1. Revision Beliefs about God
Year 7
Revision
Beliefs about God

2. Does God exist?
Yes? You are a theist, you believe in God. Not sure? You are a agnostic, you can’t decide if you believe in God. No? You are a atheist, you do not believe in God.

3. Your own personal point of view
Belief
To think that something is true, real or very important
Opinion
Your own personal point of view
Faith
To have total belief and trust in something – without the need for proof (e.g. God)
Proof
The evidence that shows an idea to be true
Fact
A piece of information or idea that we know to be true (e.g = 4)
Atheist
A person that does not believe in God
Theist
A person that does believe in God
Agnostic
A person that is unsure if God exists or not

4. What is God like? Learn the Key terms! Stretch yourself:
Add the definition of these words to your list:
Monotheist
Polytheist

5. Why do people believe in God?
Use the pictures to help you write a list of reasons why people do and do not believe in God….
Why do people believe in God?
Why do people not believe in God? 1) 2) 5) 1) 2) 4) 3) 4) 3) 5)
Stretch yourself: Add two of your own reasons to the list.
Top Philosopher task: What is the Teleological Argument?

6. Why do people believe in God?
Use the pictures to help you write a list of reasons why people do and do not believe in God….
Why do people believe in God?
Why do people not believe in God?
People believe Holy books like the Bible are given by God
Some people believe the design of the world evidences a creator-God
Some people are brought up believing in God (Church; Sunday School; etc.)
Some people claim to have seen miracles that only God could do
Some people believe God must have started the world
The world is full of natural disasters – if God existed he would stop them
The big bang (evolution) started the world – not God
There’s so many religions – how can God be real – which version of God?
If God existed there would be more answered prayers – too many unanswered prayers
There’s no evidence - no one has seen God

7. Can you explain reasons for and against belief in God?
What do you think and why?

8. The Teleological Argument
St Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) said that the ORDER and DESIGN of the world is proof of a designer, and that this designer must be God.

9. The Cosmological Argument
St Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) said for the universe to exist there had to be a ‘first cause’, and that first cause was God

10. ‘God of the gaps’
This is the idea that when science cannot offer a rational explanation, people will say “God must have been involved”

11. Does God exist?
Make an advert persuading people either that God does exist or he doesn’t! Your avert must include reasons and evidence…
Stretch yourself:
Research the Humanist bus campaign. What slogans did they use on their adverts?
Top Philosopher task: What is Cosmological Argument?