Believing in God
GCSE Short Course Religious studies:
- Key terms
- Definitions
- Islamic and Christian views
3.5 / 5 based on 2 ratings
- Created by: moll
- Created on: 22-11-11 20:49
Basic Vocabulary for Believing in God
- monotheism - think 'monobrow'
Belief in one God - polytheism - think 'polygon' - many sides
Belief in more than one God - omnipotent - 'p' = power
God is all powerful and able to do anything to his power - omnibenevolent - 'l' = love
God is all loving and he loves and cares for everyone no matter who they are or what they do - omniscience - think 'science' and knowledge of knowing things
God is all knowing and he knows everything in the past, the presence and the future
1 of 16
Relationships with God
- personal
a person can have a relationship with God and is able to communicate with him via methods such as prayer - impersonal
a person cannot have a relationship with God and he does not answer and/or listen to prayers directly - transcendent
When God is described as this, it is meant that he is not part of this world. God exists outside of the universe
2 of 16
Characteristics
- immanent
When God is described as this, it is meant that he is close. He is present with us everyday - creator
God created the world and everything in it out of nothing - sustainer
keeping everything going - infinite
God is not limited in space, he is in all places at all times - eternal
God is not limited in time, he always has and always will exist
3 of 16
Believing in God
Atheist
- doesn't believe in God at all
- doesn't think he or his spirit ever existed
Theist
- believe in God
- on the basis of faith alone
Agnostic
- aren't fully sure what you believe in
- nobody can prove there is a God
- nobody can prove that there is not a God
4 of 16
Christian and Islamic views in Believing in God
Christianity
- He is always there (infinite) and listens and cares for us
- There are stories and people have been aware of his presence for years
- Religion has been around and so there is something
- He explains and answers questions I have by methods of prayer
- Miracles do happen
- God intervenes in the life of people
Islam
- The holy Quran tells us how he created the world and what is in it
- It is a part of the Shahadah (declaration of faith made by Muslims)
- Design of the universe suggests that Allah created
- The universe had to have a cause even the big bang must have been cause by something
- Allah provides a moral code
- He gives structure and meaning to life
5 of 16
The Problem of Evil
Examples of evil
- War
- Terrorism
- Death
- ****
If God was omnipotent and omnibenevolent: surely he would be able to remove suffering because it causes so much unhappiness?
6 of 16
Problems of Evil (Continued)
Natural Evil
- Non intentional evil that is caused naturally, not by us as a global community
- Examples include volcanoes erupting, earthquakes and destruction and flooding.
Moral/man made Evil
- Evil that is caused intentionally by humans
- Examples include murder and violent attacks
7 of 16
The Design Argument: William Paley's Analogy to th
William Paley thinks the world is like a watch because:
- similarly the world has cogs and gears that seem to work with regular motions
- these regular motions allow us to achieve the purpose of telling the time
- the time is told to the world in regular cycles
- for example: the oxygen cycle
- the oxygen cycle works to the purpose of maintaining man kind
8 of 16
The First Cause
Chain Causation
- A list of explanations that tell us how one thing lead to another
St Thomas Quinas
-
He suggested that if there was motion in the universe the cause of this motion can be traced back to the first mover
-
This prime mover is what we call God
9 of 16
Religious Experience
Religious Experience
- An experience that leaves the person feeling they have been contacted
Numinous Experience
- One which leaves the person with a sense of awe and they wonder at Gods presence
Conversion Experience
- One which makes a person change their religious belief
Pilgrimage Experience
- Travelling to a place of value to your religion
Charismatic Experience
- One which is led by a powerful and believable leader
10 of 16
How Might Meditation and Prayer Count as a Religio
- Meditation and prayer involve communication with God
- It allows people to gain new knowledge of God
11 of 16
Religious Upbringing in Christianity
Baptism
- Parents swear to bring them up as Christians
- Feel welcomed into the church
- Raised into the community
Prayer
- People may feel connected to God
- Feel that he is listening to them and guiding them
Festivals
- Christmas, Easter and Lent
- Major festivals that support belief in God
Sunday School
- Learn more about religion and beliefs (Increased Bible knowledge)
12 of 16
Religious Upbringing in Christianity (Continued)
Confirmation
- Children are baptised usually when babies
- When they are older they are 'confirmed'
- They have a 'confirmation' to remind them of their promises
Schools in Britain
- Education in Britain will be along the lines of Christianity
- It will contain Bible Teachings
13 of 16
Religious Upbringing in Islam
Declaration of Faith
- The Shahadah or 'declaration of faith' are the first words a baby will hear
- His/her parents will guide them
Prayer
- Muslim children will probably pray five times a day
- Usually with their parents
- This will be compulsory and more so asserted at the age of roughly 13 onwards
Schools
- Special schools attached to the mosques
- Here children can learn more about Islam
14 of 16
Religious Upbringing in Islam (Continued)
Festivals
- Festivals like Eid-ul-fitr and Eid-ul-adha
- Teach about Muslim values
Eating
- Every Ramadan Muslims fast
- They do not eat in the daylight hours for a month
- It is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God
Religious Scripture
- Reading the Quran is part of worship for families
- Quotes from the Quran are frequently used as artwork decorating Muslim houses
15 of 16
'Teach Yourself' Questions
- What is prayer? (2)
- Do you think that learning about religion in schools is a waste of time? Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
- Explain why the idea of causation may lead to, or support, belief in God. (8)
- "God answers everyone's prayers"
a) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
b) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you (3)
- What are miracles?
- Do you think that evil and suffering mean that God cannot exist? Give two reasons for your point of view (4)
- Explain why design in the universe might lead some people to believe in God (8)
- "God gives meaning and purpose in life."
a) Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer (3)
b) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you (3)
16 of 16
Related discussions on The Student Room
- I'm an atheist but I like the idea of having a god to believe in »
- What mark would this gsce re marker be »
- religious crisis »
- is god real? »
- how do i find out what i believe in »
- islam and christian »
- can i be a Christian and spiritual at the same time? »
- christianity and feeling god's presence »
- Anyone else struggle with which denomination church to go to? »
- Explain two ways in which the belief about the creation influences Christians today. »
Similar Religious Studies resources:
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
2.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
2.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
0.0 / 5
Comments
No comments have yet been made