What does CCEA Unit 7 An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion cover?

Unit 7 examines big questions about God and belief. It covers arguments for the existence of God (the design, cause and religious experience arguments); the nature of God (omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, transcendent, immanent and personal); the problem of evil and suffering and Christian responses to it; experiencing God through prayer, the numinous, conversion and miracles; and beliefs about life after death, including resurrection, heaven, hell and judgement.

What are the main arguments for the existence of God?

The design (teleological) argument says the order and purpose in the universe point to a designer, God, as in Paley's watch. The cause (cosmological) argument says everything that begins to exist has a cause, the universe began to exist, so it has a cause, God. The argument from religious experience and miracles says that genuine encounters with God are best explained by God existing and acting in the world. Each faces objections, so for many they make God reasonable rather than proven.

What is the problem of evil?

The problem of evil challenges belief in a God who is both omnipotent (all powerful) and omnibenevolent (all loving). If God could prevent suffering and would want to, why does evil exist? Evil is divided into moral evil, caused by human choices, and natural evil, such as disease and disasters. Christians respond with the free will defence, the soul-making argument, the example of Jesus who suffered, and practical compassion.

How do believers say they experience God?

Through prayer and worship, where they sense God's presence, peace or guidance; through the numinous, a sense of awe and wonder before something far greater; through conversion, being called to turn to God or change one's life; and through miracles, events that seem to break the laws of nature and are believed to be from God. Critics question these experiences, arguing they may come from imagination, emotion or the brain, or have natural explanations.

What do Christians believe about life after death?

Christians believe death is not the end. Resurrection is being raised to new life as Jesus was; the immortality of the soul is the soul living on after the body dies. They believe in a judgement, with heaven understood as being with God and hell as separation from God. Arguments for life after death include the resurrection of Jesus, the justice of God, religious experience and scripture, while objections include the lack of scientific proof and the mind's dependence on the brain.

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CCEA GCSE Religious Studies Unit 7 An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion: a complete overview

A complete overview of CCEA GCSE Religious Studies Unit 7, An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion. Covers arguments for the existence of God, the nature of God, the problem of evil and suffering, experiencing God, and life after death, with the key arguments and objections.

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What this unit demands
Arguments for the existence of God
The nature of God
The problem of evil and suffering
Experiencing God
Life after death
Check your knowledge

What this unit demands

An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion examines big questions about God and belief: whether God exists, what God is like, why there is suffering, how people experience God, and what happens after death. The exam rewards clear explanation of arguments, precise use of key terms, and balanced evaluation that weighs an argument against its objections. This overview ties the dot-point pages together.

Arguments for the existence of God

The main arguments are the design (teleological) argument, from the order and purpose in the universe (Paley's watch); the cause (cosmological) argument, that the universe must have a first cause, God; and the argument from religious experience and miracles. Each faces objections, such as evolution, "who made God?" and natural explanations, so they make God reasonable rather than proven.

The nature of God

Believers describe God as omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnibenevolent (all loving); as transcendent (beyond the universe) and immanent (present within it); and as personal. These qualities raise questions, such as how power and goodness fit with the existence of evil.

The problem of evil and suffering

The problem of evil challenges belief in an all powerful, all loving God: why is there moral evil (from human choices) and natural evil (such as disease)? Christians respond with the free will defence, soul-making, the example of Jesus who suffered, and practical compassion.

Experiencing God

Believers claim to experience God through prayer and worship, the numinous (awe and wonder), conversion, and miracles. Critics question these, arguing they may come from imagination, emotion or the brain, or have natural explanations.

Life after death

Christians believe in resurrection (being raised as Jesus was) and the immortality of the soul, with judgement, heaven (being with God) and hell (separation from God). Arguments include the resurrection of Jesus and the justice of God; objections include the lack of scientific proof.

CCEA's Philosophy of Religion unit examines big questions about God and belief. Arguments for God's existence include the design argument (order and purpose point to a designer, as in Paley's watch), the cause argument (the universe needs a first cause, God) and the argument from religious experience and miracles, each with objections such as evolution and "who made God?" The nature of God is described as omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, transcendent and immanent, and personal, raising questions about how these fit together. The problem of evil challenges belief in an all powerful, all loving God, given moral and natural evil; Christians respond with free will, soul-making, the example of Jesus and compassion. Believers experience God through prayer, the numinous, conversion and miracles, which critics question. On life after death, Christians believe in resurrection and the soul, with judgement, heaven and hell, supported by the resurrection of Jesus and the justice of God. The exam rewards explaining arguments precisely and evaluating both sides.

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall questions covering the whole unit. Attempt them, then check the solutions.

What does the design argument conclude from order in the universe? (2 marks)
What does the cause argument say is the first cause of the universe? (1 mark)
What does omniscient mean? (1 mark)
What is the difference between transcendent and immanent? (2 marks)
What is the difference between moral and natural evil? (2 marks)
Name one Christian response to the problem of evil. (1 mark)
What is a miracle? (2 marks)
How do many Christians understand heaven and hell? (2 marks)

Sources & how we know this

CCEA GCSE Religious Studies specification — CCEA (2017)