Unit 1 - Believeing In God

Question 0

Define: atheist

Answer 0

Believing that god doesn’t exist

Question 1

Define: agnosticism

Answer 1

Not being sure if god exists

Question 2

Methods of a religious upbringing

Answer 2

Reading or watching Bible stories.

Going to a church or independent Christian school.

Praying as a family before you go to bed or eat
meals.
Parents wouldn’t pray if they thought it was
not real.

Celebrating religious festivals as a family.
Explains meaning & importance suggests factual events.

Going to Church or Sunday School
each week.
Worshipping God becomes a naturally acceptable
event.

Family members telling you about their belief in God.
Child accepts parents word as truth.
Could convince them that the events are true

Question 3

Define: conversion

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Define: natural evil

Answer 4

Things which cause suffering but were not caused by humans

Question 5

Define:free will

Answer 5

The idea that humans are free to make their own choices

Question 6

Define causation

Answer 6

The argument that everything must have been started off (caused) by something else.’

Question 7

Define: miracle

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Explain the causation of the universe

Answer 8

1. Nothing happen by itself therefore everything needs a cause
2. Hereford the universe must have a cause
3. Only god could have cause the universe to come about
4. Therefore here must be a god

Question 9

Reason for believing in god, based on the Big Bang theory

Answer 9

The creation story in Genesis starts by God saying ‘Let there be light’ and so many Christians see this as God causing the Big Bang

Question 10

Define: moral evil

Answer 10

Suffering caused by humans, e.g murder

Question 11

Define: Prayer

Answer 11

An attempt to contact god, usually through words

Question 12

Define: omnibenevolent

Answer 12

The belief that god is all loving

Question 13

Define: numinous

Answer 13

The feeling of the presence of something greater than you.

Question 13

Define: omnipotent

Answer 13

The belief that god is all powerful

Question 15

Argument for existence of god (who created god)

Answer 15

The Christian answer is that no one made God, he always existed. He is the first one to make things happen but doesn’t need anything to make it happen.

Question 16

Arguments against gods existence

Answer 16

Charles Darwin - evolution’ and ‘natural selection’ (survival of the fittest) were the reason and not design

Richard Dawkins - There are too many faults in the universe to say they are a result of a perfect God’s design

Question 17

Reasons for not believing in god, based on the Big Bang theory

Answer 17

scientist believe the universe started as a result of a huge massive explosion they call the Big Bang. This can be seen as offering a scientific explanation for the universe without the need for a God.

Question 18

Define: omniscient

Answer 18

The belief that god is all knowing

Question 18

Reason for not believing in god, based on prayers

Answer 18

Some people would say that unanswered prayers are evidence that God doesn’t exist or people would get answers , particularly ones that are for the benefit of others in tragic situation around the world.

Question 20

Explain William Paley’s design argument

Answer 20

1. To design something takes intelligence and thought.
2. the world shows evidence of design
3. Therefore a being with intelligence and thought must have created it.
4. Only god could have the intelligence and thought to design something as complex as the world
5. Therefore as the world exist, god exists.

Question 21

Reasons for not existing in god due to evil in the world

Answer 21

1. If God is benevolent,he would want to remove evil and suffering
2. If God is omniscient, he would know how to remove evil and suffering.
3. 3. If God is omnipotent, he would be able to remove evil and suffering
4. Yet evil and suffering still exist which means that god must not

Question 22

Reason for not believing in god, based on natural selection and evolution

Answer 22

Charles Darwin believed In order to survive, life forms must adapt (evolve) to their changing environment or die. The strongest and fittest will evolve maintaining the existence of that particular species.

Question 23

Reasons for believing in god, based on unanswered prayers

Answer 23

Christians say that unanswered prayer may be down to our what we are asking for (lottery win).
Plus sometimes God allows the world, nature and people
to run its natural course.

Question 23

Part2 pieces of media which have led to people not believing in god.

Answer 23

Another piece of media is a film like davinci code or angels and demos which involve religious conspiracies and possibilities that key religious leaders doesn’t exist (Jesus). This can lead to people questioning gods existence.

Question 25

Reasons for believing in god, based on evolution and natural selection

Answer 25

Christians accept that we have developed in skills, thinking and even posture.
They point out that there are far too many missing links in the chain of evolutionary theories
to be acceptable.

Question 26

Christian response, for evil and suffering in the world.

Answer 26

1. It is gods will, and will not be changed
2. It is a test to see how we respond
3. 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

Question 27

Proof that god has given us free will

Answer 27

1. Christians say God gave humanity ‘free will’. This means the ability and right to choose. If God had not given free will, then people would have no choice but to believe in him
2. Christians believe that evil is not a result of God,
   but of choices humanity makes. For God to intervene and stop evil it would mean taking away our free will

Question 28

Pieces of media that have led to people not believing in god

Answer 28

Films such as Bruce almighty , which involves someone taking gods job and having all of his powers, this can lead to people believing that god can be replace or doesn’t exist at all.