Arguments for the existence of God Edexcel Paper 3: Unit 1 Arguments for the existence of God

Visions Corporeal vision - the person physically sees something Imaginative visions – where people see something In their imagination or dreams

Old Testament New Testament Abraham is visited by God. God promises to protect and reward Abraham for his obedience to God New Testament Matthew 17:1-13 Transfiguration – Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus, Peter, James and John St Paul on the road to Damascus Joan of Arc

Visions are powerful and can strengthen faith Visions can change a person’s behaviour and actions They are a sign of God’s love No lasting or physical proof that visions have taken place Could be explained as hallucinations or misunderstandings Even if the vision is genuine, this doesn’t prove God exists Could simply be a persons subconscience

Miracles No scientific explanation! Those who witnessed it feel they have had contact with God Even atheists or agnostics might look to God as a reason when there is no other explanation! Could be a coincidence! Science and medicine are developing and could explain it in the future God isn’t necessarily the cause!!

Religious Experiences NUMINOUS - the feeling of the presence of something greater than you CONVERSION – when your life is changed by giving yourself to God PRAYER – an attempt to contact God usually through words MIRACLE – something that can’t be explained by science so the only expectation is God

Teleological ‘Design’ Argument Paley There is evidence of design in the world There must have a been an intelligent designer Christians believe that this must be God. Based on our own experience There appear to be designed, ordered or purposeful objects God is OMNIPOTENT so only he could be the designer It encourages the study of science and nature. Genesis 1 If God is omnibenevolent why would he design evil and suffering? Darwin’s theory of Evolution goes against the idea that we have been designed - rather we just evolved to our surroundings. Why have their been design failures – e.g. why have so many animals gone extinct?

Aquinas Nothing exists without a cause The universe must have had a cause Christians believe God is the first cause (omnipotent, omniscient) Aquinas Based on our own experience Things cannot exist without a cause! It is logical God can be the cause of the Big Bang The first cause does not have to be God Why would God cause evil and suffering? Why do we assume the universe needs a cause?

Evil and Suffering Moral Evil – Suffering that is caused by humans Natural Evil – Suffering that is not caused by humans

? = Charity Prayer Free will A plan we don’t understand If God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient, then why is there evil in the world? Charity Prayer Free will A plan we don’t understand Helps us develop