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Belief and non-belief in Belief and non-belief in GodGod
Objectives: To introduce the section ‘Believing in
God’ and keywords To understand and explain what it means
to be a theist, atheist or agnostic
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Believing in GodThis section is based on the study of one religion only. The religion we will be focusing on in this section is Christianity.In this section we will learn about: what Christians believe about God and how they
come to believe this, possibly through their upbringing, their appreciation of the world around them, or even through seeing a miracle take place or having a religious experience.
how Christians deal with problems that challenge their beliefs; and why some people do not believe in God at all.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Keywordsagnosticism
atheism
conversion
free will
miracle
moral evil
something which seems to break the law of science and makes you think only God could have done it
when your life is changed by giving yourself to God
actions done by humans which cause suffering
not being sure whether God exists
the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
believing that God does not exist
natural evil
numinous
omni-benevolent
omnipotent
omniscient
prayer
an attempt to contact God, usually through words
the belief that God is all-powerful
things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans
the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen
the feeling of the presence of something greater than you
the belief that God is all-good
not being sure whether God exists
believing that God does not exist
when your life is changed by giving yourself to God
the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
something which seems to break a law of science and makes you think only God could have done it
actions done by humans which cause suffering
things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans
the feeling of the presence of something greater than you
the belief that God is all-good
the belief that God is all-powerful
the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen
an attempt to contact God, usually through words
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Starter
People have always tried to understand the ultimate questions in life. Questions such as ‘Why are we here?’, ‘What happens when we die?’, and ‘Is there a God?’.
The speech bubbles next and on your sheet show different responses to these questions.
What is an ultimate question?
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Look at the world around us – it can’t have happened by accident. It must have been designed by a greater intelligence – God
perhaps.When you die, you’re just
dead – there is no afterlife. If God exists,
then why does he allow so
many terrible things to happen?
We can’t possibly know whether there is a God or not – there are some questions we just can’t
answer.
Lots of people claim to have experienced God in their
lives. They can’t all be wrong.
There is no evidence that God exists.
Science will soon be able to answer all the ultimate questions.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Someone who believes in God is called a theist.
Someone who does not is called an atheist.
A person who isn’t sure and thinks it is impossible to know for certain if God exists or not is called an agnostic.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Activity
Read the speech bubbles again.
1. Decide for each one whether it is from a theist, an atheist or an agnostic; or whether you cannot tell.
Give each of the definitions a different colour and shade the speech bubble to match your decision.
2. In your exercise book explain which of the speech bubbles you agree with? Give your reasons.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Christian beliefs about God
A Christian believes that:
God created the worldpeople can have a relationship with Godhe answers prayers and can perform
miraclesGod is omnipotent, omniscient and
omni-benevolentbelief in God gives meaning and purpose
to life and helps people to answer difficult questions about death and suffering.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
This is a famous picture by Michelangelo, showing God creating man.
3. Do you think it is realistic or not? Say why.
4. If God is all-powerful, is there anything he cannot do? List three possible things God could not do?
To help, one might be that he cannot create a God greater than himself.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Arguments an
atheist might use
Science explains how
the world came into existence The
existence of evil and
suffering in the world
counts against belief
in a loving and powerful
God
There is no evidence for the
existence of God
Events and experiences that believers say are
evidence for the existence of God are
coincidence or natural events
Atheists may have different reasons for not believing in God. Some atheists suggest that there is evidence that God does not exist, while others do not believe because, in their opinion, there is no evidence that he does exist.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Other views
Agnostics will argue that, since there is no reliable evidence either in support of God’s existence or against it, the only reasonable position to hold is literally ‘not knowing’.
An agnostic may argue that both the atheist and the theist have made a decision without sufficient evidence, and that agnosticism is the only approach we can take until there is more evidence for, or against, God’s existence.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Arguments an
atheist might use
Science explains how
the world came into existence The
existence of evil and
suffering in the world
counts against belief
in a loving and powerful
God
There is no evidence for the
existence of God
Events and experiences that believers say are
evidence for the existence of God are
coincidence or natural events
Activity
5. Copy the spider diagram on the left into your exercise book.
6. Add some more legs to it so that you can add further reasons an atheist might have for not believing in God.
7. Draw another spider diagram for ‘Arguments a theist might use for believing in God’.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Homework
Learn the key words for a test later in the unit.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Plenary
Consider the following nine questions to help you examine your own ideas about whether or not God exists.
Make a note of your answer for each question.
Think about each one carefully.
Try to think of at least one reason for your choice.
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 1
I think that there must be a God because there is order and design in the world.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 2
I believe that God listens to me if I pray to him.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 3
I believe that humans cause the suffering in the world, for example war, terrorism and violence.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 4
I find it very hard to believe there is a God when things like tsunamis and earthquakes happen.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 5
I believe that after people die their soul lives on either in heaven or on earth.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 6
I have experienced a higher power in my own life.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 7
I believe that God knows everything, even before it happens.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 8
I believe that God created the universe and everything in it.
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Question 9
I believe there must be a God because over 70% of the world believes he exists. How can so many people be wrong?
True False Unsure
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Belief and non-belief in God Section 1: Believing in God
Now add up your answers to see which of the following applies to you.
Mainly True =
Theist
This means:
You believe
that God exists
Mainly False =
Atheist
This means:
You do not believe that God exists
Mainly Unsure =
Agnostic
This means:
You are not sure whether
God exists
agnosticism
atheism
conversion
free will
miracle
moral evil
something which seems to break the law of science and makes you think only God could have done it
when your life is changed by giving yourself to God
actions done by humans which cause suffering
not being sure whether God exists
the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
believing that God does not exist
natural evil
numinous
omni-benevolent
omnipotent
omniscient
prayer
an attempt to contact God, usually through words
the belief that God is all-powerful
things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans
the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen
the feeling of the presence of something greater than you
the belief that God is all-good
Look at the world around us – it can’t have happened by accident. It must have been designed by a greater intelligence – God
perhaps.
When you die, you’re just dead – there is no
afterlife. If God exists, then why does he allow so
many terrible things to happen?
We can’t possibly know whether there is a God or not – there are some questions we just can’t
answer.
Lots of people claim to have experienced God in
their lives. They can’t all be wrong.
There is no evidence that God exists. Science will
soon be able to answer all the
ultimate questions.
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