1. Unanswered prayers and agnosticism and atheism
Believing in God
Unanswered prayers and agnosticism and atheism

2. Draw 3 conclusions
Researchers at Duke university Medical centre in North Carolina followed the progress of 750 patients who had surgery: half of whom were prayed for by a team of Christians , Jews, Buddhists and Muslims. Those who were prayed for fared no better than those who were not.

3. Big picture:
People pray to talk to God. When prayers go unanswered it can lead to people question their belief in God. Today we will explain why unanswered prayers may lead to agnosticism and atheism
A01 – knowledge and understanding
Skills – Self Manager

4. Outcomes:
All must understand the problem of unanswered prayer and how it may lead to people questioning their belief in God
Most should explain why unanswered prayers may lead to people questioning their belief in God by completing exam style questions
Some will give valid answers raised by the problems of unanswered prayers

5. How unanswered prayers may lead to agnosticism or atheism
1- prayer may not work all the time
2- Sometimes we don’t feel the presence of God (he was not there)
3- Maybe God is not listening at all
4-Maybe God cannot do a thing
5-Maybe there is no God at all!

6. Can God hear me?
Many religious people claim that when they pray, they never feel the presence of God. This is likely to make them feel that something is wrong: either they are not praying correctly or there is no god to listen.
After asking for advice and try even harder they may begin to question whether God is there at all: the feeling that no one is listening to their prayers leads them to agnosticism, or even atheism.

7. Is God Omniscient?
Christians believe that God is their heavenly father and some of them get answers. Those who don’t get any answer or don’t feel any presence of God (especially if they believe they are praying for legitimate and good things) start believing that God does not exist: they may become agnostic or atheist
If God does not answer prayers then how do we know He exist?

8. Activity
Read through the worksheet sticking it into your books underlining keywords.
Answer all questions using the exam structure

9. Does it matter if God doesn’t listen
How many of you have had a pray go unanswered?
Did you question your belief?