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Introduction

Life after death Christianity Life after death is an essential part of the Christian religion. Jesus, the son of god, died on the cross and three days later he rose again from the dead, the resurrection. Hundreds of people saw him. This has given Christians the hope that when they die, they will live on in another place. Christians believe in heaven and hell. If a person lives a good moral life they can expect to get to heaven, when they die. If they live an immoral life then perhaps hell will be an alternative. Luke 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus was crucified with two thieves. One of the thieves, while dying on the cross asked Jesus to have mercy upon him when he died. ...read more.

Middle

No one living today has seen god, and no one has seen heaven or hell. However, Christians still believe that they will be resurrected. This is faith, belief in something that cannot be seen. In Anglican, orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions smearing the sick are a ceremonial action which can be requested for very ill people. When it is performed on a dying person it is often referred to as the "last rites". It involves rubbing oil on the person's forehead and in the Roman Catholic tradition, the feet and the hands too. It symbolizes the healing of the mind and the strengthening of spirit and is accompanied by special prayers. At the death candles are often placed near the coffin as a symbol for the future life and a reminder of the 'light of Christ' who is the means of redemption. In Roman Catholic and orthodox services incense, with its smoke rising upwards as a symbol of prayer, is sprinkled over the coffin After death the place of ...read more.

Conclusion

The priest's sprinkles holy water on the dead body at the door and then recites words from John's Gospel: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25) Roman Catholics do not believe that the soul does not immediately go to heaven but spends time in purgatory. Most Protestants do not believe in purgatory, yet they do believe in life after death. A funeral is the closing of a Christian's life on earth, it is where friends and families express feelings and grief, and send the Christian to God. A funeral church service of the Church of England allows a slow and quiet funeral where a few friends and family members father and share their time for the dead person, it is common that a few hymns are sung or some music is played. In a Parish Church they use the prayer book, they read their favourite prayers and it can be set as a communion service. ...read more.

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