Christianity: Self, death and afterlife — AQA A-Level Religious Studies

This topic explores Christian beliefs about the nature of the self, the concept of death, and what happens after death. It is central to Christian theology because it addresses fundamental questions about human identity, purpose, and destiny. You will examine key doctrines such as the soul, resurrection, judgment, and eternal life, drawing on biblical passages and the teachings of influential theologians like Augustine and Aquinas.

Understanding Christian perspectives on self, death, and afterlife is crucial for AQA A-Level Religious Studies because it connects to broader themes of salvation, eschatology, and the problem of evil. It also allows you to compare Christian views with secular or other religious perspectives, which is a key skill in the synoptic paper. Mastery of this topic will help you analyse how Christian beliefs shape ethical decisions about life, death, and the value of the human person.

The topic is divided into three main areas: the nature of the self (body-soul dualism vs. holistic views), the meaning and purpose of death (as a consequence of sin and a gateway to new life), and the afterlife (resurrection, heaven, hell, and purgatory). You will need to evaluate different interpretations within Christianity, such as the differences between Catholic and Protestant teachings, and consider philosophical challenges like the problem of personal identity after death.

• →Body-soul dualism: The belief that humans consist of a physical body and an immaterial soul, which survives death. This is supported by Plato and Augustine, but criticised by holistic views that see the person as a unity.
• →Resurrection of the body: The Christian doctrine that at the end of time, God will raise the dead to new bodily life, as exemplified by Jesus' resurrection. This is central to 1 Corinthians 15 and the Nicene Creed.
• →Judgment and afterlife: The belief that after death, individuals face God's judgment, leading to heaven (eternal communion with God), hell (eternal separation from God), or purgatory (temporary purification for Catholics).
• →The intermediate state: The period between death and the final resurrection, where the soul exists without a body. Different Christian traditions have varying views on this (e.g., soul sleep vs. conscious existence).
• →Salvation and atonement: The belief that Jesus' death and resurrection overcome sin and death, offering eternal life to believers. This connects the afterlife to Christ's work.

• The meaning and purpose of life: glorifying God, personal relationship with God, preparing for judgement, and bringing about God's kingdom on earth.
• The concept of the soul.
• Resurrection of the flesh as expressed by Augustine.
• Spiritual resurrection.
• Significance of 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 and 50-54.
• Interpretations of judgement, heaven, hell, and purgatory as physical, spiritual, or psychological realities.
• Objective immortality in process thought.

• 💡Ensure you can distinguish between physical, spiritual, and psychological interpretations of afterlife concepts.
• 💡Be prepared to discuss the relative importance of the different purposes of life.
• 💡Use specialist terminology accurately when discussing process theology versus traditional Christian views.
• 💡Use precise biblical references (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15, John 11:25-26) and theological terms (e.g., 'eschatology', 'parousia') to demonstrate depth of knowledge. Avoid vague statements like 'the Bible says'.
• 💡When evaluating, consider both strengths and weaknesses of each view. For example, body-soul dualism explains personal identity after death but faces challenges from neuroscience and holistic biblical anthropology.
• 💡Connect to other topics: Link the afterlife to the problem of evil (e.g., how heaven compensates for suffering) or to ethical issues like euthanasia. This shows synoptic understanding and can boost your marks.

• Misconception: Christians believe the soul is immortal by nature. Correction: While many Christians affirm the soul's survival after death, they typically hold that immortality is a gift from God, not an inherent property. Only God is immortal by nature (1 Timothy 6:16).
• Misconception: The resurrection of the body means the same physical body is restored. Correction: Most theologians (e.g., Aquinas) argue that the resurrection body is transformed and glorified, not identical to the earthly body. Paul describes it as a 'spiritual body' (1 Corinthians 15:44).
• Misconception: All Christians believe in immediate judgment after death. Correction: Some traditions (e.g., some Protestants) teach 'soul sleep' or an intermediate state where the dead are unconscious until the final judgment. Catholics believe in particular judgment immediately after death, followed by purgatory for some.