1. UNIT 1 KEY IDEAS

2. How can.... Religious Upbringing Religious Experience Nature of World Evil and Suffering...... affect Belief in God ChristianONLY Studying Christian Views ONLY UNIT 1 BELIEVING IN GOD

3. BELIEVING IN GOD Religious Experience Scientific View Evil & Suffering Religious Upbringing Religion & Media

4. Why Do People Believe in God? Religious Experience Religious Upbringing Christian Upbringing Christened Praying @ Home Church & Sunday School Bible Reading & Prayers Confession & Forgiveness Confirmation Believer’s Baptism Married Funeral Sense of Community DEFINITION – Touched by God 4 TYPES: N Numinous Sense of Awe / Wonder C onversion St Pauls conversion P rayers answered Adoration Confession Thanks Supplication (intercession) M iracles Healing Power over Death Control over Nature Exorcisms

5. Why Do People Believe in God? An Atheist Might Say... “IF GOD IS... Omni benevolent (all loving) Omnipotent (all powerful) Omniscient (all knowing) WHY IS THERE EVIL AND SUFFERING” Natural Evil Moral Evil A Theist might respond “Four reasons for suffering... 1. 1. Life is a test for us – follow Jesus’ teachings fight Evil & Suffering prayers – charities CAFOD – social work 2. 2. Punishment for sins (of Adam and Eve) 3. 3. Unknowable - Who are we to question God 4. 4. Free Will God’s gift to man Free to choose” An Agnostic sits on the fence Evil & Suffering Scientific View 2 Scientific Explanations on Life 1. BIG BANG U Universe set in motion E Energy released P Planets solar system formed through Cause and Effect But what C CC CAUSED Big Bang? GOD as first cause???? 2. EVOLUTION H Humans evolved from simpler life forms over time into complex ones M Mutations & Natural selection But What if Evolution DESIGNED? GOD as Designer???

6. Why Do People Believe in God? BRUCE ALMIGHTY M Man becomes God G God as Omnis... P Power of Prayer to Heal & Transform S Some Christians like it coz.. s shows God in Positive light hows Complexity of god hows Free Will O Others Dislike coz... D Disrespectful G God is Irresponsible C Childish Religion & Media GLEE – Grilled Che’esus M Miracle of Toast - Personal Prayers Answered F Father Heart Attack – Son Atheist – Friends Pray – Conflict – Recovers P Power of Prayer to Heal & Transform S Some Christians like it coz.. hows Power of Prayer hows Great Equality hows Community Spirit O Others Christians dislike coz... C Contains Offensive Themes H Homsexuality B Blasphemy D Disrespectful & Childish SHROUD OF TURIN J Jesus Burial Cloth R Real or Fake – Assess the Evidence I If Real – Jesus Exists – Miracle – Symbol of God f Fake – church used to brainwash – make Money

7. BELIEVING IN GOD numinous conversion miracles prayer agnosticism atheism benevolent omniscient omnipotent natural evil moral evil free will