Unit Sequence

1. Belief in God: what patterns can we see in our local area, our country and our world? 

2. What do we mean by agnostic, atheist or theist? Introducing the lens of philosophy

3. How can psychology help us understand what people mean when they think about the idea of God?  

4. What can we learn from theology about the idea of God?

5. Why do some people believe that God does not exist?  

6. Why do some people believe in God and some people not? Where do I stand?

Learning Outcomes

• Define the terms theist, atheist and agnostic and give examples of statements that reflect these beliefs  

• Identify and explain what religious and non-religious people believe about God, saying where they get their ideas from 

• Give examples of reasons why people do or do not believe in God.

• Make clear connections between what people believe about God and the impact of this belief on how they live  

• Give evidence and examples to show how Christians sometimes disagree about what God is like (e.g. some differences in interpreting Genesis) 

•  Reflect on and articulate some ways in which believing in God is valuable in the lives of believers, and ways it can be challenging 

• Consider and weigh up different views on theism, agnosticism and atheism, expressing insights of their own about why people believe in God or not 

• Make connections between belief and behaviour in their own lives, in the light of their learning

U2.1 Why do some people believe God exists?

1. Define the terms theist, atheist and agnostic and give examples of statements that reflect these beliefs (B1).

2. Give two reasons why a Christian believes in God and one why an atheist does not (A3).

3. Outline clearly a Christian understanding of what God is like, using examples and evidence (A2).

4. Give examples of ways in which believing in God is valuable in the lives of Christians, and ways in which it can be challenging (B2).

5. Express thoughtful ideas about the impact of believing or not believing in God on someone’s life (B1).

6. Present different views on why people believe in God or not, including their own ideas (C1).

7. Exceeding:

8. Explain how Christians sometimes disagree about what God is like, giving examples of how they interpret texts differently (B3).

9. Enquire into what some atheists, agnostics and theists say about God, expressing their own ideas and arguments, using evidence and examples (C1).

U2.7 What matters most to Christians and Humanists?

1. Identify the values found in stories and texts (A2).

2. Suggest ideas about why humans can be both good and bad, making links with Christian ideas (B3).

3. Describe some Christian and Humanist values simply (B3).

4. Express their own ideas about some big moral concepts, such as fairness, honesty etc., comparing them with the ideas of others they have studied (C3).

5. Suggest reasons why it might be helpful to follow a moral code and why it might be difficult, offering different points of view (B2).

6. Give examples of similarities and differences between Christian and Humanist values (B3).

7. Apply ideas about what really matters in life for themselves, including ideas about fairness, freedom, truth, peace, in the light of their learning (C2).