Unit 1

Agnosticism - not being sure if God exists

Atheism - believing that God does not exist

Conversion - when your life is changed by giving yourself to God

Free will - the idea that humans are free to make their own choices 

Miracle - something which seems to break a law of science and makes you think only God could have done it

Moral evil - actions done by humans which cause suffering

Natural evil - things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans

Numinous - the feeling of the presence of something greater than you

Prayer - an attempt to contact God, usually through words

Omni-benevolent - the belief that God is all-good (evol - love)

Omnipotent - the belief that God is all-powerful (po - powerful)

Omniscient - the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen

Baptism - the child is welcomed into the church

Worship - taught Bible storied at Sunday School

School - Christian parents will often choose a Church school

Confirmation - Christian parents, the Church and Church schools will all encourage children to make a commitment to their faith

Being part of the Community - social events such as prayer meetings, Bible study groups or youth clubs may be provided by the Church

Adulthood - as the child grows, their Christian beliefs stay with them. When they have children, the process is repeated

Argument outline

1. Nothing happens by itself
2. Everything that happens must be caused by something else
3. The Universe cannot have happened by itself
4. A very powerful cause was necessary to bring the universe into being
5. This cause had to be God
6. Therefore God exists

Who originally put forward this argument

• Thomas Aquinas (Saint)

Argument outline

1. Design is the result of intelligent thought
2. The universe has the appearance of design
3. This suggests that a being with intelligence and thought designed the universe
4. The universe is too complex to be designed by any being other than God
5. Therefore God exists

Who originally put forward this argument

• William Paley

Argument outline

An explosiong of matter took place 15 billion years ago and, from this explosion, the universe came into being and it continues to expand and evolve without any outside power

Who originally put forward this argument

Charles Darwin

Moral Evil

1. Twin Tower attacks
2. Moors Murders
3. London bombings

Natural Evil

1. Tsunami's
2. Hurricane Catrina
3. Famine

Because people suffer from these examples it leads people to believe that God does not exist