Unit 4: Religion & Life based on a study of Islam S1: Believing in Allah S2: Matters of Life and Death S3: Marriage and the Family S4: Community Cohesion Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah1

Believing in Allah Spec The main features of a Muslim upbringing and how it may lead to belief in Allah. How religious experiences, as seen in the numinous, conversion, miracles and prayer, may lead to belief in Allah. The argument from design and how it may, or may not, lead to belief in Allah. The argument from causation and how it may, or may not, lead to belief in Allah. Why scientific explanations of the origins of the world may lead some people not to believe in Allah. How Muslims respond to scientific explanations of the origins of the world. Why unanswered prayers may lead some people not to believe in Allah. How Muslims respond to the problem of unanswered prayers. Why evil and suffering may lead some people not to believe in Allah. How Muslims respond to the problem of evil and suffering. How two television and/or radio programmes and/or films about religion may affect a person’s attitude to belief in Allah. Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah2

Section 4.1: Believing in Allah agnosticism - not being sure whether Allah exists Atheism - believing that Allah does not exist conversion - when your life is changed by giving yourself to Allah free will - the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices Miracle - something which seems to break a law of science and makes you think only Allah 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 omni-benevolent - the belief that Allah is all-good Omnipotent - the belief that Allah is all-powerful omniscient -the belief that Allah knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen Prayer - an attempt to contact Allah, usually through words Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah3

S1: Features of a Muslim upbringing As soon as they are born when the head of the family whispers the call to prayer (adhan) into the baby’s right ear and the command to worship (iqama) into the left ear. So the baby is immediately welcomed into the ummah of Islam. followed a week later by the aqiqa ceremony when the baby is named and its head is shaved and a donation given to the poor. These birth ceremonies encourage Muslim parents to bring up their children as Muslims. Parents are teach their children prayers. Salah will be preformed as a family five times a day – this makes the children believe that Allah exists because he listens to their prayers. If Allah did not exist, they and their parents would not waste their time praying to nothing Make sure that their children go to madrasah from the age of four or five to learn about Islam and to learn to read the Qur’an in Arabic - Going to madrasah would support belief in Allah because children would learn why Muslims believe in Allah and what they believe about him Fathers will take their sons to jumu’ah prayers at the mosque on Fridays - When boys go to mosque they see lots of people praying to Allah and worshipping Allah and this is bound to make them think that Allah must exist because all these people believe he does. Celebrate the Eids and observe fasting in Ramadan as a family Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah4

S1: Religious Experience conversion when your life is changed by giving yourself to Allah – You may revert to Islam miracle something which seems to break a law of science and makes you think only Allah could have done it – Having your life saved or being cured of incurable cancer. numinous the feeling of the presence of something greater than you – feeling Allah’s presence in a time of need, it makes you stronger and gives you comfort. prayer an attempt to contact Allah, usually through words – Allah listens to your prayers 5Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah

Causation argument Everything in the world has a cause Nothing is the cause of itself There has to be a first cause to start the chain of causes This first cause we call God 6Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah

Paley's Design Argument William Paley developed this argument to try and show that the world was created by God: If you were walking along a heath and found a watch you would assume it had been designed by an intelligent designer In the same way the world is so complicated it seems to be designed Therefore there must be a designer That designer is God Q: Why does William Paley believe that God exists? Problems with design argument  Why did God create a world where people suffer  God might not have been the designer  Why did God create a world where people suffer 7Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah

Maybe God doesn’t care about or human suffering or causes human suffering Maybe God isn’t all loving Maybe God can’t do anything about human suffering. Maybe God isn’t all powerful. Maybe God doesn’t know about human suffering. Maybe God isn’t all knowing People suffer Maybe God doesn’t exist The problem of evil & suffering 8Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah

Reasons for Evil and Suffering Qadr The concept of Qadr (predestination) – everything that happens, including suffering, is part of Allah’s plan. Free will Every person has free will to choose whether or not to follow Allah – Good in that people are not robots – Bad in that, although some people will choose to follow Allah, some will not, with dire consequences both for themselves and for others. Life is a test and we are judged on our actions on Judgement day Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah9

TV or film affecting belief in Allah Encourage belief in AllahDiscourage belief in Allah  Documentaries that help you understand more about Islam like documentaries on Hajj  Documentaries about people who revert to help Islam may help support people who want to revert  Some films may show Islamic festivals and family life that help people to understand Muslim belief  Some films or TV programmes maybe biased against Islam and portray Islamic belief as supporting terrorism or being against women's’ rights.  Scientific programmes may teach about the big bang theory and that there is no God. Unit 4: Section 1: Believing in Allah10