answer: Paradise, the place of reward for those judged worthy, in Islam.
(b) B1 it gives hope that death is not the end, and that suffering or injustice in this life will be addressed, oe
(b) B1 it encourages believers to live a good, moral life now, since they believe their actions will be judged, oe
(b) Answer: E.g. gives hope beyond death; encourages moral living now, since actions will be judged.
(c) B1 point 1: many Christians believe there will be a final judgement, at which Jesus separates people according to how they lived, oe
(c) B1 development: Matthew 25's parable of the sheep and the goats describes people being separated according to how they treated others in need, oe
(c) B1 point 2: many Muslims believe on the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Qiyamah) every person's deeds will be weighed, oe
(c) B1 development: the Qur'an teaches that whoever has done an atom's weight of good or evil will see it (Qur'an 99:7-8), oe
(c) Answer: E.g. the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25); the weighing of deeds on the Day of Judgement (Qur'an 99:7-8).
(d) B1 belief 1: many religious believers hold that a soul survives bodily death and continues in some form, whether through resurrection or an intermediate state, oe
(d) B1 development: Jesus is recorded as saying, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die' (John 11:25), oe
(d) B1 belief 2: many Humanists and other non-religious people believe this life is the only one, and that there is no soul or consciousness that survives death, oe
(d) B1 development: on this view, since there is no evidence of an afterlife, people should focus on living a good, meaningful life and leaving a positive impact on others while they are alive, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: belief in life continuing after death (John 11:25) vs the Humanist belief that this life is the only one.
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to religious teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to religious teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: many religious believers argue that belief in judgement after death gives the strongest possible reason to act well, since it means every action ultimately has eternal consequences.
- Agree: the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25) links how a person treats others directly to their fate after death, which some see as a powerful, unique motivation that non-religious ethics cannot fully replace.
- Agree: some argue that without belief in judgement or an afterlife, there is nothing that ultimately holds a person accountable for wrongdoing that goes undetected in this life.
- Disagree: many Humanists argue they live good, moral lives without believing in an afterlife, motivated instead by empathy, reason, and a wish to make this one life, and the lives of others, as good as possible.
- Disagree: Humanists and other non-religious ethical traditions point to secular reasons for good behaviour, such as human wellbeing, fairness and the value of relationships and community, which do not depend on belief in reward or punishment after death.
- Disagree: some point out that plenty of religious believers do wrong despite believing in judgement, and plenty of non-religious people live generous, honest lives, suggesting belief in an afterlife is not the only, or even the main, reason people act well.
- Disagree: many Muslims teach that submitting to Allah's will and gratitude for this life are reasons to live well in themselves, alongside belief in judgement, rather than fear of judgement being the sole motivation.
- A balanced answer might conclude that belief in an afterlife provides one strong motivation to live well for many religious believers, but is clearly not the only possible motivation, since both religious and non-religious people in Britain today live moral lives for a range of reasons.

Question 6

B1 point 1: there is no scientific evidence that consciousness or a soul survives the death of the body, so many non-religious people reject belief in an afterlife, oe
B1 development: Humanists generally hold that death is the permanent end of a person's existence, and that this life is the only one anyone has, oe
B1 point 2: some argue a person can live on through their positive impact on others, such as their family, friends and community, rather than through a literal afterlife, oe
B1 development: on this view, focusing on making a difference in this life, and being remembered well, gives life meaning without needing belief in life after death, oe
Answer: E.g. rejection of an afterlife on evidential grounds; living on through legacy and impact on others rather than literal survival.

Question 7

B1 it may encourage them to act morally, knowing their actions will be judged, oe
B1 it may give them comfort and hope when facing suffering, illness or bereavement, oe
B1 it may encourage them to worship and practise their faith regularly, in preparation for judgement, oe
Answer: Any three: encourages moral living; gives comfort/hope through suffering; encourages regular worship/practice.

Death and the Afterlife - Worksheets, Questions and Revision