Life After Death

Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 3.1.5

Beliefs About Life After Death

Catholics believe that their death is not the end of their existence. After death, they experience a form of resurrection (rising from the dead).

The Creeds (statements or declarations of faith) speak of the ‘resurrection of the body’, though this refers to a body that won't corrupt.
Catholics believe they have an immaterial soul, and it is the soul that continues to live eternally.

‘Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”’ [John 11:25-26 NIV]
‘Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they "see him as he is," face to face.’ [CCC 1023]

At the Last Judgement, Catholics believe they will be judged by God according to how they have lived their lives.
After judgement, they may be welcomed into Heaven or sent to Hell:
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory...he will sit on his glorious throne. All nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.’ [Matthew 25: 31-33 NIV]