S17 E7: The One About GCSE RS Paper 2 Theme C

In this episode I will unpack; 

3.2.1.3 Theme C: The existence of God and revelation

Philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God

• The Design argument, including its strengths and weaknesses.

• The First Cause argument, including its strengths and weaknesses.

• The argument from miracles, including its strengths and weaknesses, and one example of a miracle.

• Evil and suffering as an argument against the existence of God.

• Arguments based on science against the existence of God.

The nature of the divine and revelation

• Special revelation as a source of knowledge about the divine (God, gods or ultimate reality) including visions and one example of a vision.

• Enlightenment as a source of knowledge about the divine.

• General revelation: nature and scripture as a way of understanding the divine.

• Different ideas about the divine that come from these sources:

  • omnipotent and omniscient

  • personal and impersonal

  • immanent and transcendent.

• The value of general and special revelation and enlightenment as sources of knowledge about the divine, including:

  • the problems of different ideas about the divine arising from these experiences

  • alternative explanations for the experiences, and the possibility that the people who claimed to have them were lying or mistaken.

https://www.lourdes-france.com/en/antonietta-raco-72nd-lourdes-miracle/

Explain two different beliefs in contemporary British society about visions. In your answer you should refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain and non-religious beliefs.

Most Christians believe visions are a valid way that God reveals truth to his people.

This is because there is evidence of visions in the Bible for example when Mary saw a vision of an angel who told her she would give birth to Jesus

However, most non-religious people do not think visions are a valid way of understanding what is true

This is because there is no proof of that vision happening and the person's account may be unreliable

Explain two religious beliefs about miracles. Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer.

One Christian belief is that miracles demonstrate God’s omnipotence which means he is all powerful.

This is because only an all powerful God could perform miracles

An example of a miracle that shows God’s power is the resurrection of Jesus in the Bible

This shows the miracle of Jesus coming back to life after death which could only be done though the power of God

Another belief is that miracles show God’s omnibenevolence which means he is all loving

This is because an all loving God would want to heal people as an expression of that love.

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