Believing in God Unit 1 Religion and Life

The main features of a religious upbringing 3. Parents take their children to church. The children often have their own special service. 1. A child’s baptism, usually as a baby, when s/he becomes part of the Christian Church. 2. Parents teach their children to pray. A prayer s/he learn is the ‘Our Father’. 4. Parents may send their children to Sunday School to learn about God and the Christian faith. 5. Parents may decide to send their children to a church school to be taught in a Christian environment. 6. As teenagers children have their confirmation, becoming full members of the Church.

Religious Experience – an event in which people feel they are in direct contact with God. The numinous. When people are in a religious building, a beautiful place or looking at the night sky, they feel awe and that there is something greater than them, that is God. Conversion. A religious experience might mean someone changes their life and commit themselves to God. Some Christians describe themselves as literally ‘born again’. Miracles. A miracle is an event that seems to break a law of science and the only explanation for which seems to be God. An example could be a miracle of healing that leaves doctors bewildered. Prayer. Prayer is supposed contact with God, either publically as part of a service or privately, alone. People believe God listens to the prayer and will respond somehow. Religious experience leads to a belief in God, because it makes people feel they are in direct contact with God and there is evidence that God exists.

The challenge of unanswered prayers Some people claim that they cannot feel God’s presence when they pray. Either they are not praying correctly or God is not there. Some people claim that God does not seem to answer their prayers. Either God is not listening or God does not exist. As a loving father God would listen, especially to prayers to end wars. Christians say God does not answer all prayers. For example God does not answer selfish prayers or things you don’t need. Moreover God might have different plans. For example a personal prayer to cure someone from cancer might not be answered. God may want that person in heaven. Christians say you should trust whatever God does is the best for you. It is meant to be benevolent.

The argument from design The universe looks to be designed (it is complex and works together towards a intended purpose). For example the universe works according to laws, such as the laws of gravity. Anything that has been designed needs a designer, and in the case of the universe, this is God. The argument ignores the lack of evidence in the universe, such as natural disasters. Science can explain the ‘appearance’ of design as an evolutionary process of genetic mutation and natural selection. The argument only proves the universe has a designer, not that the designer is the Christian God.

The argument from causation Anything in the world has a cause. Nothing can exist unless it has been caused by something else. A chain of causes must have a beginning. So the universe must have a First Cause, that is God. There could be no beginning, just an infinite chain of cause and effect. A First Cause does not have to be the Christian God. If God exists, won’t God need a cause?

The challenge of science The Big Bang describes how the universe came into being. Scientists have evidence that the began at some point and is still expanding. Evolution describes how life began on Earth. The fossil record shows how life developed from simple to more complex beings and that all living things share similar DNA. Many Christians agree with the scientific explanations and that God was responsible for the Big Bang and the process of evolution. Some Christians believe that science is wrong and the Bible is right as described in Genesis. Some Christians claim that science and the Bible is right. The main points of the Bible fits the scientific explanation.

The challenge of evil and suffering God is meant to be a good God. Why would a good God design a world with natural evil? God is meant to omnipotent. Why does an omnipotent God not stop moral evil? Christians believe evil is a force that they should fight against. Evil and suffering is supposedly not God’s fault. By making humans with free will, God created a world in which we can misuse our free will and cause evil and suffering. Evil and suffering is part of a plan in which those who suffer will be rewarded in heaven. Evil and suffering allow people to do good and become kind and loving. “Either God is not able to abolish evil or not willing; if he is not able then he is not all-powerful, if he is not willing then he is not all-good.“ St Augustine of Hippo.