Unit 7.1: The God idea

Students consider what they believe about God and share their different ideas.  What do they expect to learn in RE?

What do people believe about God?

Why do people believe in God? How have beliefs in God changed throughout history?

What are the different philosophical arguments for believing in God?

Why do different groups within a religion have different ideas about what God is like?

What is religion?

What is belief? 

What is the difference between belief and fact?

What is a symbol?

Why do religions use symbols?

What do symbols tell us about religious beliefs in God? 

How do people show their beliefs in God?

Use a range of pictures of God to stimulate discussion as to what God is like.

Students share what they think God is like.

Research the Big Bang Theory, TrueTube video www.truetube.co.uk/film/proving-god-exists, YouTube  Day of the Dead www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSJJi8WH9EY,  

The God Idea What Buddhists Believe Written by Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda

Investigate the religious beliefs about God of two or more faiths: are beliefs distinctive to a particular faith?

Consider the ways in which symbols and artefacts enhance the religious and spiritual expression for a believer.

Consider what inspires and influences me.

Using the passage ‘The God Idea’ summarise how the idea of God developed from Animism to Monotheism.  

Using optical illusions sheets where students can see different images in the same pictures.  Discuss how and why people have different views about God. Analysis the story of the 5 blind men and the elephant. Students find a picture of something that makes them go wow.

Create a timeline for the development of world religions.

Look at cave art, totem poles etc. to discover what early man believed about God.

Use Schrödinger’s Cat to demonstrate the meaning of belief.

Use a Bible and other sacred texts to discover what different religions believe about God.

Explain the terms sacred, religion and belief.

Respond to the key questions – What is sacred? What is religion? What do we mean by belief? How are beliefs expressed?

Demonstrate an understanding of key words: animism, polytheism, monotheism, theist, atheist, agnostic, sceptic

Share ‘wow’ pictures or moments with class and explain why they make you go ‘wow’.

Evaluate the argument from design and the cosmological argument and give the counter arguments.  

Debate the arguments for believing in God or prepare a legal argument for the belief in God and hold a mock court case.

Create a presentation about people’s different beliefs in God.

Role play or hot spot different religious beliefs about God.

Talk about how Mayan human sacrifice may be linked to the sacrifice made by Jesus.

Summarise the ways in which symbols and artefacts help people of faith communicate their beliefs.

Create a symbol or create a murti to include symbolism that explains something about themselves.

Using creative media make something that explains what the 'Day of the Dead' is about.

Students compare their responses to the ultimate question "Is there a God?" with those of faith members using creative media

Reflect on the awe and wonder engendered by ‘wow’ pictures or moments.