WHAT MISTAKE IS THE PRESENTER MAKING?

What mark would he get in an assessment? Why?

 Thursday, July
13, 2023
Does God Exist Assessment
LO - To explore the different arguments for the existence of
God and to understand how to be successful in my assessment.

SUCESS
All - Pupils will be able to identify the different
philosophical arguments for the existence of God.
Most – Pupils will explain in detail using logical chains of
reasoning the different arguments for the existence of God.

Some – Pupils will be able to give an evaluation of a number

of different arguments using appropriate evidence and
reasoning.
 Show of fingers
Which of these is an argument for the design
argument?
1. There is too much suffering in the world.
2. When we look around the world it looks like it has been
designed. For example the beauty of coral reefs or the Lake
District.
3. The wings of a bird and the eye for sight look like they have
been designed. They could not have come about by chance.
4. There are earthquakes, volcanos and tsunamis it is a poor
design if it is. An omnipotent God would not make a poor
design.
The Big question
‘The arguments in favour of God’s existence
are stronger than the ones against’
Do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer showing that you have thought
about more than one point of view.
You must refer to the different philosophical theories in your
answer.
In your pairs examine the three
sample paragraphs.

Using the marking criteria what

mark essay do you think each
paragraph is from? Why?

How do the paragraphs differ?

 Design Argument
Summary
• Created by William Paley
• Based on the idea that the world is too
perfect not to have been designed.
• He uses the analogy of the watch. If you
come across a watch on a desert island
you would assume it was made by a watch
maker and not have just randomly come
into existence by chance.
• Therefore when we look at the world it
also looks like its been designed e.g. the
wings on bird. Therefore it must have
been created by someone and that
someone is God.
Problems
• Our planet could just be the one in billion
chance for life to exist. E.g. just the right
circumstances. Therefore not designed just
chance!
• Who designed God
• It’s not a very good design! Surely it would
be perfect if it is designed by God!
First Cause Argument
Summary
• St Thomas Aquinas
• Everything in the universe has a cause. For
example we are caused by our parents and our
parents are caused by our grandparents and
so on.
• We could go on like this for a long time.
• However, there has to be a starting point.
You cannot go back forever!
• Therefore there has to be a first cause.
• And that thing cannot be created by anything
else.
• And that thing is God.
Problems
• Something cannot come from nothing!
• How can you say that everything has a cause
and then say that God doesn’t have a cause.
• There are some particles that do appear
into existence randomly. Therefore the
universe could have come to exist in the
same way!
 Design Argument
Summary
Analogy of the watch. If you come
across a watch on a desert island. You
would know that the watch was made by
a intelligent designer (e.g. a watch
maker).
In the same way, when you look at the
world we see the wings of a bird or the
human eye for sight also look designed.
The universe, is also so complex that
somebody must have made it. Just like
the watch.
Problems
• Who designed the designer?
• Could it not have been chance? The
universe is huge! 125 billion galaxies.
We are that one in a billion chance.
• If it’s been designed by God it would
be perfect!
First Cause Argument
Summary
• Everything in the universe has a cause.
• For example we are caused by our
parents and so on.
• The whole universe is a chain of cause
and effect.
• Therefore there has to be a first
cause.
• And that thing has to be uncaused /
eternal.
• And that thing is God.
Problems
• What then caused God? You can’t say
everything in the universe has a cause and
then say some has no cause!
• There are somethings that seem to pop
into existence that are uncaused. Certain
atoms in space do this.
• The cause could have been the big bang
not God!
 “The arguments in favour of God’s existence are stronger than
the ones against”

On the one hand…

Introduction
• In this essay I will
discuss… Point 2 FOR
• What is your opinion? Summarise the first cause
Do you agree with the Point 1 FOR argument
statement. Summarise the design Be detailed!
argument
KEY Be detailed!
Arrow = Start a new
paragraph

Conclusion and your own

opinion
On the other hand…
• What do you think and
why? Point 1 AGAINST
• Which is the most Point 2 AGAINST Give the arguments against
convincing point you have Give the arguments the design argument!
given. against the first cause
• Which is the least argument
convincing point that you
have given?
 Peer Assessment
Using the criteria. Examine your partners work. Use the criteria
to give it a level and give a WWW and NOT YET comment.
 Self Assessment
Using what you have learnt this lesson give yourself a target to
work towards when finishing off your essay for homework.

To improve my essay I must…

To go above and beyond my target I must…
 Thursday, July
13, 2023
Does God Exist Assessment
LO - To explore the different arguments for the existence of
God and to understand how to be successful in my assessment.

SUCESS
All - Pupils will be able to identify the different
philosophical arguments for the existence of God. (Grade 5)
Most – Pupils will explain in detail using logical chains of
reasoning the different arguments for the existence of God.
(Grade 6)
Some – Pupils will be able to give an evaluation of a number
of different arguments using appropriate evidence and
reasoning. (Grade 7)
 HOMEWORK
Using your own target or peers NOT YET
comment complete your answer.

All writing frames and mark schemes are on show

my homework.