Twenty Questions Believing in God

Twenty Questions

1. How does Christianity respond to the scientific explanations of the world ? 1. Many Christians accept scientific explanations but believe they show that God created the universe through the Big Bang. 2. (CREATIONISM) Some Christians believe that all the evidence for the Big Bang and evolution can be explained by the effects of Noah’s flood and the Apparent Age theory. 3. Some Christians believe that both the Bible and the scientific explanations are correct because the main points of the scientific theory correspond with the days (era, possibly millions or billions of years) of creation.

2. How do Christians respond to unanswered prayers? Selfish prayers will not be answered. You may need to learn a lesson. Prayers may not be answered in the way you may expect because God has a different plan for you. They believe God loves all people and will answer their prayers in the best way possible. This may be a very different answer to the one they were expecting.

3. Give examples of moral evil and suffering? It can take two forms – moral evil and natural evil. Moral evil is caused by humans using their free will. Examples are wars, rape, murder and burglary. Famine and disease can be as much a moral evil as a natural evil, if a rich government does not spend money on the infrastructure of it’s country.

4. Give examples of natural evil? Examples are earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, cancers. These are not caused by humans but do result in lots of human suffering.

5.How does evil and suffering cause people to question or reject belief in God? Some people believe that God would not have designed a world that contained natural evil. Some people cannot believe in a God who allows humans to cause so much evil and suffering when he could stop it if he wanted to. As the suffering does not stop, this may mean that God does not exist. Most religious believers believe that God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient. So the existence of evil and suffering challenges their beliefs about God.

6. How do philosophers express the problem of evil and suffering. If God is omnipotent he must be able to remove evil and suffering from the world. If God is omni-benevolent he myst want to remove evil and suffering from the world. It follows that, if God exists, there should be no evil and suffering in this world. As there is evil and suffering in this world, either God is not all-good and powerful or he does not exist.

7. How do Christians use Jesus as a guide to respond to the problem of evil and suffering? They cannot explain God’s reason for allowing evil but they believe God wants them to help those who suffer because Jesus fought evil and suffering by; healing the sick; feeding the hungry; challenging those who were evil; raising the dead. Christians follow Jesus by; Praying for those who suffer (intercessory prayers). All Christian services include prayers for people suffering from poverty, sickness, famine, flood, war etc. They also try to help people who are suffering. Many Christians become doctors, nurses, social workers or charity workers so that they can help to reduce the amount of suffering in the world. (Christian Union assembly to raise money and goods for the ‘Surviving Christmas’ charity.

8. What are three general Christian responses to the existence of Evil and Suffering? 1. The idea that human beings are free to make their own choices. Evil and suffering is caused by humans, not God. 2. Evil and suffering in this life are not a problem as this life is a preparation for paradise. People need to face evil and suffering to improve their souls and to become good, kind and loving. 3. God has a reason for not using his power but humans cannot understand it. God is divine and there is no way that humans can know his thoughts.

9. What do you need to do to answer a question on two programmes about religion? FIRSTLY – WATCH TWO PROGRAMMES ABOUT RELIGION AND TAKE NOTES! Know the names of the programmes, what happens in them and roughly when they were broadcast.

10. What do you need to be able to do to answer a question on two programmes about religion. You need to be able to; Write a summary of the programme. Give 4 pieces of evidence from the programme that might have encouraged people to believe in God. Give 4 pieces of evidence from the programme that might have encouraged people not to believe in God. Give 4 pieces of evidence from the programme that show how the programme influenced your own attitude to belief in God.

11. Which programmes can you use to answer the question on religion in film and television? FILMSTELEVISION Bruce Almighty Bend it like Beckham My Beautiful Launderette Shrek Songs of Praise Google Search – Religious programmes, look at BBC and Channel 4 for one off programmes of praise and worship as well as documentaries TV SOAP OPERASDISCUSSION/ Opinion Coronation Street Eastenders The Khans 4thought TV The Big Questions

12. Where is moral evil mentioned in the 10 commandments? The last five of the Ten Commandments (The Decalogue) Exodus 20:13-17 You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony (lie). You shall not covet (be jealous).

13. How do you answer an 8 mark question? You should have four paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain a different point and explanation. In each paragraph there can be several similar points, a discussion on one or more points or just one point with an extended explanation.

14. How is prayer a religious experience? Believers think that they can contact God through prayer. If the person feels that God is listening this gives them faith in his existence. People may pray to be guided to do the right thing. If things go well they will feel that God cares for them and is helping them.

15. Why is a miracle a religious experience. Give an example? A miracle is something that breaks the law of science and can only be explained by God. People who go to Lourdes in France are often looking for a miracle. They go for cures to illnesses or even for depression that has developed due to their illness. If they return from Lourdes feeling better about their situation they will believe that God is caring and helping them with their problems.

16.How does the appearance of design in the world NOT lead to belief in God? No designer would have created things like volcanos and earthquakes. Science can explain the appearance of design without the need for God. There is no explanation for how dinosaurs are part of the plan. Even if there is a designer it does not mean that it is God.

17. Why do some people disagree with the causation argument? If everything needs a cause then God must also need a cause. If matter is eternal the process of causes can go back forever. Even if there was a first cause it would not have to be God.

18. What is the evidence for the scientific theory? The Big Bang Theory The red shift in light from other galaxies is evidence that the universe is expanding. Evolution The evidence of fossils shows new life forms coming into existence. Genetic research shows the similarities of live forms.

19. How can the scientific explanation of the world lead to agnosticism or atheism? If science can explain the universe and humans without God, it can lead some people to doubt the existence of God (agnosticism). Other people may believe that the scientific explanation is proof that God does not exist and are athiests.

20. How might unanswered prayers lead to agnosticism or atheism? If prayers are unanswered people may think that God does not listen to them, or,does not exist. They may wonder why some peoples prayers are answered but not others. If they do not feel the presence of God when they pray (numinous).