RE - Believing In God

Question 1

What might be included in a religious upbringing?

Answer 1

• Bible Reading
• Attending Church
• Family Prayer
• Celebrating Festivals

Question 2

Numinous

Answer 2

When you feel the presence of a being greater than yourself.

Question 3

Free Will

Answer 3

The idea that humans are free to make their own choices.

Question 4

State the causation argument.

Answer 4

Causation argument = cosmological argument

• nothing happens by itself
• everything that happens must be caused by something else
• therefore the universe must have a cause
• only God is powerful enough to cause the universe to occur
• therefore as the universe exists, so must God.

Question 5

Omnipotent

Answer 5

The belief that God is all-powerful.

Question 6

Miracle

Answer 6

An event that breaks the laws of science and makes you think only God could have done it.

Question 7

How might bible reading during a child’s upbringing lead them to believe in God?

Answer 7

BIBLE READING - being told these stories were true from a young age by their parents makes them believe they are true as they would take their parents word as the truth.

Question 8

Natural Evil

Answer 8

Things which cause suffering but we’re not caused by humans.

Question 9

Who created the design argument?

Answer 9

William Paley

Question 10

List the 3 arguments against the existence of God.

Answer 10

• Unanswered Prayer
• Evolution&Natural Selection
• The Big Bang Theory

Question 11

How would attending church during a child’s upbringing lead them to believe in God?

Answer 11

ATTENDING CHURCH - teaches the child to see things from a religious viewpoint and also makes worshipping God a naturally acceptable event.

Question 12

Agnosticism

Answer 12

Not being sure if God exists or not.

Question 13

Omniscient

Answer 13

The belief that God is all-knowing.

Question 14

Who created the cosmological argument?

Answer 14

Thomas Aquinas - 13th Century

Question 15

Moral Evil

Answer 15

Suffering that is caused by humans.

Question 15

Why would the Big Bang theory cause someone not to believe in God?

Answer 15

Because this offers a scientific explanation or the universe starting without the need for a God.

Question 16

Prayer

Answer 16

An attempt to communicate with God, usually through words.

Question 17

State the teleological argument.

Answer 17

• To design something requires intelligence
• The universe shows evidence of design
• Therefore only someone who is intelligent could’ve designed it
• Only God is intelligent enough to have deigned the universe
• The universe exists therefore God must also exist.

Question 18

Atheist

Answer 18

Believing that God does not exist.

Question 19

How would celebrating religious festivals during a child’s upbringing lead them to believing in God?

Answer 19

Makes religion more social and relaxed and also explains the meaning and importance which suggests they are factual events.

Question 20

Name the documentary against the belief in God and state what it was about and why people would believe this.

Answer 20

‘The Big Question’
Presented by Richard Dawkins who explains how the theory of evolution disproves the theory of design by William Paley.
People believed this because Richard Dawkins is an Oxford university professor and it was produced by the Discovery Channel which is well respected and trusted.
Some may also not have recognised the documentary for the one sided point of view that it was and therefore be persuaded that there is no God.

Question 21

What is the argument of evil and suffering?

Answer 21

If God is omni-benevolent, he would want to remove evil and suffering.
If God is omniscient, he would know how to remove evil and suffering.
If God is omnipotent, he would be able to remove evil and suffering.
Evil and suffering exist.
Therefore, God cannot exist.

Question 22

What is the Christian response to the big bang theory?

Answer 22

During Genesis, it starts by God saying “Let there be light” and so many Christians see this as God causing the Big Bang which was his way of toms tarting creation.
The seven-day creation is more seen as a poem than a historical account.

Question 23

Omni-benevolent

Answer 23

The belief that God is all-good and kind.

Question 24

Conversion

Answer 24

Changing from one religion to another or from not following a religion to following one.

Question 25

What is the Christian response to evil and suffering?

Answer 25

The world is no longer as God created or intended it to be and that mankind has altered its natural form through pollution, war and development.
Furthermore, God gave humans free will and to remove evil and suffering would be taking away our right to make our own choices.

Question 27

How would family prayer during a child’s upbringing lead them to believe in God?

Answer 27

FAMILY PRAYER - Parents wouldn’t spend time praying or saying grace if they knew or didn’t think it was real.

Question 28

Why would unanswered prayer lead someone to not believe in God?

Answer 28

Because God is omni-benevolent so would answer the prayers of those in tragic situations or praying for the benefit of others.

Question 29

How would the theory of evolution and natural selection lead someone not to believe in God?

Answer 29

Many think this argument is more logical and there is more evidence to support the argument.

Question 30

What is the Christian response to unanswered prayer?

Answer 30

God is answering, his answer is just ‘no’.
This may be down to our motives e.g if we are praying for a lottery win.
God answering ‘no’ is to allow the world, nature and people to run their natural course.

Question 31

What made William Paley think of the teleological argument?

Answer 31

He looked at a watch and thought if that required a designer then the universe would need a designer so much more.

Question 32

What is the Christian response to Evolution&Natural selection?

Answer 32

Christians do not normally believe in evolution or that humans have evolved from apes although you they do believe that humans are special and made to be able to connect with God.
They accept that humans have developed and acquired skills, that our intelligence and thoughts have progressed and that our posture has improved.
Christians say there are too many missing links for the theory to be believed.

Question 33

Give an example of a famous site for miracles.

Answer 33

Lourdes, France

Receives thousands of visitors each year who are hoping for miracles. These people are usually sick, ill or willing.

Question 34

Name the documentary for the belief in God and state what it was about and why people may have believed it.

Answer 34

‘Jesus: The Real Story’.
The documentary brought together historical, academic, religious and scientific studies to present an overview on the life, aims and death of Christ in a modern and concise style.
This was produced by two highly respected channels which may have led some people to accepting the Christian teachings and believing in God due to the positive reflection the documentary gave on Jesus and Christianity.
Moreover, interviews with respected academics made the documentary more trustworthy.