Unit 2 · Lesson 6 of 6 — Assessment

The God Debate

Bringing it all together: What is God, and how do different traditions answer that question?

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Today: You'll demonstrate your understanding of how different religions understand God (or no God), and evaluate one of humanity's biggest questions.

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Think: Unit 2 Recall

This is the final lesson of Unit 2. Let's retrieve everything we've learned about different understandings of God.

Review Question 1: Islamic Tawhid

From Lesson 3, what is Tawhid? And why do Muslims say the Trinity is shirk?

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Review Question 2: UK Religious Diversity

From Lesson 2 ("Religion in Britain Today"), what was ONE statistic about religious diversity or change in the UK?

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Quick Sprint: 60 Seconds

You have 60 seconds. Write down everything you remember about how EACH tradition understands God:

Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Humanism

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Encounter: The Four Views of God

This is a summary grid comparing how each tradition understands God. Try the sprint first without looking at this. Then come back to check and learn.

🔒 Hidden for retrieval — test yourself first!

Tradition	View of God	Key Doctrine	Key Terms
Christianity	One God in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit	The Trinity; incarnation of God in Jesus Christ	Trinity, incarnation, salvation, resurrection
Islam	One God, absolutely and completely alone. No partners, no trinity.	Tawhid: the absolute oneness of Allah. Shirk (associating partners) is the greatest sin.	Tawhid, shirk, the 99 Names of Allah, monotheism
Hinduism	Brahman is the ultimate reality. Experienced as Trinity (Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) or infinite avatars.	Many forms of one divine reality. Gods are expressions of Brahman.	Brahman, Trimurti, avatars, dharma, moksha
Humanism	No God. No supernatural being. Reality is natural and material.	Meaning, morality, and purpose come from human reason, compassion, and relationships.	Atheism, secularism, empiricism, rationalism, the Golden Rule

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Key Takeaway

The answer to "What is God?" depends entirely on who you ask. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Humanists give completely different answers based on their tradition's teachings. What matters is understanding why each tradition answers the way it does.

Assessment Task 1: The Knowledge Test

10 quick-fire questions. Work through them, then click "Show answer" for each one.

1. What is Tawhid?

Tawhid is the Islamic concept of the absolute oneness of Allah. There is only one God, and no other being should be worshipped or associated with Allah.

2. Which tradition believes in the Trimurti?

Hinduism. The Trimurti is the three main forms of Brahman: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer/transformer).

3. Complete: "Say: He is Allah..."

"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him." (Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4)

4. What do Christians mean by the Trinity?

One God in three persons: God the Father (creator), God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

5. What is shirk in Islam?

Shirk is associating partners with Allah or worshipping anything other than Allah alone. It is the greatest sin in Islam because it violates Tawhid.

6. Name two of the 99 Names of Allah.

Examples: Al-Rahman (The Merciful), Al-Rahim (The Compassionate), Al-Malik (The Sovereign), Al-Aziz (The Mighty), Al-Hakeem (The Wise), Al-Adl (The Just), Al-Alim (The Knowing).

7. What is Brahman in Hinduism?

Brahman is the ultimate reality or divine force in Hinduism. It is infinite, eternal, and beyond full human understanding. All other gods and forms are expressions of Brahman.

8. What do Humanists say about the source of morality?

Humanists say morality comes from human reason, empathy, and reciprocity — not from God. They follow the Golden Rule because it is rational and makes society work better.

9. State the Problem of Evil argument in one sentence.

If God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnibenevolent (all-good), then evil should not exist; but it does, so either God is not all-powerful, not all-good, or does not exist.

10. Name one similarity between Christian and Islamic views of God.

Both believe in one God (monotheism). Both believe God is creator, merciful, and has revealed himself. Both believe in an afterlife and divine judgment.

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You have completed the Knowledge Test. Move to Assessment Task 2 for extended writing.

Assessment Task 2: Extended Writing

Choose ONE of the two options below. Write at least 100 words. Use specific examples and key terms from the unit.

Option A: Two Religions, One Question

Explain how TWO different religions understand God. Include key terms, specific beliefs, and at least one source or scripture for each. For example, compare Christianity and Islam, or Islam and Hinduism.

Option B: Humanism vs Religion

Explain why a Humanist rejects the idea of God, and how a religious person (Christian, Muslim, or Hindu) might respond. Include the Problem of Evil and how each perspective answers it.

Which option are you choosing?

Option A: Two Religions Option B: Humanism vs Religion

Your Response (at least 100 words):

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            Success Criteria for this task:
            Key terms used correctly (Trinity, Tawhid, Brahman, avatars, Humanism, atheism, etc.)
Specific beliefs and examples from the traditions studied
At least one scripture, quote, or source for each perspective
Both sides (or both religions) addressed fully
At least 100 words, written in clear sentences and paragraphs

        

Assessment Task 3: The God Debate

This is the final assessment challenge. Write a full evaluation of one of humanity's biggest questions.

The Claim

"There is probably no God."

This echoes the 2009 Atheist Bus Campaign in London.

Your Task

Write a full evaluation of this claim. You must include:

Arguments FOR the claim: Use Humanist and atheist reasoning. Include the Problem of Evil.
Arguments AGAINST the claim: Use at least 2 religious traditions (Christian, Muslim, Hindu).
Your own reasoned conclusion: What do YOU think, and why?

Your Response (at least 120 words total):

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            Success Criteria for this task:
            Multiple perspectives included (Humanist/atheist AND at least 2 religious views)
Key terms from Unit 2 used correctly (Problem of Evil, Tawhid, Trinity, Brahman, etc.)
Evidence from teachings and sources (scripture, philosophy, logic)
A clear personal conclusion with reasoning (not just "I don't know")
Fair and respectful treatment of all perspectives
At least 120 words in clear, well-structured writing

        

Review: Unit 2 Complete

You have now studied all six lessons of Unit 2: "God — One, Many, or None?" Reflect on what you've learned.

Self-Assessment: I Can...

Rate yourself honestly:

I can define monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, and atheism.

I can explain the Christian Trinity using scripture and clear language.

I can explain Islamic Tawhid and why the Trinity is considered shirk from an Islamic perspective.

I can describe Brahman, the Trimurti, and explain why Hindu views of God are complex and multifaceted.

I can explain the Humanist worldview and the Problem of Evil as an argument against God.

I can evaluate the question "Does God exist?" using multiple perspectives fairly and respectfully.

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Reflect

Which lesson in Unit 2 changed your thinking the most, and why?

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Looking Ahead

Next Unit: Sacred Texts

In Unit 3, you'll explore how sacred texts shape how people live. We'll study the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, and other key texts. You'll understand why these texts matter so much to believers, and how they guide behaviour, belief, and meaning.

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← Lesson 5 Unit 2 Dashboard Unit 3: Sacred Texts →

Well done on completing Unit 2. You have developed a nuanced understanding of how different traditions answer: What is God?