R.s GCSE-nature of reality, existence of God

Question 1

What are the four of the main arguments for the existence of God?

Answer 1

• The design argument
• The anthropic argument
• The cosmological argument
• The moral argument

Question 2

Why are the arguments about the existence of God valueble?

Answer 2

They enable people to consider whether belief in God is reasonable. Christianity requires faith, but the arguments also demonstrate logical ways for God to exist. This allows for discussion about his existence.

Question 3

What’s the teleological argument/ the design argument?

Answer 3

The nature world is so complex and intricate that it could only have been achieved through intelligent design. This means there must be an intelligent being who designed it: God. It’s also known as the design argument, and is supported by other arguments eg. Paley’s watch.

Question 4

How can experiences of awe and wonder support the teleological argument?

Answer 4

The observation of the natural world can create fascination and awe, which can be a revelation. It’s intricate and complicated, so it can move some to believe in a designer God.

Question 5

What is Paley’s watch?

Answer 5

If you are walking and found a watch, you would see how to interact with it. All the parts work together to meet a purpose. This couldn’t be a result of an accident, and the reasonable conclusion is that it’s the work of a designer. The same is true of the world and nature, so the world must have a designer; God

Question 6

How did Mill refute the teleological argument?

Answer 6

John Stuart Mill said that there is cruelty in nature eg. animals efficient at killing others. There are also natural disasters due to faults in the Earths structure. He said this was evidence of a bad design,so if God existed he would be cruel and therefor deserves no worship.

Question 7

What is the anthropic principle?

Answer 7

The world is so perfectly structured to ensure that life would develop. Evolution is further evidence for a designer, producing increasingly complex life forms, eventually with a conscience. Evolution was guided by God. The chance of humans existing by chance is so low that there must have been a creator.

Question 8

What is the cosmological argument?

Answer 8

There is no event in the natural world without a cause; everything is created by something else, like an arrow shot from a bow. The universe must therefore also have a cause. There must be a prime mover or first cause, who himself has no cause. We call this person God.

Question 9

What is the moral argument?

Answer 9

When we do something wrong, we have a sense of guilt. This is the voice of God speaking through our conscience, enabling people to know what is right and wrong. Because of free will people can ignore their conscience, but God’s voice reminds us we are responsible to him. Without God there would be no inner scene of right and wrong.

Question 10

What is the soul-making argument?

Answer 10

Humans make decisions about what is right, learning from suffering and evil to act in a way to please God. This process would continue after death. Through moral decisions a person’s soul can develop. Some Christians reject this as it does not fit with the belief that God judges people after death.

Question 11

Why do Christians choose to live an ethical life?

Answer 11

They want to show obedience to God and please him, in order to demonstrate the authority and worth they give to God. Jesus helped people on Earth so Christians follow him.

Question 12

How do some Christians choose to live ethically?

Answer 12

• Buying products with recycled materials
• Buying Fair Trace produces
• Promoting reforestation
• Giving to charity

Question 13

How is God revealed through scripture?

Answer 13

The Bible is written by many people, but to many Christians is the World of God. There are different interpretations on how much influence God had on the Bible.

Question 14

What is a literal interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 14

The Bile is literally God’s words recorded on the page. There are no mistakes and it is all true,as God is infallible. When it contradicts with science, the Bible takes authority. Christians like that are fundamentals or literals. Some Christians try to live strictly according to the Bible, eg. the Amish community.

Question 15

What are conservative interpretations of the Bible?

Answer 15

The Bible writers were inspired by God but were only humans, so there may be mistakes. They are writing from a point in history, so it needs to be interpreted today. Some stories may be myths in order to teach a message. The authority of the scripture still comes from God, not through the Church. Decisions conflicting with biblical teachings should be rejected

Question 16

What are liberal interpretations of the Bible?

Answer 16

Bible stories are mythical and symbolic. Scientist have a better understanding of the world than anything in the Bible. The Bible is an account of the writers’ lives and encounters with God to provide guidance and inspirational. There is no claim of it being without errors. Each person’s interpretation is important

Question 17

How is God revealed through Jesus?

Answer 17

Jesus is God incarnate, he was on Earth and showed us what God is like. It showed his love for humanity , as he look limitations to teach people, provide an example and show God’s love. He was prefect and fully God still Humans could understand Jesus, so God had been literally seen and recorded in the New Testament.

Question 18

What is a miracle?

Answer 18

A supernatural act or event that brings about good.

Question 19

What are the four types of miracles?

Answer 19

Healing miracles- when an unwell person immediately returns to health, or recovers after being told by doctors that they are dying and incurable.
Miracles over nature- when natural elements are controlled.
Raising the dead- when someone declared dead returns to life.
Exorcisms- when someone possessed by an evil spirit had it sent out of their body.

Question 20

What are modern day miracles?

Answer 20

Miracles performed today by God, just like in Biblical accounts. Many Christians pray for interventions from God, reinforcing the personal relationship.

Question 21

What is Lourdes?

Answer 21

It is a site in the south of France, important for Catholics. Bernadette claimed to see the Virgin Mary there, and it became site of pilgrimage.

Question 22

Why do some Christians not accept modern miracles?

Answer 22

God revealed himself through Jesus and the Bible, so further revelation is unnecessary. Miracles seem random and immoral, as God heals some but not others. God created the laws of nature so has no need to constantly intervene and break them.

Question 23

How can meeting inspirational people effect some people?

Answer 23

They hear the way that God has worked in the life of an inspirational person. They may sense God’s presence from them and be inspired and encouraged in their own faith.

Question 24

What are some examples of figures inspirational to Christians?

Answer 24

Mother Theresa- a nun who helped the poor in the slums of India

Question 25

What are religious experiences?

Answer 25

When people claim to have had some kind of direct encounter with God eg. visions, mystical experiences with awe and wonder and religious experiences which cause a person to gain faith.

Question 26

What are conversion?

Answer 26

Experiences that cause a person to adopt a belief in God, with a new scene of direction in life with God at the center. It may cause them to change their behavior and choices.

Question 27

What was Paul’s conversion?

Answer 27

Saul was a man threatening the disciples. He saw light from heaven and God spoke to him, asking him why he persecuted Him. Saul was blinded and traveled to Damascus, where his sight was restored. He changed his name to Paul and spent his life spreading the Christian faith. The story is documented in Acts 9

Question 28

What are mystical experiences?

Answer 28

An experience where a believer feels an overwhelming awareness of the presence of God feeling awe and wonder. They’re unique, sometimes causing a scene of peace and oneness of God. Experiences are left in no doubt that God is real, strengthening faith for the person but nobody else. Some Christians downplay them as they imply that the World of God and Jesus are not enough.

Question 29

What are visions?

Answer 29

A religious experience where someone claims they can see something supernatural. This isn’t visible to others, but some say they see their visions in the same way as they see other things in the natural world. Some hear voices as well. Some reject them as they are adding something new to what is revealed in the Bible, which is against its teachings.

Question 30

What are charismatic and ecstatic experiences?

Answer 30

They’re a type of altered state of mind, as people become less aware of the world around them and experience intense emotional and spiritual feelings about God. Some see visions in their trance. Large groups of people may experience ecstasies, known as revival. Charismatic Churches use the term “slain in the Spirit”, where people fall backward, overcome by the Holy Spirit.

Question 31

What is baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Answer 31

It’s used by Pentecostal Churches. It’s an experience where a believer gives control to the Holy Spirit after conversion. They came to know Christ in a more personal way, being filled with the Spirit’s power. It’s an action of God’s grace.

Question 32

What’s glossolalia?

Answer 32

Speaking in tongues, it stems from a Pentecostal belief that they are equipped with the gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues. It’s miraculously speaking in an ecstatic (non human) language unknown to the speaker by the Spirit, it allows believers to worship God.