Year 11 Revision. Complete the range of questions set within class and revise using the revision guides, working around a range of techniques.

Transcription

1 Year 11 Revision Complete the range of questions set within class and revise using the revision guides, working around a range of techniques. Follow the link for past papers and answers. Immortality- Supplementary notes: The Syllabus: Key Terminology Personhood, Mind, Body, Soul, Monism & Dualism. Ideas of what would count as immortality reincarnation, resurrection, rebirth, a legacy, as a memory of others; the problems associated with any of these options of immortality Evidence of immortality Key Terminology scriptural accounts, ghost experience, Channelling, Near Death Experience, Evidence against immortality: lack of proof, science, atheism; Immortality: Endless life or existence Personhood: What makes you you as opposed to anyone else in a personal and identifiable way. Death: When the body ceases to function and the physical life on earth ends. Currently medically this is considered to be when there is no more measurable brain function. Body: The Physical you. The Soul: The Spiritual you, non physical

2 Monism: Monism is the belief that that either the body & soul(spiritual self) combined make up a person or it is simply the body and that the idea of the soul simply represents the mind s concept of self awareness. The latter is known as Materialism Dualism: The idea that the mind and body are two distinct elements that makes up a human. (Often the mind / soul in this sense is the spiritual / non physical part of you. It is this part that would continue on after death. Models of an Afterlife: Reincarnation Indestructible As a man casts off his worn out clothes and takes on other new ones in their place, so does the embodied soul cast off his worn out bodies and enters others anew This is the belief held by Hindus & Sikhs. Not Buddhists. On death the Soul will be come back in a new physical form. (Re = Again & Incarnation made flesh) For Hindus the soul = the Atman & is a part of God that resides in all living things. The body is merely its vehicle. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth = Samsara What a person is reborn as is determined by Karma. If a person has lived a good life they will be reborn with a better life if they lived badly so there next lifetime will be worse. Ultimately Hindus wish to be reunited with God and this is called Moksha. The advantage of this view is that the Universe is ultimately Just/ Fair as our current life is a consequence of our past lives. (Relate to Evil & Suffering) Disadvantage is that if I do not remember my past lives am I really the same person in a meaningful way or does it provide an impetus to be good. Evidence for Reincarnation are accounts of people remembering past lives & Hypnotic regression. Others claim these accounts are simply illusory. Models of an Afterlife: Resurrection This is the belief held by Christianity, Judaism & Islam. This is the idea that after death a person will be raised from the dead. (Day of Judgement) Whether this is a physical or spiritual resurrection is dependent upon the Christian group. The dead person is unaware of time passing between death and resurrection and so moot point as to when day of Judgement is for the dead.

3 Heaven is with God & Hell without out him. Some believe that Hell is a place of punishment. Advantage is that this allows the good to be rewarded and the bad punished. Evidence: Scriptural & NDE & OBE Questions / Issues: If physical resurrection at what age? Infant death? Disabled? What crime / sin is worth an eternity in Hell (Benevolence of God?) Models of an Afterlife: Rebirth Buddhist belief. Similar to Reincarnation but different. The you that is reborn is different to the you in the last life. The first Universal Truth of Buddhism is anicca (Impermanence). Everything is interdependent and in a constant state of change. This lead to the second truth Anatta (No Soul / No Self). If everything is in a state of change there is nothing that you can call Me. In what way are you the same person as when you were two and in what way will you be the same when you are eighty. Rebirth similar to Hinduism is based upon Karma and the cycle Samsara. Buddhists do not however believe in God and so the aim is to reach Nirvana Enlightenment. Pros Cons & Evidence see Hinduism Models of An Afterlife: Memories This is the idea that we can only live on in the memory of others. Normally this would be through family, friends, colleagues etc. On death we die and either decompose or are cremated. There is no proof of the Soul (Perhaps the term really means our idea or personhood or self awareness) Questions & Issues: Is being in the memory of others really an afterlife. How much can you remember about your great grandparents or grandparents and how much will your children remember? Is this afterlife temporary therefore? What if the memories that remain are bad / negative? (Some would argue that this gives a moral impetus to behave well.

4 Models of An Afterlife: Legacy Similar to memories in the sense that you do not survive as you rather you live through what you have left behind. Differs from memories as memories imply an almost direct contact or at least through a personal connection. Rather people live on through what they have left behind. E.g. Leonardo Da Vinci and his Art. Mozart and his music. Socrates and his ideas. Questions & Issues: Is leaving a legacy really an afterlife. People who are exceptional / have rare qualities are remembered does this not rule out the majority of people. What if the memories that remain are bad / negative? E.G Hitler & Stalin What if the legacy is destroyed or lost? Problems & Issues Generic: What is the personal identity that continues Lack of evidence All theories beg many questions To what extent do they explain away evil & suffering Reincarnation: If the Atman (Soul) is God and we all have the same soul is there any real personal identity. If no memories is there any reason to behave well

5 Resurrection: Is the concept of physical resurrection coherent if as we know the body decomposes. (What age etc) Hell and a benevolent God seem at odds Evidence: Scripture & Tradition: In the Bible Jesus is resurrected from the dead. He appears to Mary & various disciples amongst others. For whosoever believes in him (Jesus) shall not die but have everlasting life. (John s Gospel) The Parable of the Sheep & Goats taught by Jesus talks about the day of Judgement. See notes on Revelation Questions & Issues: Faith based evidence What is the origin / source of the Bible. What about other religions and their scriptures, traditions and teachings Ghosts: Many people claim to have experienced ghosts. Many supposed photos & films of ghostly apparitions exist. Some appear to interact with people implying a conscience and some control. Channeling: Spiritualism: Religious belief that disembodied spirits of the dead exist in a different realm / dimension and can make contact with the living. Mediums: A person who has supposed Psychic abilities and can contact the spirits of the departed. Accounts appear throughout all history and in all cultures.

6 Questions & Issues: Evidence is not able to be scientifically verified & is non repeatable. Dodgy witnesses / testimonies Alternate explanations (Mind playing tricks, misinterpretation of events) Near Death Experience & Out of Body Experience: OBE implies the existence of a non physical side of us perhaps a soul. NDE is used to show that there is an afterlife. Many accounts of these events and often they are very similar / share similar qualities. Questions & Issues: What type of afterlife do they support? Reincarnation, Resurrection, different dimension? Accounts could be a safety mechanism in the brain. Lack of Oxygen to the brain can cause a bright light tunnelling effect. Ought to raise the question of when death occurs. Used to considered when heart stops now it is the brain. Perhaps more research needs to be done on the shutting down of the brain. Against Immortality No tangible proof. (See all previous slides) Alternate explanations Illusionary (mind playing tricks) Wish fulfillment Alternate explanations (NDE & OBE) Dodgy accounts & Testimonies There is no God therefore no basis for belief.

7 Answering Exam Questions: Last Year s Paper 1. Give two ways in which some people believe that humans can be immortal. (2 marks) Name two ways no need to explain. Personally I would use Resurrection & Reincarnation. 2. Describe the evidence for immortality found in scripture (holy books). (4 marks) Try and give at least two different pieces of evidence and explain them. If having difficulty explaining provide more evidence as you were asked to Describe. Jesus was resurrected from the dead Jesus in the parable of the sheep and goats talks about the day of Judgement and an afterlife. For whosoever believes in him (Jesus) shall not die but have everlasting life. John s Gospel 3. At the moment of death, the soul returns to God.. What do you think? Explain your opinion. (3 marks) Criteria Unsupported opinion or no relevant evaluation =0 Opinion supported by simple reason. =1 Opinion supported by one developed reason or two simple reasons. =2 Opinion supported by one well developed reason or several simple reasons. =3 Be careful with the phrasing of your answer as it asks for your opinion. If you show how you how you have evaluated the religious teachings this is valid Perhaps qualify.eg.

8 I am uncertain as to what happens when we die if the Hindu view is correct then... Discuss reincarnation and therefore this only occurs after multiple lifetimes etc. You could do something similar for Christianity. Equally you could discuss the atheistic view and the lack of evidence / belief 4. Explain why some people say there is no life after death. (3 marks) Criteria Nothing relevant or worthy of credit. =0 Something relevant or worthy of credit. =1 Elementary knowledge and understanding, e.g. two simple points. =2 Sound knowledge and understanding. = 3 See earlier slide Against Immortality 5. Ghosts prove that there is life after death.. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. (6) This is a generic mark scheme. A balanced argument for and against is needed and a religion must be referred to. If no religions comment half the marks are lost. If only one side of the argument is given but you have made a religious comment maximum of four marks: Possible formula for answer is Disagree Reason Evidence Agree Reason

9 Evidence Religion Personally if were answering this question I would try to give two brief but explained arguments for and against whilst tying in a religious comment. This makes it far easier for the examiner to award full marks. Also for stylistic purposes I would try and tie my second argument (either for or against) to the first opposing view as this helps with linkage and shows to a degree evaluation / consideration