There is an idea that you cannot be born a
christan,
However, PARENTS will heavily influence your beliefs
If parents believe in God children are more likely
to grow up to share the belief
Religious traditions and festivals that children grow up to
continue e.g. sunday church
Relgious communities/ Religious schools have
a heavy influence on children
Baptisms and christenings
Although many christians believe children should make their own
decisions, christian parents choose to include their children in
their religious practises.
Religious Experiences
People claim to experience god through
reading holy scriptures such as the bible.
People also contract god through prayer
Unanswered prayers
Evil and suffering
If a person were to experience suffering,,
especially as a result of natural evil they may
doubt gods power, love and presence.
If a person were not to have their
prayers answered they may doubt
gods presence and love
People who have experienced
miracles may spark a belief in a
loving god
Numinous Experiences can spark a
belief of god in people as they are
so in awe of natures perfection they
begin to consider the idea of
design.
Origins of the world and universe
Design Argument
Supported by
Intricate design of life/universe
Thumb print individuality
Watch makers theory
Cause Arguement
Supported by
Principle of cause and effect
Two possibilities of origional cause
Chain continues back forever
You finally reach an origional
starting point a 'first cause'
God?
Big Bang?
Scientific explainations
Can spark agnostic/ atheist beliefs
Evolution
Proof and supported scientific theory
The Big Bang
Supported by
First Cause idea
Supported scientific theory
Religious Responses
Evil and Suffering
Result of adam and eve
Humans have free will and
choose to be evil but they will
be punished
Suffering can test faith but it is
also important to aid people who
are suffering
Result of Satan?
Unanswered prayers
can be test of faith in that god gives
spiritiual not literal answers
Can lose faith in Gods love, power and presence
Scientific explainations
Christians have varied views:
Bible taken literally: God
created everything and adam
and eve
Some believe both
they take genesis to
be symbolic
Roman Catholics accept
big bang theory
Key Words
Agnosticism
A belief that its impossible to know whter or not there is a god.
Prayer
An attempt to contact god
Conversion
When someones life is changed after becoming a follower of faith
Free will
The ability to choose how to behave
Miracle
An event believed to be the work of god
Moral Evil
Suffering caused by human beings
Atheism
The denial of any existence of a god
Natural Evil
Suffering caused in the natural world
Omniscient
All knowing
Omnipotent
All powerful
Omni-benevolent
All loving
Numinious
An experience that inspires awe and wonder, can spark belief in design
arguement