1. Belief and non-belief in God Objectives:  To introduce the section ‘Believing in God’ and keywords  To understand and explain what it means to be a theist, atheist or agnostic

2. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Believing in God This section is based on the study of one religion only. The religion we will be focusing on in this section is Christianity. In this section we will learn about:  what Christians believe about God and how they come to believe this, possibly through their upbringing, their appreciation of the world around them, or even through seeing a miracle take place or having a religious experience.  how Christians deal with problems that challenge their beliefs; and why some people do not believe in God at all.

3. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Keywords agnosticism atheism conversion free will miracle moral evil something which seems to break the law of science and makes you think only God could have done it when your life is changed by giving yourself to God actions done by humans which cause suffering not being sure whether God exists the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices believing that God does not exist natural evil numinous omni- benevolent omnipotent omniscient prayer an attempt to contact God, usually through words the belief that God is all-powerful things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen the feeling of the presence of something greater than you the belief that God is all-good not being sure whether God exists believing that God does not exist when your life is changed by giving yourself to God the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices something which seems to break a law of science and makes you think only God could have done it actions done by humans which cause suffering things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans the feeling of the presence of something greater than you the belief that God is all-good the belief that God is all-powerful the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen an attempt to contact God, usually through words

4. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Starter People have always tried to understand the ultimate questions in life. Questions such as ‘Why are we here?’, ‘What happens when we die?’, and ‘Is there a God?’. The speech bubbles next and on your sheet show different responses to these questions. What is an ultimate question?

5. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Look at the world around us – it can’t have happened by accident. It must have been designed by a greater intelligence – God perhaps. When you die, you’re just dead – there is no afterlife. If God exists, then why does he allow so many terrible things to happen? We can’t possibly know whether there is a God or not – there are some questions we just can’t answer. Lots of people claim to have experienced God in their lives. They can’t all be wrong. There is no evidence that God exists. Science will soon be able to answer all the ultimate questions.

6. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Someone who believes in God is called a theist. Someone who does not is called an atheist. A person who isn’t sure and thinks it is impossible to know for certain if God exists or not is called an agnostic.

7. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Activity Read the speech bubbles again. 1.Decide for each one whether it is from a theist, an atheist or an agnostic; or whether you cannot tell. Give each of the definitions a different colour and shade the speech bubble to match your decision. 2.In your exercise book explain which of the speech bubbles you agree with? Give your reasons.

8. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Christian beliefs about God A Christian believes that:  God created the world  people can have a relationship with God  he answers prayers and can perform miracles  God is omnipotent, omniscient and omni- benevolent  belief in God gives meaning and purpose to life and helps people to answer difficult questions about death and suffering.

9. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God This is a famous picture by Michelangelo, showing God creating man. 3.Do you think it is realistic or not? Say why. 4.If God is all-powerful, is there anything he cannot do? List three possible things God could not do? To help, one might be that he cannot create a God greater than himself.

10. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Arguments an atheist might use Science explains how the world came into existence The existence of evil and suffering in the world counts against belief in a loving and powerful God There is no evidence for the existence of God Events and experiences that believers say are evidence for the existence of God are coincidence or natural events Atheists may have different reasons for not believing in God. Some atheists suggest that there is evidence that God does not exist, while others do not believe because, in their opinion, there is no evidence that he does exist.

11. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Other views Agnostics will argue that, since there is no reliable evidence either in support of God’s existence or against it, the only reasonable position to hold is literally ‘not knowing’. An agnostic may argue that both the atheist and the theist have made a decision without sufficient evidence, and that agnosticism is the only approach we can take until there is more evidence for, or against, God’s existence.

12. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Arguments an atheist might use Science explains how the world came into existence The existence of evil and suffering in the world counts against belief in a loving and powerful God There is no evidence for the existence of God Events and experiences that believers say are evidence for the existence of God are coincidence or natural events Activity 5.Copy the spider diagram on the left into your exercise book. 6.Add some more legs to it so that you can add further reasons an atheist might have for not believing in God. 7.Draw another spider diagram for ‘Arguments a theist might use for believing in God’.

13. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Homework Learn the key words for a test later in the unit.

14. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Plenary Consider the following nine questions to help you examine your own ideas about whether or not God exists. Make a note of your answer for each question. Think about each one carefully. Try to think of at least one reason for your choice.

15. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 1 I think that there must be a God because there is order and design in the world. TrueFalseUnsure

16. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 2 I believe that God listens to me if I pray to him. TrueFalseUnsure

17. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 3 I believe that humans cause the suffering in the world, for example war, terrorism and violence. TrueFalseUnsure

18. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 4 I find it very hard to believe there is a God when things like tsunamis and earthquakes happen. TrueFalseUnsure

19. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 5 I believe that after people die their soul lives on either in heaven or on earth. TrueFalseUnsure

20. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 6 I have experienced a higher power in my own life. TrueFalseUnsure

21. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 7 I believe that God knows everything, even before it happens. TrueFalseUnsure

22. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 8 I believe that God created the universe and everything in it. TrueFalseUnsure

23. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Question 9 I believe there must be a God because over 70% of the world believes he exists. How can so many people be wrong? TrueFalseUnsure

24. Edexcel GCSE Religious StudiesBelief and non-belief in GodSection 1: Believing in God Now add up your answers to see which of the following applies to you. Mainly True = Theist This means: You believe that God exists Mainly False = Atheist This means: You do not believe that God exists Mainly Unsure = Agnostic This means: You are not sure whether God exists

25. Handouts and worksheets

26. agnosticism atheism conversion free will miracle moral evil something which seems to break the law of science and makes you think only God could have done it when your life is changed by giving yourself to God actions done by humans which cause suffering not being sure whether God exists the idea that human beings are free to make their own choices believing that God does not exist natural evil numinous omni- benevolent omnipotent omniscient prayer an attempt to contact God, usually through words the belief that God is all-powerful things which cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans the belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen the feeling of the presence of something greater than you the belief that God is all-good

27. Look at the world around us – it can’t have happened by accident. It must have been designed by a greater intelligence – God perhaps. When you die, you’re just dead – there is no afterlife. If God exists, then why does he allow so many terrible things to happen? We can’t possibly know whether there is a God or not – there are some questions we just can’t answer. Lots of people claim to have experienced God in their lives. They can’t all be wrong. There is no evidence that God exists. Science will soon be able to answer all the ultimate questions.