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Is the Catholic Belief in Purgatory Biblical? – KS3 Catholic RE Lesson

This fully resourced and accessible Year 8 lesson helps pupils explore one of the most distinctive and debated Catholic beliefs—purgatory. Drawing on the KS3 Religious Education Directory (RED) and Source & Summit for Year 8, the lesson examines where the belief comes from, how it is explained in Catholic teaching, and whether it has a clear basis in scripture.

Designed for pupils with a reading age of 10, the lesson breaks down complex theological ideas using simple one-sentence definitions and corrects common misconceptions (e.g. “purgatory is not the same as hell”). Pupils engage with key sources of authority, including simplified extracts from scripture (e.g. 2 Maccabees 12:44–46, 1 Corinthians 3:15) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (e.g. CCC 1030–1032), and are supported in constructing reasoned arguments using PEEL-style writing frames and paired discussion prompts.

Ideal for Catholic RE teachers looking to spark deep thinking on life after death, biblical interpretation, and the development of doctrine—while supporting literacy, respectful dialogue, and theological curiosity.

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