Is a human being more than a body, and is there any life after death?
The existence of the soul and life after death, including beliefs about the soul, religious beliefs about the afterlife such as resurrection and reincarnation, evidence such as near-death experiences, and non-religious responses.
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on Religious and Philosophical Questions. Covers the existence of the soul and life after death: beliefs about the soul, resurrection and reincarnation, evidence such as near-death experiences, and non-religious and materialist responses, with balanced evaluation.
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What this dot point is asking
The Religious and Philosophical Questions component studies one big question (a centre chooses from areas such as origins and the existence of God, the problem of suffering and evil, and the soul and life after death). This page covers the soul and life after death: whether a person is more than a body and whether anything survives death.
You need to describe and explain beliefs about the soul, religious beliefs about the afterlife (such as resurrection and reincarnation), so-called evidence like near-death experiences, and non-religious responses, and be able to evaluate the question.
Beliefs about the soul
The key idea is dualism: that a human is made of two parts, a body (physical) and a soul (non-physical), and that the soul is the "real" self. Hindus call the soul the atman; Christians, Jews and Muslims also speak of a soul or spirit given by God. If the soul is non-physical, then the death of the body need not be the end of the person, which is why this belief underpins hope in an afterlife.
Religious beliefs about the afterlife: resurrection
In these traditions the afterlife is often linked to judgement: God assesses a person's life, and they may then share eternal life with God in heaven (and, in some teaching, face separation from God in hell). This connects directly to the World Religion component, where heaven and eternal life are the Christian goal. Beliefs about exactly what is raised (the body, the soul, or a new spiritual body) differ between and within these religions.
Religious beliefs about the afterlife: reincarnation
In these traditions, life is part of a cycle of death and rebirth (often called samsara). Good actions lead to better rebirths, and the ultimate aim is to be released from the cycle altogether: Hindus call this moksha, Buddhists nirvana or enlightenment. This is a very different picture from resurrection, and being able to contrast the two is a strong National 5 skill.
Evidence and non-religious responses
Non-religious people, often called materialists, respond that:
- The mind depends on the brain. Thoughts and personality come from the physical brain, so when the brain dies, the person ends, with no soul to survive.
- There is no reliable evidence. Near-death experiences can be explained by the brain under stress (lack of oxygen, chemicals), and there is no testable proof of an afterlife.
- Religions disagree. They describe very different afterlives, which suggests these are human hopes rather than facts.
Many humanists conclude that, since this is the only life we can be sure of, we should make the most of it and find meaning here. Religious believers reply that the soul is non-physical and that scripture and experience support an afterlife. Present both sides fairly and respectfully.
Examples in context
Example 1. A Christian and a Hindu funeral. A Christian funeral expresses hope in resurrection and eternal life with God, while a Hindu funeral reflects belief in reincarnation shaped by karma. The contrast shows how differently religions picture the afterlife.
Example 2. A reported near-death experience. A patient revived after cardiac arrest who reports a tunnel of light is used by some as evidence of an afterlife, while doctors point to the oxygen-starved brain as a natural explanation.
Try this
Q1. State what most religions mean by the soul. [1 mark]
- Cue. The non-physical, spiritual part of a person that holds identity and can survive death.
Q2. Name the belief that the self is reborn into a new body after death. [1 mark]
- Cue. Reincarnation (or rebirth).
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style4 marksDescribe two different religious beliefs about life after death.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark describe question wants two developed beliefs, ideally from different traditions, so give a point and detail for each.
First belief: resurrection. Many Christians believe that after death the person will be raised by God to eternal life, based on the resurrection of Jesus. They believe the dead will be judged and may share life with God in heaven.
Second belief: reincarnation. Hindus and others believe the soul (atman) is reborn into a new body after death, with the next life shaped by karma (the moral results of past actions), continuing until the soul is finally liberated.
Markers reward two accurate, developed beliefs. Other valid beliefs include heaven and hell, or the immortality of the soul. The command word is describe, so present the beliefs without judging them.
SQA N5 style6 marksExplain why some people do not believe in life after death.Show worked answer →
A 6-mark explain answer needs developed reasons with consequences, so make three linked points.
Point one: the mind depends on the brain. Non-religious thinkers (materialists) argue that thoughts and personality come from the physical brain, so the consequence is that when the brain dies, the person ends, with no soul to survive.
Point two: there is no reliable evidence. They argue there is no testable proof of an afterlife, and that near-death experiences can be explained by the brain under stress, so the consequence is that belief in an afterlife is not justified.
Point three: religions disagree with each other. Different religions describe very different afterlives (heaven, reincarnation), so the consequence is that some conclude these are human hopes rather than facts.
Markers reward each reason explained with its consequence. Strong answers note that religious believers reply that the soul is non-physical and that experience and scripture support an afterlife.
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