Section One, Believing in God

Section One, Believing in God

1. Keywords

   • Agnositicism
     • Not being sure whether god exists
   • Atheism
     • Believing that god does not exist
   • Conversion
     • When your life is chaned by giving yourself to god.
   • Free Will
     • the idea that humans are free to make their own choices and decisions.
   • Miracle
     • something which seems to break a law of science ans makes you think only God could have done it
   • moral evil
     • actions done by humans which cause suffering
       • E.g Murder
   • natural evil
     • Things that cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans
       • E.g Earthquakes, Tsunamis
   • numinous
     • The feeling of the presence of something greater than you
   • Omni-benevolent
     • The belief that god is all good
   • omni-potent
     • The belief that god is all powerful
   • Omniscient
     • The belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen
   • Prayer
     • An attempt to contact God, usually through words

2. Religious Upbringing

   • Reasons why Christian families raise their families to believe in God
     • Christians believe it is their duty to marry, have a family and raise their children within the Christian faith
     • Christians believe their religion gives children a secure basis and helps them through difficulties
   • How do Christian familes encourage their children to believe in God
     • Baptism
       • A Child is welcomed into the Church with family, friends and the worshipping congregation promising to support them in the faith
     • School
       • Christian parents may choose a church school that helps to educate them in the Christian faith
     • Parents Examples
       • Through their own examples, Chirstian parents encourage children to believe.
         • By seeing their parents praying and hearing about the bible through stories, and attending church they are more likely to believe in God
     • Community
       • Young Christians can meet and share in activities such as bible groups , youth groups, prayer meetings or other events. This offers a sense of Belonging
     • Confirmation
       • A child will be encouraged to confirm and renew the vows made for them in baptism, when they are old enough to make this decision themselves
     • Worship
       • Children attend Sunday Scholl to learn about Jesus, God and the Church. They are also attend Church services and celebrate Christian festivals

3. Religious Experiences

   • Numinous experiences
     • An experience which completely amazes someone and often inspires awe and wonder. usually words are not enough to descript the exprerience but it leave a person aware of a being greater than themselves
   • Conversion
     • An experience that causes and individual to change their beliefs , ideas or complete lifestyle. An atheist may suddenly become a believer in God a person my change from one religion to another
   • Prayer
     • A method which believers communicate with God. Prayer can be personal or can be a group experience. Believers pray to sahre their ideas with God, to praise him, to thank him for what he has provided , ot ask for forgiveness, or to show gratitude.
   • Miracles
     • An act of God that appears to be impossible as it goes against the laws of nature. It is usually performed for a religious reason.
       • Some examples of miracles in the bible are :
         • The feeding of the five Thousand
         • The healing of the crippled man
         • Giving the blind man sight.
       • Some examples of modern miracles are :
         • The healing of a person with a terminal illness. Possibly even saving their life.

4. Arguments for Christianity and the creation of the word

   • The argument for design
     • Design is the result of intelligent thought
       • The universe is so complicated it cannot have just "happened"
         • Therefore it needs a designer
           • The only person capable of designing such a complex thing is God
             • Therefore, God exists
     • Arguments against the design argument
       • Cannot 'prove' that God made the universe. It is only a suggestion
       • The appearance of design could be a result of evolution: The scientific theory that everything has evolved and only has the appearance of design.
   • The Causation Argument
     • Nothing happens by itself
       • Everything that happens , must have been caused by something else
         • The universe cannot have happened by itself
           • A powerful cause was necessary to cause the universe
             • This cause has to be god
               • Therefore God Exists
   • Scientific Explanations
     • The "Big Bang" Theory
       • An Enormous Explosion started the universe about 15 billion years ago.
     • Evolution and Natural Selection
       • Darwin's Theory of the gradual development of species over millions of years
       • That species naturally develop the best characterists to survive in the habitat they live in . And only the fittest survive

5. The problem of unanswered prayers

   • Prayers are communication with God. If they are unanswered, people might think God is not listening.
   • Many people experience pain and suffering and pray to God to help them, if God does nothing this may lead to them not believing.
   • Christian responses to unanswered prayers
     • Some accept that they do not have enough faith in God, so they must carry on trying.
     • They may feel that God is not listening to them
     • Some may accept that God doesn't answer selfish prayers
     • They may believe that God hears and answers all prayers , but always in the way they expect , or want
     • They may belive what they are praying for is not part of Gods will or Devine Plan

6. The problem of evil and suffering

   • Moral Evil
     • Actions carried out by humans that cause suffering
   • Natural Evil
     • Things that have nothing to do with humans but cause sufferent. E.G: Natural Disasters
   • If god is all good, He would want to remove all evil and suffering from the world.
   • If god is all knowing, he would know how to remove evil and suffering
   • If god is all powerful , he would be able to remove evil and suffering from the world
   • Christian Explanations to the problem of evil and suffering
     • Free will
       • God gave people free will , This is the ability to make choices for themselves. Some accept that evil and suffering is the result of bad actions from humans
     • Test From God
       • Some Christians believe that evil and suffering are a test from God to see how they react. Some become stronger for example.
     • God's plan
       • Suffering happens for a reason : They are a part of Gods Divine Plan. And people should trust God because he knows why everything happens.
     • Following Jesus' Example
       • Evil and suiffering allows people to follow the example set by Jesus in the Bible. People can strive to do Good.
   • How Christians respond to Evil and suffering
     • Praying
       • hoping God will give them the strength to cope with what they face or praying for others to be able to do the same
     • Volunteering
       • With a charity or orgianisation that supports others when they are suffering
     • Helping others
       • For example becoming a doctor or nurse so they can help others to combat the suffering that they face.
     • Strengthening their faith
       • With the knowledge that God has a plan for them

7. Media

   • Bruce Almighty
     • Based on the idea of taking on the job of God.