RE - Believing in God

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Everything has a cause of its existence
The universe exists
Therefore, the universe has a cause of its existence
If the universe has a cause of its existence then the only possible First Cause of the universe is God, therefore God must exist

The cosmological arguement was created by Thomas Aquinas (Christian monk).

STRENGTHS: Everything has a cause and effect
It can be demonstrated and is easy to understand
God must be uncaused otherwise he would not be the greatest 

WEAKNESSES: Contradicts its own idea that eveything has a cause
Maybe God is not the only explanation

THE DESIGN ARGUMENT (Teleological)

There are examples of design in the world, (e.g. Human Body)
If the world shows design, the world must have a designer
The only possible designer of the world could be God
Therefore, the apperance of design in the world, proves that there must be a God

STRENGTHS: Detail and level of design in the world (fibonacci sequence) 
Every design needs a designer

WEAKNESSES: If God is omnibenevolent why are some people blind, natural disasters
If a designed mind made the universe, then how come some things are not perfect

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES

The Numinous  - The feeling of a presence greater than you
Why = Experience leaves you in awe that there is a greater presence and that God is real

Miracle - Something which seems to break a law of science and makes you think only God could have done itWhy = Think that God has acted on Earth or direct contact with God. Unable to find a logical explanation leads to God causing the miracle.

Prayer - An attempt, to contact God, usually through wordsWhy = If you feel God is listening to your prayer or if a prayer is answered

Conversion - When your life is changed by giving yourself to God
Why = Feel that God is calling them to do something for him.

Religious Upbringing

Taught how to pray to God = Listens to your prayers, whats the point if God didnt exist (waste of time)
Children sent to Sunday school = Surrounded by belief, learn about God and what Christians believe about him
The sacramet of confirmation = religious experience/ceremony and presence of God through vows and laying on of hands
Children taken to church to worship = Seeing other people praying and worshipping makes you think God must exist as everyone around you + religious place of worship
Going to a church school = God + Christianity would be normal feature of school life and RE lessons teach about God, likely to think so because teachers tell them