Believing in God

Religious Upbringing Features of Christian Upbringing? Prayer =Lords Prayer, Jesus –Disciples Prayer =Lords Prayer, Jesus –Disciples Church on Sundays -Easter -Xmas Church on Sundays -Easter -Xmas Sunday School =Learn Jesus Sunday School =Learn Jesus Church School Church School Baptism / Confirmation Baptism / Confirmation Part of Church Community e.g. choir, charities, youth groups Part of Church Community e.g. choir, charities, youth groups

The Big Question! How may a religious upbringing lead to or support a belief in God? (8 Marks) Explain feature then how it could either LEAD TO or SUPPORT a belief in God Explain feature then how it could either LEAD TO or SUPPORT a belief in God

Religious Experience 4 Kinds? 1. Numinous The feeling of the presence of something greater than yourself. Awe and wonder. The feeling of the presence of something greater than yourself. Awe and wonder. E.g. Church building, Waterfall, Stars E.g. Church building, Waterfall, Stars

2. Conversion Someone changing life and religion i.e. from Atheist to Christian (born again) Someone changing life and religion i.e. from Atheist to Christian (born again) Saul to Paul =Christian Persecutor to Christian Saul to Paul =Christian Persecutor to Christian

3. Miracles Something that breaks laws of science and can only be explained by God Something that breaks laws of science and can only be explained by God E.g. Jesus = Jairus’ daughter, Ganesh statue drinking milk E.g. Jesus = Jairus’ daughter, Ganesh statue drinking milk

4. Prayer Communicating with God usually through words Communicating with God usually through words E.g. private prayer –sick loved one recover and they do E.g. private prayer –sick loved one recover and they do Communion, Salat Communion, Salat

Design Argument Design? Things are connected and appear to have a purpose e.g. eye Things are connected and appear to have a purpose e.g. eyeEvidence? Laws of Science e.g. gravity Laws of Science e.g. gravity DNA DNA Evolution Evolution Eye Eye Digestive system Digestive system Eco system Eco system

Who? Paley’s Watch Argument Paley’s Watch Argument

How can design lead to or support a belief in God? If designed needs a designer (logic premise) If designed needs a designer (logic premise) Evidence world designed e.g. eye, DNA, laws of science Evidence world designed e.g. eye, DNA, laws of science If world designed needs a designer If world designed needs a designer Only possible designer God Only possible designer God SO GOD MUST EXIST!!! SO GOD MUST EXIST!!!

Cosmological Design (CAUSATION) Stages Evidence Cause and Effect in world e.g. freeze water = ice, press brake=stop car, don’t revise =fail!! Evidence Cause and Effect in world e.g. freeze water = ice, press brake=stop car, don’t revise =fail!! Anything caused must have been caused by something else (cannot cause self, nonsense!) Anything caused must have been caused by something else (cannot cause self, nonsense!) Cannot go back forever (infinity). Must be 1 st Cause. Cannot go back forever (infinity). Must be 1 st Cause. Only Possible 1 st Cause God Only Possible 1 st Cause God SO GOD MUST EXIST SO GOD MUST EXIST

Author? St Thomas Aquinas St Thomas Aquinas Unmoved Mover? Train carriages all moved by one in front Train carriages all moved by one in front Train 1 st in chain, not pulled but moved by engine, i.e. it moves itself Train 1 st in chain, not pulled but moved by engine, i.e. it moves itself

Search for Meaning and Purpose in Life How can the search for meaning and purpose lead to or support a belief in God? Everything has purpose so life must to e.g. eye, animals, Everything has purpose so life must to e.g. eye, animals, Purpose in life could be life after death Purpose in life could be life after death Must be a place where good rewarded and evil punished Must be a place where good rewarded and evil punished Only God provide judgement and life after death so God must exist Only God provide judgement and life after death so God must exist

Other Reasons Religion gives answers to questions e.g. why are we here? What happens after die? Meaning of life? Religion gives answers to questions e.g. why are we here? What happens after die? Meaning of life? Religious books give answers to these questions Religious books give answers to these questions Religion gives security –safety in belief Religion gives security –safety in belief Life with no meaning = purposeless, people want meaning Life with no meaning = purposeless, people want meaning

Presence of Religion and Belief in God How can the presence of religion lead to or support belief in God? 86% world religion –cant all be wrong 86% world religion –cant all be wrong UK see faith building –lead to interest UK see faith building –lead to interest Famous people e.g. Tony Blair, Mel Gibson religious Famous people e.g. Tony Blair, Mel Gibson religious Similarities between religions Similarities between religions Multicultural –Want to learn -convert Multicultural –Want to learn -convert

Non Religious (NATURAL) Explanations of world Big Bang 15 billions years ago 15 billions years ago Matter became so compressed exploded Matter became so compressed exploded Matter flew in all directions, gravity lumped it together Matter flew in all directions, gravity lumped it together Combination of gases on Earth produced Amoeba Combination of gases on Earth produced Amoeba

Evolution Darwin –Galapagos Islands -Finches Darwin –Galapagos Islands -Finches Amoeba adapted to environment- became more complex =Survival of fittest Amoeba adapted to environment- became more complex =Survival of fittest Repeated over millions / billions years Repeated over millions / billions years Humans evolved from apes Humans evolved from apes How could natural explanation lead to or support atheism or agnosticism?

Other Arguments Against God? Unanswered Prayers Unanswered Prayers Lack of Empirical Evidence Lack of Empirical Evidence Problems with miracles Problems with miracles Secularisation Secularisation Evil and Suffering Evil and Suffering

Non Religious Explanations of Miracles Miracles in Holy Books, based on eye witnesses, could be made up, books contradict each other e.g. Jesus’ birth Miracles in Holy Books, based on eye witnesses, could be made up, books contradict each other e.g. Jesus’ birth Miracle could have logical explanation e.g. Jairus’ daughter not really dead, Ganesh statue porous Miracle could have logical explanation e.g. Jairus’ daughter not really dead, Ganesh statue porous Evidence biased –written by believers Evidence biased –written by believers Why do miracles help some not others? God meant to be fair Why do miracles help some not others? God meant to be fair Why less miracles today? Why less miracles today?

Evil and Suffering Moral Evil? Caused by humans misusing freewill Caused by humans misusing freewill Natural Evil? Things that cause suffering that have nothing to do with humans Things that cause suffering that have nothing to do with humans

Moral Evil-Examples? Rape Rape Murder Murder Famine Famine Global Warming Global Warming Natural Evil Earthquakes Earthquakes Floods –Tsunami Floods –Tsunami Droughts Droughts Cancer? Cancer? Global; Warming? Global; Warming?

Problem of Evil and Suffering for God? Benevolent (All Loving) –He must want to remove evil and suffering Benevolent (All Loving) –He must want to remove evil and suffering Omnipotent (All Powerful) –He must be able to remove evil and suffering Omnipotent (All Powerful) –He must be able to remove evil and suffering Omnipotent (All Knowing) He must know it is happening Omnipotent (All Knowing) He must know it is happening If God is all knowing he must be aware of suffering, as he is kind he must want to stop it and he must be ale to. So if evil and suffering exists, GOD MUST NOT exist or he is not what religions say He is. If God is all knowing he must be aware of suffering, as he is kind he must want to stop it and he must be ale to. So if evil and suffering exists, GOD MUST NOT exist or he is not what religions say He is.

How do Christians Respond to evil and suffering? Jesus –Healed suffering –we should too Jesus –Healed suffering –we should too Prayer –Supplication Prayer –Supplication Join charity, voluntary work, job to relieve suffering e.g. doctor, nurse, social worker Join charity, voluntary work, job to relieve suffering e.g. doctor, nurse, social worker Moral Evil –Caused by people misusing freewill Moral Evil –Caused by people misusing freewill Adam and Eve Adam and Eve Need suffering to experience good, learn from suffering, opportunity to help others and get to Heaven Need suffering to experience good, learn from suffering, opportunity to help others and get to Heaven God has reasons we cant understand them God has reasons we cant understand them