Transcript RE GCSE Short Course Revision

RE GCSE
Belief in God
Mrs Strange
How to revise for RE
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Use this Power Point to investigate or revise key
points on the unit shown on the front cover
GCSE Bite size is also a valuable revision tool
Mrs Strange
Belief in God
click on the links to revise a key area
Reasons &
theories
Miracles
Evil and
suffering
What and where is God?
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A person or a force?
Inside or outside the universe?
One or many gods?
God supports and cares
God is omnipotent (everywhere at once)
Term personal God refers to him as a
concept, force or idea of goodness and
light.
Belief in God
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Reasons for believing in God:
Theist
There are several reasons for
believing in God.
The universe seems to have been
designed by someone – the
designer must be God
Science says that everything has a
cause including the universe
therefore God must exist
Humans cannot be here by chance
– life must have a meaning and
purpose.
So many people in the world
belong to a religion – they can’t all
be wrong.
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Reasons against believing in
God: Atheist
There are several reasons against
believing in God. These are:
Science explains the world better
than religion and often leads
people to be agnostic or atheist.
Miracles are seen as a problem
because why would God help
some people and not others.
Some people argue that if God
cares for everyone why doesn’t he
answer prayers.
If God is all powerful (omnipotent)
why does he let people suffer
form earthquakes and other
natural disasters that he could
stop?
Theories in the belief in God
Cosmological Argument
This argument is based
on the ideas of Thomas
Aquinas and on his
observations of the
world. The cosmological
argument for God’s
existence is that: The
world could not exist on
its own so there must
have been a first cause
that brought it into
being. This first cause is
God. Or put another
way, the universe could
not just exist on its
own—someone or
something must have
made it. This cause of
the universe is God.
Teleological Argument
The teleological argument is also known as
“the argument from design” (The Greek word
“telos” means “purpose” or “design.”). The
argument is: The universe evidence shows
great complexity or design; thus, it must have
been designed by a great Designer or God.
The best known example of this argument is
by William Paley who says the argument from
design can be likened to a watch. A watch is
obviously made by a watchmaker. The world,
which is much more complex than a watch,
must also have been designed by a great
Designer or Divine Watchmaker (God).
Therefore the teleological argument says there
is too much design – it cannot be chance.
Belief in God and religious upbringing
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Religious Upbringing:
Christianity teaches that God
exists by:
Children are baptised
Children are taken to church
and taught how to pray
Thank God for gifts especially
at Easter/Christmas
Could attend church school
With this sort of upbringing
they would think that God
existed.
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Islamic religious upbringing:
God is great
Family prays five times a day
Ramadan
Madrasah (mosque school)
Learn Arabic and Qur’an as
God’s word
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Types of evil and suffering
What is evil?
 Moral evil: evil which is deliberately caused by humans such as
cruelty or dishonesty.
 Natural evil: evil which is not anyone’s deliberate fault such as
floods and diseases.
 Many people think that the existence of evil and suffering in the
world shows there is no God…or it there is a God…he isn’t very
kind.
Why is there evil and suffering?
 Sometimes Christians say the world was made perfect but that
people disobeyed God. This is called THE FALL. This happened
when Eve gave Adam the apple to eat. In the Bible God gave Man
many opportunities to ‘do the right thing’ but man wasn’t interested
therefore suffering is a punishment for sin.
Evil and Suffering: Christian and Islamic response
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Evil and suffering
This is a problem for Christians because if God is good (benevolent) he would not
want evil and suffering.
If God is all-powerful he should be able to get rid of suffering. Therefore atheist says
that as there is evil and suffering God must not exist.
A Christian response would be that Christians pray and help those who suffer.
People suffer because humans have misused their free will. Jesus showed how
people should fight against evil. If there was no suffering/evil Christians would not
be able to develop into good people and would not get to heaven. Christians should
help those who suffer e.g. Christian Aid. Christian attitude to suffering and evil
suffering is a test of faith
it is a punishment from God
part of god’s plan
acts of nature God allows to happen
God gave us Free will to use as we wish.
Muslim attitudes to suffering and evil
It is a test for the next life (a better life to come – if they remain strong they will be
awarded a place in paradise
Allah has a plan
Good can come of suffering
Humans have free will
Is suffering part of God’s plan?
Why does God allow suffering?
 God gave people FREE WILL to live their lives as they choose. If
people are to have real freedom they have the opportunity to make
the wrong choice.
 If there was no evil or suffering we would not develop as human
beings. We would not be brave unless there was danger. We
wouldn’t be generous unless there were people in need. We
wouldn’t learn to be patient if we received everything we wanted
immediately.
Is suffering part of God’s plan?
 Some people say suffering is a test from God to see how people will
respond. Others disagree saying God does not need to test us. God
has a plan of this world and humans have to accept that suffering is
part of this plan as God can see the whole picture.
 Some Christians believe evil and suffering are the work of the devil
– he encourages people to do wrong. It is the devil who causes
disease and natural disasters. Others believe that the Devil cannot
exist as this would imply hat God isn’t all powerful.
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Miracles
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Miracles can be defined as:
An event that appears to be contrary to the laws
of nature and is regarded as an act of God.
An event or action that is totally amazing,
extraordinary, or unexpected.
Something admired as a marvellous creation or
example of a particular type of science or skill
For many Christians the accounts of miracles in
the Gospels are factual stories detailing God’s
power through Jesus to intervene in the world
and overcome death, sin, disease and nature.
Arguments that show miracles are
the work of God
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God is all-powerful and is able to manipulate our lives
and our world if he desires. Miracles therefore occur as
and when God commands them.
God shows us what he is like through miracles. Every
miraculous event tells us something about the nature of
God. We learn of his power, his wisdom and his love.
God uses miracles to balance out the existence of the
evil/bad forces in the world.
God responds to those who pray for his help and
assistance by rewarding with miracles. The occurrence
of miracles inspires a stronger faith in others.
Arguments that show miracles are
not the work of God
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Nature is not fully understood by science. Miracles are
therefore misunderstood natural forces at their most
awesome.
Miracles can be explained by coincidence if looked at
logically.
Miracles are human inventions and are advertised by
people wanting fame, fortune and power.
Miracles are part of historic events – the work of Jess
reminds us Christ was God’s son. However miracles are
no longer part of our world.
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