Notes for RE-Vision

Notes for RE-Vision, a learning log/summary of key notes of the current Unit Revelation are available here.

Topics for Mock exams are: Existence of God & Revelation. 

Date: December 2013 (TBC).

Check progress of your study using "check point" available here.
You can also practice past paper questions here, click on the year: (2010), (2011) and (2012)

Extra info: only for those wishing an advanced level : 

Reflections upon to the terms "religious" and "experience"

The meaning of the word "religious" is changing. It is not simply based on theism any more. The growth interest in "New Age" (the alternative spiritual subculture interest in such things as meditation, reincarnation, crystals and psychic experience) and "Paganism" (a term covering all earth centred religions; natural religion rather than revealed religion) are two diverse element among the many that now feature in the early 21st century ideas. 

The meaning of "experience" is also problematic if it refers to "directly perceive". In this case the experience is subjective and private, an inner process that others cannot see. Therefore, there is no way of either verifying or falsifying it. There is also a difficulty in understanding the religious experience since it is private to the person experiencing it and often ineffable (defies expression; cannot be expressed in words).

Religious Experience, definitions:

(a) An experience that has religious insight. Usually, the unseen dimensions of existence and God, or Ultimate Reality, is the object of the experience.
(b) religious experience involves some kind of perception of the invisible world, or involves a perception that some person or thing is a manifestation of the invisible world. 
(c) An experience of an event in which one is conscious or aware of some supernatural being/God, or a being related to God, for example, the Virgin Mary, or some indescribable Ultimate Reality.
Hence religious experiences can be theistic (where God is the source and content of the experience) or monistic (where inner being/consciousness is experienced) as monism in the view that all reality is a unity or single substance.

General classification of religious experiences: 

1) Interpretative - e.g answer to a prayer
2) Quasi-sensory - e.g a vision
3) Revelatory - e.g an enlightening experience
4) Regenerative - e.g a conversion5) Numinous - e.g experience of God's holiness
6) Mystical - e.g experiencing of apprehending Ultimate Reality

You read more about: religious experience, excellent blog.

Religious experience or a trick of the mind (apophenia)?

"From seeing shapes in clouds to hearing Bing Crosby in a blizzard of static, we're all prone to finding things that aren't there. And there's a name for it: apophenia" Read the whole article thanks to the newspaper The Guardian here.
This photo shows a woman holding a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that she says bears the image of the Virgin Mary.
Photograph: Joe Rimkus Jr/AP

Existence of God : Revision

Revision notes are here and past paper questions and mark scheme are here (2012), (2011) and (2010)
Feedback from assessments, notes from common mistakes 

What is the Argument from religious experience for the existence of God?

Find out all about this argument for existence of God here, thanks to the contribution  of an A* student, Touhidul. Alam.

Design (Teleological) Argument: Fractals

Is there a God? Is possible to prove the existence of God through the Mathematical rules, Geometric patterns like, for example, "fractals"? In order to help you to answer this question, watch this programme about Chaos and  Fractals. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpxj1b_the-secret-life-of-chaos_tech
(Picture is "God the Geometer" from Austrian National Library)

Can Science reveal all "mysteries of the Universe"?

Watch this programme about Infinity and try to answer this question:

God as "blind watchmaker" - Arguments against the Design Argument/Teleological Argument for existence of God

Stephen Hawkings "God did not create the Universe".

Watch more about this interview with the Professor Hawkings here

Arguments for the Existence of God.

After we studied the "Cosmological Argument also called First Cause Argument" we are now looking at the second argument for the "Existence of God", the "Design Argument also called Teleological Argument".
Learn about this fascinating topic with this excellent presentation here made by a top student, Touhidul Alam.
In order to increase your knowledge and undertstanding about this topic you also must read the latest number of RS Review, available in Library, speak to Mrs Coxon or Mrs Rudolph.
Open
Twilight sessions (revision) on Wednesday from 16:00 to 17:00

The Epicurean Gardener: Philosophy and the Matrix

The Epicurean Gardener: Philosophy and the Matrix

Twilight bites Y11: Revision notes

Twilight bites Y11: Revision notes: To help in your revision, please read past paper questions, key materials (2012 is not available) AND key notes (Learning log) and key wo...

Past Paper and Mark scheme

Please check past paper questions and mark scheme of RE GCSE (Unit 4 - "Religious Philosophy and Ultimate Questions" ) here : 2012, 2011 and 2010

A very special Revelation: The Miracle of Qur'an

The film the Messenger don't portray images of the Prophet Muhammad but helps to show facts known as "Night of Power" when Prophet Muhammad received his special revelation, the Qur'an. The Muslim holy book is an example of how holy scriptures are living miracles for believers.

The Birth of Krishna

Moses and the partiton of the Read Sea

Miracle of Virgin Mary crying

The Science of Man: A Challenge to the Church - Age of Genius - BBC

David Hume and his theory on knowledge - Explore - BBC

Hume and Miracles

Last year we researched about the Scottish/British Philosopher, David Hume. Hume is in the centre of the unit Miracles. A radical Atheist, associated to a Philosophical idea call Empiricism, Hume is going to produce a critique against the ideas of miracles and the Church.

Extra readings are: Scottish Enlightenment and Church Reformation. Revision sessions start next Thursday. Watch those clips above, very helpful, also a nice summary of one of this books: Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding. You can read here. Thanks to Mr Barfield.

9/11 The Miracle Of Stairwell B Part 3

The Holy Bible - Joshua the Conqueror

Hindu Ganesh Milk Miracle

Past Papers

Revise using mark scheme here and there.

Adam and eve animation

Revision: The Problems of Evil and Suffering

Questions to be answered: all about evil and suffering

•  The Problem of Evil – a definition;
• What is evil? – examples and definition;
• What is its nature? – impersonal force, a personal being, or psychological phenomena?;
• Where does evil originate?;
• What questions does evil raise about God’s love, power and purpose?;how do religious believers resolve the problem of evil in terms of their beliefs, for example in terms of believing in an all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God?;
• How do/should believers respond in the face of evil?
• The Problem of Suffering – a definition;
• What are the forms of suffering?;
• Is suffering natural or man-made?;
• In what ways is suffering unjust?;
• Has suffering any purpose?;
• What questions does suffering raise about God’s love, power and purpose?;
• The concept of karma as an explanation for evil in the world;
• How do religious believers resolve the problem of suffering in terms of their beliefs, for example in terms of karma or believing in an all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God?;

• How do/should believers respond in the face of suffering?

Beyond Good and Evil

Our ideas of good and evil are subject of many Philosophers' scrutiny but perhaps no one did it so radically as Nietzsche. Nietzsche wrote many groundbreaking works in Philosophy but Beyond Good and Evil is the most controversial and influential, a must read. If you have interest in Philosophy there is a nice summary of the book here and a good article from Philosophy Now about Nietzsche here, I hope you enjoy it!

Free will and the brain

Pod cast about "Free will and the brain", listen here, thanks to Philosophy Now. Suitable for those interested in A level Philosophy.

Problems of Evil & Suffering: ICT work and H/W

Please read worksheet  about the Problems of Evil and Suffering here. The aims are to understand what suffering is and the religious responses to it. Thanks to Daniel Williams for his work, let's share good practice, have a look into what he did here. I would include the other explanations for suffering as: a way to teach as lessons and it can be beyond our understanding.
Please is better use "most Christians" than Christians.

Evil and Suffering

 Source: RS Review Magazine.The original is at the school library! 

The History of the Devil 1/5

The History of the Devil 2/5

The History of the Devil 3/5