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Philosophy (A love of wisdom) Philosophers over the centuries have grappled with the questions ranging from: Does God exist? What is right and wrong? How do you live a good life? Greek Philosophers Plato, Aristotle and Socrates had their work translated into Arabic and kept in libraries in Baghdad. Aristotle’s Prime Mover and the existence of God Aristotle called the thing that caused the universe to go into constant state of motion the Prime Mover. For Aristotle the Prime Mover was God. The Prime Mover is in a state of pure actuality- it has no potential for change itself. As the Prime Mover has no potentiality, it cannot have put the universe in motion with a physical action, as this physical action would have caused change to the Prime Mover. Therefore, the Prime Mover is not the EFFICIENT cause of the universe, but the FINAL cause. The Prime Mover is perfect and all things want to imitate this perfection. All things in the universe are attracted to the prime mover. This attraction to perfection provides a PURPOSE for change. The desire for God and perfection is the goal or purpose for changing. Therefore the Prime Mover is the FINAL cause. Arguments against Aristotle’s Prime Mover Aristotle’s impersonal God is different to the traditional view of a God who is involved in the Universe (Christianity/Islam//Judaism/Hinduism). The Prime Mover is unloving and does not care or even know about human existence. is this really what a God would be like? Does there have to be a final cause or purpose for the Universe? Can it not just exist and not have a cause? (Bertrand Russell)

What do Christians believe about the nature of God? Omnipresent - God is present everywhere. Omnipotent - God is all-powerful. Omniscient - God is all-knowing Omnibenevolent - God is all-loving Transcendent - God is outside of time/eternal. Immanent - God interacts with the world.

Trinity around the world The Trinity is shown in stained glass windows, sculptures and artwork. It is different across the world and means different things to many different Christians. Who does not believe in the Trinity? Unitarianism - Only One God - The Father. Believe a variety of things about Jesus, including that he was: a man filled with divine inspiration, but separate from God not physically resurrected – the resurrection was merely symbolic a Jewish prophet a great example of how to live with love and compassion an inspiration, showing that human beings can change the world for the better Jehovah’s witnesses - the Bible does not mention the word “Trinity.” For another, Jesus never claimed to be equal to God. Instead, Jesus worshipped God. Emperor Constantine proposed that the council at Nicaea adopt the ambiguous notion that Jesus was “of one substance” (homoousios) with the Father. Bible References “To us there is but one God, the Father.” “My Father is greater than I [Jesus].” “I [Jesus] ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.”

Timeline of the Bible Abraham -> David: God makes promises and sets expectations of his chosen people and Israel and God are united. David -> Exile: The Jews break their promises with God and Israel is divided. God keeps his word by sending prophets to remind ten Jews of God’s message. Exile - > Messiah: The relationship is rebuilt between God and the Jews. Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt. MessiaH -> : Jesus is sent to Earth. He is the Son of God. God has fulfilled his promises with his people. God makes better promises through Jesus - the kingdom of Heaven to all that believe. St Paul descriptions of God God’s Wrath God is Just God is Merciful God is Kind God can be Pleased 6: God is Generous God is Wise God feels Love

The Trinity God the Father - creator of all life, acts as a good Father towards his children. He is all powerful (omnipotent), all loving (omnibenevolent), all knowing (omniscient) and he is present everywhere (omnipresent). God the Son - became incarnate through Jesus who was both fully human while on earth and fully God at all times. God the Holy Spirit - the unseen power of God at work in the world, who influences, guides and sustains life on earth. When Jesus had left this earth, Christians believe that God sent the Holy Spirit to do this.

Arguments There are more than 7 billion people in the world. More than 6 billion of them say they belong to a religion. If you want to know humanity, you have to know religion. I’m a religious person myself, so RE might help me understand my own faith and life better. It’s interesting to see how faith makes a difference to other people’s lives and viewpoints. I’m on a search in life myself: finding answers to big questions. I’m not religious, but the different faiths give interesting ideas about the meaning of life. I’m open minded. If you don’t know anything about religion, then you won’t be able to understand literature, or politics, or history, or art. They are all connected in some ways. I’m not religious at the moment, but one day I might take it up. I’ll remember what I’ve learnt, and I’ll know a bit about where to start. Loads of young people can’t make up their minds about God, life, death, beliefs and what they all mean. RE can help you do that. Faith seems to help people when they are in trouble, so it might help pupils in school to learn about the comfort and help people get from religion. Everyone needs help in troubled times! People need to study religion from the outside, so that they don’t get drawn in to beliefs that make no sense, and join a cult or something. Maybe RE can warn you off ‘bad religion’ Religious leaders and prophets – Jesus, or Buddha – are some of the greatest people ever. We can learn lots from them today. In this country, over 60% of the population say they belong to a religion. These are the people I live with and will work with. I need to know what makes them tick. The 1988 Education Act says all pupils in schools must get RE. It’s the law, and if you didn’t have RE, you’d be missing out. There are six great world religions with hundreds or thousands or millions of followers in the UK. I need to know about these for pretty much any job I do. I’m an atheist, not religious at all. RE helps me to know why I’m an atheist, and shows me what I am arguing against. RE teaches you how to think about your own beliefs for yourself. It provokes you to be reasonable about beliefs.

We all have a view of the world that depends on what we believe. Some of us are religious (about 80% worldwide). Some of us are spiritual but not religious – we don’t belong to a religion, but we have a spiritual view of life. Some are non-religious. But we all have beliefs.

Religion will grown by 2050 The number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians around the world. Atheists, agnostics and other people who do not affiliate with any religion will fall. The Hindu and Jewish populations will be larger than they are today. In Europe, Muslims will make up 10% of the overall population. Four out of every 10 Christians in the world will live in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of Christians in the UK will fall to 45% - with no religion having above 50% Why will religion grow by 2050? Worldwide population increase Fertility Rates Age of the popualtion Continent population change Why is this important? There are more than 8billion people in the world. More than 6 billion of them say they belong to a religion. If you want to know humanity, you have to know religion.

What do religions offer to their followers? Something to believe in. Celebrations for special events and days. A guide to living the good life. Something to belong to. A place and pattern of worship. Some heroes and villains. An idea about the meaning of life. What is religion? Religion is a system of beliefs and a way of life that refers to God or gods and goddesses, which some people follow as their ultimate reality. Your ‘religion’ is whatever you are most committed to. So your religion could be football, money, yourself, or could be God, living a Hindu way of life, following Jesus or being a good Muslim. 3.Religions and worldviews are the frameworks people use to make sense of their lives, and incorporate their beliefs, hopes, ideas and commitments. Religion is a kind of mistake – there is no God, and religions are all made up. We’d be better off without them.

Why are religious commitments important to believers? Devotion to the faith makes God’s guidance in life a positive thing. For religious believers, these codes for living feel as if they are more about wisdom and wise living than just following rules. These commitments are the the things that matter to them the most. Humanists The Ten Non Commandments (some examples) Never accept authority Strive to eliminate poverty and war Keep the law Islam The Ten Commandments from the Holy Qur’an Don not take life which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. You should treat your parents kindly Whatever you say should be just Christianity St. Paul (Romans Chapter 12) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good Live in harmony with one another. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

Religious Beliefs Religions have different beliefs on a range of factors; some of which include beliefs on: God Prayer Life after Death War

Slides that can be dropped into any religious studies lesson. Update your RE curriculum with these straight forward slides.

Dis Jesus ever call himself God? Not directly but he used the following statements: “For unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins” “Before Abraham was, I am”. “I and the Father are one.” The Seven I am statements in John’s Gospel “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). “I am the door” I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:7-9). “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep…I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:11, 14). “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “I am the true vine , you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5). Why are these statements important? Jesus was letting the first century Jews, who were familiar with God’s definition of Himself (“I am that I am”), know that He truly was God incarnate (in human form).

Old Testament Prophecies Micah Messiah will be born in Bethlehem Isaiah Messiah will be born to a virgin woman Will be a King and be of the line of David He will be beaten, mocked and killed New Testament prophecies fulfilled Matthew An angel told Joseph that Mary a Virgin will have a son and Joseph is from the line of David Jesus had insults from people when on the cross Luke Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem Mark Jesus was whipped, beaten and nailed on a cross Atheist View Coincidence Translation issues No evidence that events in the Bible happened The New Testament gospel writers could have wrote their story of Jesus to fit these 700 year old prophecies. Jewish View Jews are still waiting for the messiah Messiah is supposed to bring world peace; which hasn’t happened yet. Therefore, Jesus is not the messiah

Where did Jesus live? Jesus lived in Palestine approximately 2000 years ago, at the start of the 1st century CE. During Jesus’ time Palestine was part of the Roman Empire What was life like in Palestine? Houses were normally small and simple, made of mud and bricks and consisting of 2-4 rooms.Most households would have owned animals such as sheep, donkeys, goats and cattle. Two meals a day was the norm, and the main food people ate was bread. Jewish merchants and traders could speak some Greek, but the primary language of the Palestinian Jews was Aramaic (a language closely related to Hebrew). Hebrew was also spoken widely. What was Jesus’ religion? Jesus was a Jew. The Jews were different from most others in the ancient world in that they believed there was only one God. The Jewish leaders did not like Jesus very much; they accused him of blasphemy (disrespecting God) because he did not deny claims that he was the Son of God. Evidence for the existence of Jesus TRANQUILUS SUETONIUS - He wrote about Jesus being responsible for disturbances in the Jewish community in Rome in his book, The Life of the Deified Claudius: “Christ urged on the Jews, who kept causing a disturbance, so Claudius sent them away from Rome.” FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS - Those who followed him thought he was God’s chosen leader. When he was condemned to the cross, he appeared alive at the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold.” CORNELIUS TACITUS - Tacitus provides an early non-Biblical account of Christians: “Nero blamed and tortured a group of people hated for their evil practices - a group popularly known as Christians. Christ Jesus, from whom this group took their name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, one of the Roman governors, during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius.” THE GOSPELS - The Gospels record many different things about Jesus and his life. They record miracles, teachings and key events that happened to Jesus THE TALMUD - “On the eve of the Passover they hanged Jesus. He practiced black magic and led Israel astray.” THE QUR’AN - The Quran recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by God’s permission, and his life as a respected prophet of God. The Quran also repeatedly reminds that Jesus was a human prophet sent by God, not part of God Himself.

How do you use a Bible? Book Chapter Verse Where did Jesus perform his miracles? Cana - Turned water into wine Bethsaida - Healing a blind man Galilee - Feeding the 5,000. Healing of a deaf and mute man. Walking on water. Jericho - Healing a blind man Jerusalem - Jesus rose from the dead Bethany - Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead

How was the universe created? Vishnu asleep in a cobra surrounded by nothingness Vishnu grows a lotus flower from his naval to create Brahma. Brahma creates heaven/earth/sky and all living things. How was life created? Brahma infatuated with Saraswati and grows five heads so he can gaze at her. Saraswati turns into every living creature to hide from Brahama Brahma turns into male version of every creature to be with her. This is how life was created. Rig Veda 3,500-3,000 years old creation story about Brahman and creation: “Whence all creation had its origin, he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not, he, who surveys it all from highest heaven, he knows – or maybe even he does not know.”

Polytheistic? No - each God/deity is one aspect or characteristic of Brahman. As Brahman is impossible to describe; having so many Gods helps Hindus understand part of the nature of Brahaman. Avatars of Vishnu There have been nine avatars of Vishnu to help with different world events. The tenth avatar is yet to come and Hindus believe this incarnation will recreate the world. Ganesh The Goddess Pavarti created a son to guard her home. Pavarti’s husband, the God Shiva, came home and tried to get past Ganesh, who wouldn’t let him. Shiva cut off Ganesh’s head. Pavarti told Shiva to go and fetch the head of the first animal he saw in the forest, to replace Ganesh’s head. The first animal Shiva saw was an elephant, which is why Ganesh has an elephant’s head. Significance of the Elephant Big Head = Think Big Large ears = listen better Small eyes - Increase concentration Large stomach - Digest all good and bad in life Small mouth - Talk less

The Resurrection Matthew: Mary Magdalene and other Mary went to tomb. Earthquake. Angel appeared and told them Jesus has risen from the dead. Women went to tell the disciples but Jesus appeared to them and spoke to them. Mark: Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome went to annoint Jesus’ body. The stone in front of tomb had been rolled away. A man (dressed in white) was sitting inside. He told them that Jesus had risen and to go and tell the disciples. Jesus then appeared first to Mary Magdalene - she told people and they did not believe. Jesus then appeared to two other disciples in a different body. They did not believe him. Jesus then appeared to all the disciples. He was annoyed that none had believed he had risen. Jesus told them to go and spread his message to the world. Luke: Women took spices to Jesus tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance. Two men appeared beside them.they told them Jesus had risen. They told their story to the other disciples. They did not believe the women. Peter, ran to the tomb to see for himself. John: Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb and noticed the stone had been moved. She went and told Peter and another disciple that someone had taken Jesus’ body. They went to the tomb to see for themselves. They found the stips of linen on the floor. Mary Magdalene stood crying and two angels in white appeared in the tomb. Jesus then appeared to her. She thought he was the gardener until he spoke and said “Mary.” She cried out “Teacher!” mary then went and told the disciples what had happened. Jesus that night appeared to the disciples in a room that had been locked. He breathed on them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thomas had not been present when Jesus had appeared and he did not believe. He said "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Jesus then appeared a week later and told Thomas "Stop doubting and believe.” The Ascension Christians belive that Jesus ascended into heaven. This is only mentioned in Mark and Luke’s gospel. Luke: While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven." Why is the resurrection and ascension of Jesus important to Christians? By Jesus dying on the cross he took away the sins of mankind. By Jesus’ resurrection it shows Christians that he is the son of God and gives them proof of an life after death. They believe that if they lead a good life and follow Jesus they will be resurrected too and then rewarded in the afterlife by spending eternity with God in heaven,

Purusharthas Four Aims: Dharma - Moral duty to make the right decision Kama - Achieve pleasure through sports/culture/sex Artha - Achieve propsperity and wealth whch incldes marerial wealth Moksha - Break from the cycle of samsara (death and rebirth) through good actions and deeds Reincarnation (Life after Death) Hindus do not necessarily believe in life after death - rather it is the atman that ls eternal and not the physical body. Most Hindus believe that humans are in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara. When a person dies, their atman (soul) is reborn in a different body. Hindus believe that an atman may enter swarg (Hindu heavenly realm) or narak (Hindu hellish realm) for a period before rebirth. Some Hindus believe that humans may be reborn in animal form - punishment for how lives previous life Some Hindu scriptures describe moksha as the atman becoming absorbed with Brahman some think he atman will just be in the presence of Brahman. moksha is achieved through: Karma yoga - being selfless Bhakti yoga - love/devotion to God Jnana yoga - meditation leading to knowledge Raja yoga - silent/spiritual meditation