Believing In God

Question 1

What is Atheism?

Answer 1

Believing God does not exist

Question 2

What is theism?

Answer 2

Believing God does exist

Question 3

What is conversion?

Answer 3

When an event forces you to change your beliefs

Question 4

What is a miracle?

Answer 4

An event that can only be explained by God, not science.

Question 5

What is numinous?

Answer 5

Feeling the presence of God

Question 6

What is Prayer?

Answer 6

Communicating with God

Question 7

What is free will?

Answer 7

The ability to make our own decisions.

Question 8

What is moral evil?

Answer 8

Evil that is a result of free will. E.g. Rape, Fraud. Man made evil.

Question 9

What is natural evil?

Answer 9

Evil caused by nature that humans can’t control. E.g. Floods, Earthquakes.

Question 10

What is Omnibenevolence?

Answer 10

The belief that God is all loving

Question 11

What is Omnipotence?

Answer 11

The belief that God is all powerful.

Question 12

What is Omniscient?

Answer 12

The belief that God is all knowing.

Question 13

What is agnosticism?

Answer 13

Being unsure if God exists

Question 14

Explain how a religious upbringing can lead to a belief in God.

Answer 14

Prayer from a young age.
Feel God listens to you. Parents wouldn’t waste time praying to nothing.

Attending Church.
See others of that religion who worship God.

Going to Church school.
Become a normal aspect of life.

Being Baptised.
Feel a part of the religion.

Question 15

Explain the features of a religious upbringing.

Answer 15

Baptism.
Parents promise to bring the child up religiously.

Pray to God.
Create a connection with God.

Go to Church.
Worship God surrounded by other Christians.

Attend Church school.
Ensure the child understands the religion and is part of their day to day life.

Question 16

Explain how a religious experience can lead to a belief in God.

Answer 16

Numinous.
Feeling Gods presence so he must exist.

Conversion.
Feel God is calling for them to do something for Him so convert.

Miracles.
Since God is the only explanation, he must exist.

Prayer.
If a prayer is answered, the God must exist.

Question 17

Explain how the design argument can lead to belief in God.

Answer 17

Plenty of evidence the world has been designed.
E.g. DNA

Something as beautiful and complex as the world must be God.
Only being omnipotent enough.

Anything designed needs a designer.
God is the only being Omniscient enough.

The appearance of the world proves God exists.
Says in the Bible. Word of God so must be true.

Question 18

Explain why the design argument may not lead to a belief in God.

Answer 18

Natural evils still exist.
God should be too Omnibenevolent to allow this.

All evidence can be explained by science.
God is unnecessary.

If God designed the world, who designed God?

Theory only proves there is a designer.
Might not have been God or for the greater good.

Question 19

Explain where there is evidence of design in the world.

Answer 19

Laws of science.
E.g. Laws of Gravity, Bonding and gases all involve complex things working together.

DNA.
The structure of DNA indicates a design or blueprint for the structure of organisms.

Evolution.
Complex life forms have developed form simple ones can’t be a coincidence.

Beauty of nature.
Mountains, sunsets and oceans have a beauty that would take a long time to create and can’t have happened by chance.

Question 20

Explain how the argument from causation may lead to a belief in God.

Answer 20

Everything in the world has a cause.
E.g. Ice is caused by low temperatures.

Something has to exist to produce the world.
Only being Omnipotent enough is God.

Everything has a beginning.
E.g. You need water to produce ice.

Something had to exist before the universe.
It says in the Bible that God existed before the universe so it must be true.

Question 21

Explain why the causation argument may be refuted by some people.

Answer 21

Why should the causes stop at God?
If everything need a cause, God must need a cause too.

Better explained by science.
E.g. The matter of the universe is eternal so goes on forever.

Where’s the proof it was God?
Could have been any creator.

God should be able to control all natural evils.
Not omnipotent enough, suggest it wasn’t Him.

Question 22

Explain why the scientific explanations of the world lead some people to become atheists of agnostics.

Answer 22

The Big Bang can be explained by red shift.
God couldn’t have created the world in 7 days.

Evolution is proved by fossils.
Disproves what the Bible says about Adam and Eve so the rest of the Bible could be lies.

God is not necessary to explain why we are here.
Science can explain that now.

Science can provide evidence and proof for everything that could be done by God.
So He may not exist so people become atheist or agnostic.

Question 23

Explain how Christians respond to scientific explanations of the world. Liberals

Answer 23

The scientific ideas are correct but needed God to happen.
E.g. The Big Bang had to be at the right micro second.

The Bible says that God said ‘let there be light’. Actually talking about the Big Bang.
Word of God so must be true.

The Bible is not 100% accurate and true. It is not a book of facts.

The Bible was written by humans inspired by God. Therefore, it has to be interpreted and is ideas not facts.

Question 24

Explain how Christians respond to scientific explanations of the world. Creationist.

Answer 24

The Bible is a book of facts.
Only believe what has been written by God.

God created the world in 7 days.
Says in the Bible, which is the word of God so must be true.

There has to be scientific laws such as gravity for the universe to form properly.
Only God could have made these laws.

Noah’s dolls can explain the Big Bang and Evolution.
Totally changed the rock formations.

Question 25

Explain why unanswered prayers may lead some people to become atheists.

Answer 25

God is supposed to be omnipotent. If he doesn't answer prayers, he isn't powerful enough or can't exist. God is supposed to be omniscient. If he doesn't answer prayers, he must be not intelligent enough or not exist. God is supposed to be Omnibenevolent. If he doesn't answer prayers, he can't love us or doesn't exist. Unanswered prayers lead to questioning God's essential nature. They show that God isn't loving, powerful or intelligent enough to answer prayers.

Question 26

Explain how followers from one religion respond to unanswered prayers.

Answer 26

God only answers prayers that benefit us. God wants what's best for us like a loving parent. God only answers prayers that fit into his plan for the world. He has a divine plan for everyone. God answers prayers in his time, not ours. Prayers are answered but not when you'd expect it. God doesn't always answer prayer, so we should just accept this. God is omnipotent and omniscient, we should just trust him and not question him.

Question 27

Explain how the existence of evil and suffering may lead some people to deny God's existence.

Answer 27

If God is Omnibenevolent, he shouldn't be able to watch us suffer. But there is suffering so he can't exist. If God is omnipotent, he should be able to stop our suffering. Same development. If God is omniscient, he should know our suffering isn't good for us. Same development. God should have made a world that avoided evil and suffering. Therefore, he can't be omnipotent or omniscient enough.

Question 28

Choose one religion and explain how followers of that religion respond to the problem of evil and suffering.

Answer 28

We shouldn't waste time wondering why we suffer but helping those who do suffer. Jesus helps everyone and is the son of God so must be right. God gave us free will. Humans suffer because they are misusing their free will. Life is a test as suffering helps improve the soul and prepares people for Heaven. Sufferers are rewarded when they die and passing the test will show strength of faith. God has a plan for us and we can't begin to understand his reasons. Christians should accept this and help others