What Does It Mean to Believe in God?

YEAR 9 · UNIT 13: DOES GOD EXIST? · LESSON 1

What You'll Learn

Understand what theism, atheism, and agnosticism mean, and explore how different traditions understand the concept of God.

Recall from Year 8

Recall what you learned last year
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You learned about theodicy — the challenge of evil and why God might permit suffering. Think about these key ideas:

What is the Problem of Evil?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: The Problem of Evil is the philosophical challenge that asks: if God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good, why does evil and suffering exist in the world? This apparent contradiction has troubled theologians and philosophers for centuries.

Explain the Free Will Defence.

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: The Free Will Defence argues that God allows humans free will, and evil exists because people choose to do harmful things. God cannot prevent evil without removing human freedom, which would make us mere puppets rather than moral agents responsible for our choices.

What is Soul-Making Theodicy?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Soul-Making Theodicy, developed by John Hick, suggests that suffering and evil exist because they help us develop morally and spiritually. We grow in virtue through facing challenges, and a world without difficulty would prevent spiritual development.

What is Skeptical Theism?

🔒Reveal answer

Answer: Skeptical Theism claims that our human understanding is too limited to judge whether God's reasons for allowing evil are good reasons. We cannot fully comprehend God's plans, so we should be humble about declaring the world illogical.

What Does It Mean to Believe in God?

Theism is the belief that God exists as a real being. But what does 'God' mean across different traditions?

In Christianity, God is understood as the creator of all things, usually described as having three persons: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. God is believed to be omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnibenevolent (perfectly loving). Christians see God as both transcendent (beyond the physical world) and immanent (present within it).

In Islam, God is known as Allah, meaning 'the God'. Islamic theology emphasizes strict monotheism — there is only one God, and nothing is like unto Him. Muslims believe Allah is absolutely transcendent and beyond human comprehension, yet merciful and just. The Quran emphasizes that Allah has perfect knowledge and power.

In Humanism, there is no belief in God at all. Humanists argue that morality, meaning, and purpose come from human reason, experience, and compassion — not from a supernatural being. They see the universe as governed by natural laws, not divine intervention.

Three Positions on God's Existence

Theism: The belief that God (or gods) exists. Theists argue that God is real and can be known through reason, scripture, or experience.

Atheism: The belief that God does not exist. Atheists argue that there is insufficient evidence for God, and that natural processes explain the universe without needing God.

Agnosticism: The position that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable. Agnostics argue that we cannot have sufficient evidence either way, so we should remain uncertain or neutral on the question.

Belief in the UK

According to recent surveys, belief in the UK has shifted significantly. Roughly 37% of adults identify as Christian (down from 72% in 1983), 5% follow other religions (Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism), and 52% describe themselves as non-religious. Even among Christians, beliefs vary widely: some are traditional believers, others are 'cultural Christians' who identify with Christianity without strong personal faith.

How Different Traditions Understand 'God'

The term 'God' carries different meanings in different traditions:

  • God as Creator: Many theists view God as the intelligent designer and creator of the universe. This appears in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and many other traditions.
  • God as Personal: In Christianity and Islam, God is understood as a person with whom believers can have a relationship — God listens to prayer, cares about humanity, and acts in history.
  • God as Impersonal Force: Some mystical traditions see God not as a person but as a universal spiritual principle or force underlying all existence.
  • Polytheism: Some religions acknowledge multiple gods. Hinduism, for example, sees many gods as different manifestations of ultimate reality.
  • No God: Humanists reject the concept of God entirely, viewing it as a human invention that once explained natural phenomena but is no longer necessary in our scientific age.

Christianity

God is understood as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity). Central to faith is that God became human in Jesus Christ to save humanity from sin. God is believed to be eternally loving, just, and forgiving.

Islam

Allah is the one true God. Muslims emphasize that Allah cannot be compared to anything created and has no partners (this is called Tawhid, or strict monotheism). Allah is merciful, just, and has revealed guidance through prophets, most importantly Muhammad.

Humanism

Humanists see no evidence for God and believe that meaning comes from human relationships, reason, and ethical action. They view religious explanations as historically important but now superseded by science and rational thought.

Skeptical Philosophy

Philosophers like Bertrand Russell and David Hume argued that we lack evidence for God's existence. Russell famously said: if extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, the God claim needs very strong support.

Activity: Sort Statements

Read each statement below and decide whether it represents a Theist, Atheist, or Agnostic perspective. Drag each statement to the correct category.

God definitely exists because the universe shows clear design We cannot know whether God exists; the evidence is not conclusive God does not exist; science explains everything without needing God I believe in God based on personal religious experience There is no evidence for God, and no one has proven His existence God's existence is unknowable; we should remain agnostic The complexity of life proves that an intelligent God created it

Theist

Atheist

Agnostic

Critical Thinking: Belief and Proof

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Guidance

Structure your response:

  • Start with a clear position: Can God's existence be proven?
  • Give one reason why proof might be possible (e.g., 'Arguments like the Design Argument claim to offer rational proof')
  • Give one reason why proof might be impossible (e.g., 'God is beyond the physical world, so scientific proof won't work')
  • Conclude by explaining what you think counts as valid evidence

What is theism?

Answer: Theism is the belief that God exists.

Name the three main positions on God's existence.

Answer: Theism (God exists), Atheism (God does not exist), and Agnosticism (we cannot know).

What do Christians believe about God's nature?

Answer: That God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, and exists as Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.

What do Muslims emphasize about Allah?

Answer: Muslims emphasize Tawhid (strict monotheism) — Allah is one, unique, and has no partners. Allah is merciful, just, and beyond comparison to anything created.

What is the humanist position on God?

Answer: Humanists do not believe in God and see meaning and morality as coming from human reason, relationships, and ethical action rather than from a supernatural being.