Arguments for the existence of God -
There are 4 main arguments for the existence of God you need to know about here they are -
1. Religious experience - There are 4 types of religious experience these are miracles , numinous , prayer and conversion. These could lead to the belief in God because if there is a miracle its an extraordinary event which appears to defy science and if something appears to defy science then there must be another cause which could be God. A second reason is if you pray to God and your prayer comes true it may lead to you believing that God caused your prayer to come true. If you have an numinous experience and feel the presence of God this could also lead to you believing in God.
Now try or plan this exam question on religious experience -
C part - How could a religious experience cause someone to start believing in God ?
Tips - For a C part you need 4 different points there are 4 different types of religious experience so you could make a point on each one
C part - How could a religious experience cause someone to start believing in God ?
Tips - For a C part you need 4 different points there are 4 different types of religious experience so you could make a point on each one
2. The design argument - This is a theory by William Paley who wrote the theory based on Paley's watch . Paley's watch says that if you found a watch on a beach you would not imagine that it just occurred randomly you would think it has a designer. Therefore the earth is far more complex than a watch so the earth must also have a designer who is God. We have many examples of design such as DNA and gravity. Paley felt that something as great as the earth could only have one possible designer who is God therefore God must exist. This theory has some opposition however :
1. Whats to say its the Christian God who designed the earth ?
2. What about volcanos and earthquakes surly God would not design these
3. The dinosaurs are not mentioned in this theory did God design them too ?
4. We now have science to explain how the earth was created so do we still need God to explain it ?
1. Whats to say its the Christian God who designed the earth ?
2. What about volcanos and earthquakes surly God would not design these
3. The dinosaurs are not mentioned in this theory did God design them too ?
4. We now have science to explain how the earth was created so do we still need God to explain it ?
3. The causation argument - The causation argument is based around the theory that everything on earth needs a cause. We can see this in our everyday lives for example if you fail an exam the cause may be that you didn't revise, the cause for you not revising could be that you were at a party, the cause for you being at the party may be it was your friends birthday and so on. So this chain of events goes on and on until eventually you go back so far you can no longer find a cause and the causation argument suggests this cause is God. That God is the first cause and like everything else we see around us the universe needs a cause and God is said to have caused the universe . Therefore God must exist , however this theory again has some opposition :
1. If everything needs a cause what caused God
2. Whats to say the christian God is the first cause ?
3. The universe is eternal causes will just keep going back
1. If everything needs a cause what caused God
2. Whats to say the christian God is the first cause ?
3. The universe is eternal causes will just keep going back
Religious upbringing - Sometimes a religious upbringing can also lead people to believe in God here are some features of a religious upbringing -
1. Going to church
2. Going to a christian primary school
3. Going to sunday school
4. Being baptised
5. Being confirmed
6. Saying regular prayers
1. Going to church
2. Going to a christian primary school
3. Going to sunday school
4. Being baptised
5. Being confirmed
6. Saying regular prayers
Now try / plan this exam question -
B part - Do you think a family should bring up a child in their religion ?
B part - Do you think a family should bring up a child in their religion ?
Example answer - Yes I do think parents should be able to bring their children up within their religion. One reason for this is religions often teaches children good morals. This supports my view because if children learn good morals while their young they are likely to continue them as they grow up and become good members of society . A second reason I believe parents have the right to bring children up within their religion is the parent would possibly believe that after death only those following the religion will go to heaven . This supports my argument because the parent would want their child to go to heaven and so it would be very hard for them not to encourage their child to follow the religion and it gives the parent reassurance.
Arguments against the existence of God -
There are 3 main reasons some people don't believe in God see the slide show below :
Scientific explanations
Disproof of God- Big Bang was the cause of the universe not God
- Evolution goes against what the bible says - There is no longer need for God now we have discovered how science fills the gaps |
Christian responses- We don't know what caused the Big Bang ( Still gaps in science )
- Science and the bible could work along side and both be right - Some say that the bibles right ( creationism ) evolutions wrong |
Unanswered prayers -
Disproof of God -- people may not feel Gods presence when praying
- God is loving so why would he ignore prayers ? - Churches tell people about others prayers being answers so why not theirs - Why would God only answer some prayers and not others |
Christian responses- Some prayers may be selfish
- God knows best and may have better plans than the ones prayed for - Jesus says we must have faith for prayers to be answered - God may be giving us what we need not what we want |
Evil and suffering -
Disproof of God- Why would an all loving God want us to suffer
- Why would an all powerful God create volcanos - An all powerful God could remove evil |
Christian responses- Only heaven should be perfect
- Moral evil may be down to misuse of free will - God needs to test us to see if we are worthy of going to heaven - So we can help those who suffer as Jesus did - God may have a reason we can not understand to not remove evil and suffering |
Now try / plan this exam question -
C part - How may Christians respond to arguments against God based on evil and suffering ?
C part - How may Christians respond to arguments against God based on evil and suffering ?
Example answer -
One way Christians may respond to this is by saying that only heaven should be perfect. This means that although we may have to suffer on earth, afterwards we will be rewarded with an eternal paradise in heaven. A second way a Christian may respond is by saying moral evil is down to human misuse of free will. This is because God gave us free will so we can do as we please this means if someone uses their free will to do wrong it will cause moral evil. A third way christians may respond is its so we can help those who suffer as Jesus did. This is because we are taught in the bible we should act like Jesus and as Jesus helped the suffering it gives us a chance to act as Jesus by also helping the suffering. A final response Christians may have is God has bigger plans for us . This means that we may be suffering for a reason that we can't understand yet which is part of Gods bigger plan for us .
One way Christians may respond to this is by saying that only heaven should be perfect. This means that although we may have to suffer on earth, afterwards we will be rewarded with an eternal paradise in heaven. A second way a Christian may respond is by saying moral evil is down to human misuse of free will. This is because God gave us free will so we can do as we please this means if someone uses their free will to do wrong it will cause moral evil. A third way christians may respond is its so we can help those who suffer as Jesus did. This is because we are taught in the bible we should act like Jesus and as Jesus helped the suffering it gives us a chance to act as Jesus by also helping the suffering. A final response Christians may have is God has bigger plans for us . This means that we may be suffering for a reason that we can't understand yet which is part of Gods bigger plan for us .
Marks break down ( If you are using mobile turn to web version to use this feature )
Mark 1 - 1st point
Mark 2 - Development of 1st point
Mark 3 - 2nd point
Mark 4 - Development of 2nd point
Mark 5 - 3rd point
Mark 6 - Development of 3rd point
Mark 7 - 4th point
Mark 8 - Development of 4th point
Mark 1 - 1st point
Mark 2 - Development of 1st point
Mark 3 - 2nd point
Mark 4 - Development of 2nd point
Mark 5 - 3rd point
Mark 6 - Development of 3rd point
Mark 7 - 4th point
Mark 8 - Development of 4th point