http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE9E07EznXw

Watch the following clip, what does it tell us Watch the following clip, what does it tell us about the importance of funerals?about the importance of funerals?

Starter – What is the purpose of a funeral service? Use the following pictures to help you decide.

FuneralsFunerals

When a person dies their body is placed in a coffin. Sometimes this coffin is left open so that relatives can say a final goodbye to the person.

Topic 4 – Death and the AfterlifeTopic 4 – Death and the Afterlife

(a) Describe Christian beliefs about what happens (a) Describe Christian beliefs about what happens to evil people after death. (8)to evil people after death. (8)

(b) Explain how a Christian funeral service might (b) Explain how a Christian funeral service might comfort someone whose close friend had died. (7)comfort someone whose close friend had died. (7)

© ‘It cannot be true that there is life after death, © ‘It cannot be true that there is life after death, because there is no proof for it’because there is no proof for it’

Do you agree? Give reasons to support your Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (5)Christianity in your answer. (5)

TaskTask

Design and produce a leaflet that explainsDesign and produce a leaflet that explains What happens at a Christian funeralWhat happens at a Christian funeral Explain how each part is designed to help Explain how each part is designed to help

the mournersthe mourners

Is there life after death?Is there life after death?

Christians believe believe that that Christ rose from rose from the dead. This is the dead. This is called the called the resurrection. They . They believe that this is a believe that this is a sign that Christ had sign that Christ had overcome the power overcome the power of death. of death.

Purpose of a FuneralPurpose of a Funeral

Although a funeral is Although a funeral is always sorrowful, a always sorrowful, a Christian funeral is not Christian funeral is not total misery, as Christians total misery, as Christians are aware that, as long as are aware that, as long as the deceased has lived a the deceased has lived a good life, death is the good life, death is the doorway into a better doorway into a better existence. Hence, the existence. Hence, the funeral does nothing for funeral does nothing for the deceased, its purpose the deceased, its purpose is to help the living come is to help the living come to terms with their grief. to terms with their grief.

The ChurchThe Church

The coffin is then usually taken to a church or chapel The coffin is then usually taken to a church or chapel (occasionally straight to the crematorium). Here a (occasionally straight to the crematorium). Here a priest will read from the priest will read from the BibleBible. The priest will also say . The priest will also say a few words about the person which are designed to a few words about the person which are designed to comfort the mourners and then say prayers, hoping comfort the mourners and then say prayers, hoping that the person will now be in heaven. that the person will now be in heaven.

Such prayers will generally contain a plea to God to Such prayers will generally contain a plea to God to forgive the sins of the dying person and welcome them forgive the sins of the dying person and welcome them into into HeavenHeaven

Burial or CremationBurial or Cremation

Next the coffin is taken from the church, either for Next the coffin is taken from the church, either for burialburial or or cremationcremation..

In the past many people did not approve of In the past many people did not approve of cremation because they felt that it would mean cremation because they felt that it would mean that the person could not be resurrected on the that the person could not be resurrected on the Day of JudgementDay of Judgement. In the Apostle's Creed it says: . In the Apostle's Creed it says: I believe in...the resurrection of the body...I believe in...the resurrection of the body... However, St Paul said that However, St Paul said that

'on earth it is a physical body but in heaven it will 'on earth it is a physical body but in heaven it will be a spiritual body...'be a spiritual body...'(1 Corinthians 15:43)(1 Corinthians 15:43)

Physical body on earth, spiritual Physical body on earth, spiritual body in heavenbody in heaven

At the Crematorium or GraveyardAt the Crematorium or Graveyard At both services the priest or minister will probably At both services the priest or minister will probably

say: say: We commit this body to the ground, earth to We commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In this way In this way people are reminded that we are all human and people are reminded that we are all human and made by God. made by God.

People often send People often send flowersflowers to a funeral as a to a funeral as a tribute. They represent the new life and the beauty tribute. They represent the new life and the beauty of the world which the dead person is about to of the world which the dead person is about to enter. enter.

CandlesCandles are sometimes lit to remind people that are sometimes lit to remind people that Jesus was the Jesus was the Light of the WorldLight of the World and that because and that because of him, Christians can be saved from their sins and of him, Christians can be saved from their sins and go to heaven. go to heaven.

TaskTask

Design and produce a leaflet that explainsDesign and produce a leaflet that explains What happens at a Christian funeralWhat happens at a Christian funeral Explain how each part is designed to help Explain how each part is designed to help

the mournersthe mourners

Christian funeral is not total misery, as Christians are aware that, as Christian funeral is not total misery, as Christians are aware that, as long as the deceased has lived a good life, death is the doorway into long as the deceased has lived a good life, death is the doorway into a better existence. Hence, the funeral does nothing for the deceased, a better existence. Hence, the funeral does nothing for the deceased, its purpose is to help the living come to terms with their grief. its purpose is to help the living come to terms with their grief.

In the past many people did not approve of cremation because they In the past many people did not approve of cremation because they felt that it would mean that the person could not be resurrected on the felt that it would mean that the person could not be resurrected on the Day of JudgementDay of Judgement. In the Apostle's Creed it says: . In the Apostle's Creed it says: I believe in...the I believe in...the resurrection of the body...resurrection of the body... However, St Paul said that However, St Paul said that

'on earth it is a physical body but in heaven it will be a spiritual 'on earth it is a physical body but in heaven it will be a spiritual body...'body...'(1 Corinthians 15:43) (1 Corinthians 15:43)

At both services the priest or minister will probably say: At both services the priest or minister will probably say: We commit We commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In this way people are reminded that we are all human and made by In this way people are reminded that we are all human and made by God. God.

People often send People often send flowersflowers to a funeral as a tribute. They represent to a funeral as a tribute. They represent the new life and the beauty of the world which the dead person is the new life and the beauty of the world which the dead person is about to enter. about to enter.

CandlesCandles are sometimes lit to remind people that Jesus was the are sometimes lit to remind people that Jesus was the Light Light of the Worldof the World and that because of him, Christians can be saved from and that because of him, Christians can be saved from their sins and go to heaven. their sins and go to heaven.