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Question 4: Matters of Life and Death (a) Outline three Christian teachings that support the existence of life after death - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies B - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 4
Question 4: Matters of Life and Death (a) Outline three Christian teachings that support the existence of life after death. (3) (b) Explain two Christian pro-life ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Question 4: Matters of Life and Death (a) Outline three Christian teachings that support the existence of life after death - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies B - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Outline three Christian teachings that support the existence of life after death.
Answer
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The Resurrection of Jesus: Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is seen as a promise of life after death for believers. The event signifies victory over death and assures that those who follow Him will also be raised to eternal life.
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Eternal Life in Scripture: Passages such as John 3:16 state that believers will not perish but have eternal life. This is a fundamental teaching indicating that life continues after physical death.
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The Assurance of the Afterlife: Many Christians hold that the soul lives on after the body dies, finding support in teachings about Heaven and Hell, such as Matthew 25:46, which speaks of eternal life alongside God for the righteous.
Step 2
Explain two Christian pro-life teachings about abortion.
Answer
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Sanctity of Life: One of the core beliefs in Christianity is that life is sacred, created by God. This belief underpins the pro-life stance, indicating that taking a life, including that of the unborn, is morally wrong.
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Biblical Teachings: The Bible contains verses such as Jeremiah 1:5, which states that God knows individuals even before they are formed in the womb. This reinforces the value and purpose of every human life before birth, supporting the pro-life perspective.
Step 3
Explain two reasons why Christians believe people should be stewards of the natural world.
Answer
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Divine Command: Christians believe that God commanded humanity to care for the Earth, as seen in Genesis 2:15, where God instructs Adam to ‘till and keep’ the Garden of Eden. This directive is viewed as a moral responsibility towards creation.
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Source of Wisdom: The Bible serves as a source of authority, highlighting principles of stewardship. For example, Psalm 24:1 emphasizes that 'the Earth is the Lord's', suggesting that humans are caretakers of God's creation.
Step 4
Evaluate the statement: 'All Christians should accept the scientific explanations about evolution.'
Answer
Arguments for the statement include:
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Compatibility with Faith: Some Christians argue that evolution can coexist with their faith, believing that God could use evolution as a means to create life. This perspective allows for a reconciliatory approach between science and religion.
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Scientific Evidence: The abundance of scientific evidence supporting evolution makes it a rational viewpoint for Christians, prompting acceptance based on logical reasoning.
Arguments against the statement include:
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Literal Interpretation of Scripture: Many Christians maintain a literal interpretation of the Genesis creation account, viewing the creation narrative as a divine act that contradicts evolutionary theory.
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Theological Concerns: Some argue that accepting evolution undermines core Christian teachings regarding sin and the need for salvation, as the fall of humanity is linked to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis.
In conclusion, while the scientific explanations of evolution provide substantial evidence, the acceptance of this view among Christians varies and is influenced by individual beliefs and interpretations of scripture.