Religious Studies

Religious Studies

1. Durrey Testimony

   • He was sent to prison for armed robbery but also took part in an Alpha course where 2 nuns showed him love even when he taunted them. He prayed to God to remove his bitterness. The next day he hated tobacco and drugs and couldnt remember himself. He walked away from a fight and it made him feel calm. He started running alpha courses and changed his life around e.g. worked with disabled kids.

2. Revelation

   • General revelation - the belief that God can be known by anybody. God reveals himself in many indirect ways e.g. thorough people and nature.
     • Nature shows God as: Powerful e.g. weather, Complex e.g. fingerprints, Caring e.g. he provides what we need, Perfect e.g. things live in harmony and can sustain each other.
     • Human interaction shows Gods: Love/friendship, compassion, a leader, charitable, forgiving and honest.
   • Special revelation - the belief that God shows himself to an individual or group in a specific way.
     • e.g. Through worship, meditation, prayer, sacred texts or miracles.
   • Argument for being real: 'The historical argument' - the experiences of key individuals have been so great and impressive that they must have had a revelattion as it had such and influence on them e.g. St Paul, and also that so many people have had them that they can't all be making it up
   • Argument against being real: People could make them up e.g. in worship, to secure their belief in God or for attention. Many religious experiences happen before someone is about to die but is saved - this can be explained by a lack of oxygen in the brain causing hallucinations.

3. Evil in Adam and Eve

   • Eve is tempted to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This is called the fall.
   • Because of Adam and Eve's first sin some believe that each human is born with a tendency to do evil. This is called Original .
   • Satan is evil and is represented by the snake.

4. Evil in Islam

   • Iblis refuses to bow down to Adam and is banished from paradise. The man and woman are tempted by Iblis and eat the forbidden fruit.
   • In Islam people don't believe that humans are bound to fail.

5. Do people need suffering

   • Yes: It makes people more mature and appreciate good - 'soul making'. It gives people a chance to work for good.
   • No: Many don't deserve it or can't mature e.g. if they are a baby or die. Inequality between the rich and poor.

6. Responses to Evil and Suffering

   • Islamic Relief
     • International relief and development organisation that works in over 40 countries with over a 100 branches. It raises awareness of climate change, AIDS, sanitation e.c.t. and has a rapid response to disasters.
   • Christian Aid
     • Works in around 40 countries with people of all faiths. Its been run for over 70 years and help protect people from disease and raise money for aid after natural disasters e.g. £45 million raised after tsunami in South Asia.