A/2 Philosophy of Religion

Life After Death

Revision Questions

Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van covered with hundreds and thousands. Police say that he topped himself.

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2. What are some possible ways in which we may have 'life' after death?

3.What three theories have implications for our belief in life after death?

4.  Outline the theory of materialism.

5. What were Gilbert Ryle's ideas on the mind/body problem?

6. What are the differences between hard and soft materialism?

7. In what way could a materialist say there is life after death? What problems come with this theory?

8. How does John Hick address this problem?

9. Is materialism a successful theory? Give reasons for your answer.

10. Outline the ideas contained in the theory of Idealism.

11. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this theory?

12. What is dualism? Who first wrote about this and where?

13. What is Cartesian Dualism? What are the differences between this and the ancient Greek form?

14. Is Dualism correct? Give reasons for your answer.

15. Which of the three ideas of what makes me 'me' do you think is most successful? Why?

16. List the different types of 'evidence' given for the existence of life after death.

17. What is a Near Death Experience?

18. What are the strengths of NDE's as proof for the existence of life after death? What are the weaknesses?

19. What is resurrection? Give two biblical references to resurrection.

20. Does the resurrection of Jesus prove the existence of life after death? Give reasons for your answer, showing you have thought of two sides.

21. What is spiritualism? Give three examples.

22. In what ways does spiritualism prove the existence of life after death? In what ways does it not?

23. Does reincarnation or regression into past lives prove the existence of life after death?

24. Do you think there is life after death? In your answer address the mind/body problem, as well as the issue of evidence and show that you have considered both sides of the argument.