Starter quiz
- Which of the following statements about non-religious individuals’ views on life after death is true?
- All non-religious individuals reject the idea of an afterlife.
- Some non-religious individuals believe in an afterlife or a soul. ✓
- Non-religious individuals believe in reincarnation.
-
- Which of the following non-religious views involves the idea that consciousness continues through the transfer of energy after death?
- psychological continuity
- technological immortality
- energy transformation ✓
- reincarnation
-
- Humanists reject the idea of life after ______ and instead focus on making the most of the present life.
- 'death' ✓
- What do humanists emphasise in place of a belief in life after death?
- the importance of religious teachings about the afterlife
- focusing on the present life and the human experience ✓
- the hope for an eternal soul that lives on
- the need for personal salvation in the afterlife
-
- Arguments against the existence of an afterlife often emphasise brain-dependent ______, contradictions in religious teachings, and the use of beliefs about an afterlife as a form of social control.
- 'consciousness' ✓
Exit quiz
- What is the primary purpose of funerals, regardless of whether they are religious or not?
- to focus on religious teachings about death
- to bring people together and provide a structure for mourners ✓
- to hold large, elaborate celebrations
- to strictly follow a set of rituals with no room for personal expression
-
- Which of the following statements about non-religious funerals, such as humanist funerals, is true?
- they always include religious rituals
- they focus on remembering the deceased without religious rituals ✓
- they are only for people who do not believe in any religion
-
- What is the main purpose of funerals according to Durkheim?
- to celebrate the deceased's life with festivities
- to reinforce social unity and shared beliefs ✓
- to provide a time for family members to grieve alone
- to focus on the physical aspects of burial or cremation
-
- Which of the following statements about Catholic funeral practices is correct?
- Catholics do not pray for the soul of the deceased
- Catholics emphasise silence rather than prayers
- Catholics pray for the soul of the deceased ✓
- Catholics only include music in their funeral ceremonies
-
- What is a common feature of Pentecostal funerals?
- they include only prayers with no music
- music and worship are incorporated into the ceremony ✓
- they focus on silent reflection
- they do not have any specific rituals for the deceased
-
- Funerals, including humanist ones, bring people together and provide a structure for ______.
- 'grief' ✓
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Funerals are ceremonies before a burial or cremation that honour the deceased and support those in mourning.
- Durkheim saw them as vital for social unity, offering structured grief and reinforcing shared beliefs.
- Christian funerals usually include prayers, readings, and a committal at the final resting place, with some variations.
- Catholics pray for the soul, Quakers opt for silence, and Pentecostals incorporate music and worship.
- Humanist funerals, being secular, celebrate the deceased's life and relationships with eulogies and meaningful readings.
Common misconception
Funerals are always religious ceremonies.
Funerals are not always religious. Many, like humanist funerals, focus on remembering the deceased without religious rituals. They bring people together and provide a structure for grief.
Keywords
Afterlife - what follows the physical life on earth; belief in life after death
Ceremony - a formal event or ritual held to mark a significant occasion
Eulogy - a speech given to honour and remember someone
Funeral - a ceremony marking a person's death which takes place before burial or cremation; family and friends gather to honour the deceased and support one another
Readings - passages of text read aloud during an event to convey a message, offer reflection, or provide comfort
+