Tina’s Ghost Tina tells Laura that she saw a ghost last night. Laura doesn’t believe Tina because she doesn’t believe in ghosts. Laura tells Tina she must have been dreaming. Tina says she knows she was awake because it felt so real and everything in her room was exactly the same as any other time she had woken up in the night – except for the ghost. Laura still doesn’t quite believe Tina and tells her that she shouldn’t tell lies otherwise she could get into trouble. Not Tina is very upset because she has never told Laura a lie and doesn’t like that her best friend won’t believe her. Would you believe Tina? If you wouldn’t believe her, what would change your mind? If you were Tina would you be worried about telling people in case they didn’t believe you?

Religious Experience Learning Objective: Are religious experiences proof of God’s existence? I can explain the term ‘religious experience’ I can give three examples of religious experiences I can evaluate whether these examples are proof of God’s existence

What is a Religious Experience? Awareness of having contact with an outside supreme divine being. The experience is difficult to explain. The experience is unique and individual. People feel a deep awareness and closeness to the divine. The experience is positive and encouraging. The effects of the experience are permanent and life changing.

Religious Experience Many people have had experiences of God and for them and for others hearing about them it is proof that God exists. We are going to explore 3 different examples of religious experiences. As a group you are going to read about each one and then evaluate the experience… Plus: Give one reason why this is a convincing experience Minus: Give one reason why this is not a convincing experience Something interesting: Write down an interesting fact about this experience You will have 7 minutes per example to read the story and complete your sheet.

Room Who do you want to go in the Room 101 bin? You need to create the most convincing argument you can. Ian McCormack Nicky Cruz Paul

Room 101 – Vote! Ian McCormack Nicky CruzPaul

Unit Overview You are now going to complete your unit overview for this lesson. 1)On your continuum line place a cross to show your opinion on the question ‘Does God exist?’ Has this lesson on religious experiences changed your mind? 2)In the box explain whether you think religious experiences are proof of God’s existence. x I think that religious experiences are good proof for the people who have them as they have directly experienced it themselves. However, I don’t think it is good enough proof for anyone else as it is possible they are lying.