Judgement & the Afterlife (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note
Exam code: C120
The concept of heaven and hell
Many religious traditions believe in some form of afterlife, which humans prepare for during life on earth
This belief guides people’s moral decision-making and behaviour during their lives
They believe that good behaviour will result in some form of eternal reward, or heaven
Turning away from religious teachings and ethical systems and the resulting bad actions will separate people from God in this life and can lead to eternal punishment, or hell
Beliefs about the nature of judgment, heaven and hell differ between religious traditions
Christian attitudes to judgement, heaven and hell
All Christians believe that humans have a soul and that life continues after death
Death is not the end, but the gateway to eternal life with God
Jesus’s resurrection demonstrated to his followers that life continues after death and that believers will also be raised
Life on Earth is preparation for eternal life with God in heaven
Judgement
Christians believe that God is both loving and just and that these qualities apply to the process of judgement
St Paul taught that judgement will come to everyone
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Christians believe that God will judge everyone fairly based on their faith and actions
Some Christians believe in personal judgment immediately after death
Other Christians believe all people will be judged together at the Last Judgment when Jesus returns
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) teaches that those who care for others in this life will be rewarded with heaven, while those who ignore others’ needs will be separated from God
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) teaches that compassion and generosity in this life are vital. There are no second chances after death, and people must follow God’s law in life
A rich man lived a life of luxury and ignored Lazarus, the poor, sick beggar at his gate
When they died, the rich man went to Hades (hell) and suffered, while Lazarus went to “Abraham’s side” (heaven)
The rich man begged that Lazarus be sent to cool his tongue with a drop of water to lessen his “agony”
He also asked for a chance to warn his brothers to change their ways so they would never join him there
Abraham told the rich man that if his brothers did not believe the Scripture, they would not believe a messenger either, even one straight from heaven
Heaven
Heaven is eternal life in the presence of God
It is a state of perfect love, peace and joy
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4)
Some Christians believe heaven is a real, physical place
Others see it symbolically as being united with God
Many describe heaven as the believer’s true home and the goal of a faithful life
Hell
Hell is separation from God
It is described in the Bible as a place or state of suffering and loss
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
Some Christians believe hell is a real place of eternal punishment
Others interpret it symbolically, as the pain of rejecting God’s love
The problem of hell
Many modern Christians question whether a loving God would condemn people to eternal suffering
They argue that eternal punishment conflicts with God’s omnibenevolence
Some believe that it is not God who sends people to hell, but that people separate themselves from God through their own choices
Some believe that all souls will eventually repent and be forgiven, showing God’s mercy
Purgatory
Roman Catholics teach that some souls go to purgatory, a temporary state of purification before entering heaven
Prayers and Masses for the dead may help shorten this process
Resurrection and eternal life
Jesus’s resurrection is central to Christian belief about life after death
Christians believe that just as Jesus was resurrected, all believers will also be raised from the dead
“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42–44)
Evangelical Christians often believe in a bodily resurrection
Some liberal Christians interpret resurrection spiritually: The soul lives on in God’s presence
For Christians, resurrection means death is not to be feared
They believe that heaven is their true home, and life on Earth is a preparation for eternity with God
Muslim attitudes to judgment, heaven and hell
Muslims believe that all life comes from Allah and that every soul will return to him
Life on Earth is a test
Death is the moment when the soul begins the next stage of existence
“It is He [Allah] who gives death and life.” (Qur’an 53:44)
Muslims believe that both the body and the soul have been created by Allah
The body is physical and temporary
The soul, called the ruh, is eternal
The Qur’an teaches that Allah breathes a soul into every human being
This happens during pregnancy at ensoulment, 120 days after conception
It teaches that at birth, every person is imprinted with fitrah, an instinct to recognise and worship Allah
This shows that all humans are born pure and with a natural awareness of God
Throughout life, Muslims aim to follow the will of Allah and prepare for the eternal life to come
Death and the soul
Muslims believe that death does not end existence
It marks the beginning of the next life
Muslims believe that when a person dies, the soul leaves the body but remains conscious
The soul enters a waiting state called Barzakh, a barrier between this world and the next
Souls wait there for the Day of Judgement when Allah will resurrect every person
“And no person can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at an appointed term.” (Qur’an 3:145)
Muslims believe that the dead will be questioned in the grave by two angels, Munkar and Nakir, about their faith and actions
The righteous will find peace, while those who rejected Allah will suffer until Judgment Day
The Day of Judgment (Yawm ad-Din)
Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgement, everyone will be resurrected and judged by Allah for their actions and intentions
The Qur’an describes this as a time when the whole world will end and all will stand before Allah
“The trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will fall unconscious, except those whom Allah wills.” (Qur’an 39:68)
Allah is both just and merciful
He will judge fairly, taking into account each person’s faith, deeds and repentance
Those whose good deeds outweigh their bad will go to paradise. Others will face punishment
Heaven (Jannah)
Heaven, or Jannah, is a place of eternal peace and happiness in the presence of Allah
It is often described in the Qur’an as a beautiful garden filled with reward and joy for the faithful
“Gardens of lasting bliss which they shall enter, along with those who were righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their descendants.” (Qur’an 13:23)
Muslims believe that Jannah is for those who have:
Lived good lives
Followed the Five Pillars
Shown obedience to Allah
Jannah is also a place of reunion where families are brought together again in peace
Hell (Jahannam)
Hell, or Jahannam, is a place of separation from Allah and suffering for those who have rejected him or ignored his commands
“Those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers, upon them will be the curse of Allah… they will abide therein forever.” (Qur’an 2:161–162)
The Qur’an describes it as a state of punishment and regret
Some Muslims understand these descriptions literally
Others interpret them symbolically as being distant from Allah’s mercy
Many Muslims believe that after punishment, some souls may be forgiven and eventually reach paradise, showing Allah’s mercy
The purpose of belief in the afterlife
Belief in life after death, called Akhirah, is one of the six Articles of Faith in Islam
It encourages Muslims to live righteous lives, follow the Qur’an and Sunnah and seek forgiveness for sins
It reminds them that this life is temporary and that they will answer to Allah for their behaviour
Those who are patient in suffering and trust Allah’s plan will be rewarded in the next life
God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear.” (Qur’an 2:286)
Humanist attitudes to judgment, heaven and hell
Humanists and atheists do not believe in God, the soul or any form of life after death
They believe that death is the end of an individual’s existence
They claim there is no heaven, hell or spiritual world beyond this life
Humanists focus on the importance of living a good and meaningful life in the here and now
“We can find meaning, beauty, and joy in the one life we have, without the need for an afterlife.” (Humanists UK)
Because humanists do not believe in divine judgment, they say that moral choices should be based on reason, empathy and the welfare of others in this life, not on religious teachings about reward or punishment
Humanists see belief in an afterlife as potentially distracting people from the task of improving life on Earth
Humanists believe that our memories live on through the people we have influenced, the things we have achieved and the impact we leave on the world
This is sometimes called a person’s legacy
Worked Example
Define what is meant by judgment.
[2 marks]
Answer:
Judgment is the belief that God decides how people have lived their lives, rewarding or punishing them after death.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
These beliefs about judgment and the afterlife are important because they influence how people live and make moral decisions. You will be able to link these teachings to many other topics in this section of the course, especially the topic of Issues of Good and Evil.
Remember:
For Christians and Muslims, knowing that God will judge their actions encourages them to follow moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments or the Five Pillars, and to show compassion, honesty and forgiveness
These beliefs also help believers cope with suffering, reminding them that justice will be done and that good will ultimately be rewarded
For humanists, the belief that there is no afterlife means they focus on making the most of this life and promoting human happiness and wellbeing through moral choices based on reason and empathy
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