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1 (a) Outline three things that the revelation of Jesus shows about the nature of God - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies B - Question 1 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 1
1 (a) Outline three things that the revelation of Jesus shows about the nature of God. (b) Explain two ways Catholics respond to non-religious arguments about relig... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:1 (a) Outline three things that the revelation of Jesus shows about the nature of God - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies B - Question 1 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Outline three things that the revelation of Jesus shows about the nature of God.
Answer
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God is love: The revelation of Jesus shows that the essence of God is love, as evidenced by Jesus’ teachings and sacrificial actions.
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God is forgiving: Through Jesus’ message of repentance and forgiveness, He reveals that God is compassionate and willing to forgive all sins.
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God is transcendent: Jesus teaches that God transcends human understanding, thereby indicating that His nature is beyond what can be fully grasped by humans.
Step 2
Explain two ways Catholics respond to non-religious arguments about religious experience.
Answer
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Catholics argue that personal experiences of faith are valid and can coexist with non-religious viewpoints. They emphasize that such experiences are profound and transformative, serving as a means of divine encounter.
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Catholics also assert the importance of tradition and scripture to validate religious experiences, suggesting that historical teachings provide a foundation for interpreting these experiences.
Step 3
Explain two reasons why Catholics believe the cosmological argument proves the existence of God.
Answer
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The necessity of a first cause: Catholics believe that everything that exists has a cause, and since the universe exists, it must have a first uncaused cause, which they identify as God.
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The principle of contingency: Catholics hold that since all things in the universe are contingent (dependent on something else for their existence), there must be a necessary being that brought everything into existence – this necessary being is God.
Step 4
Evaluate this statement considering arguments for and against.
Answer
The problem of suffering is a profound philosophical issue that challenges faith in God. Those in favor of the statement argue that suffering can undermine belief, as it raises questions about the nature of an omnipotent and loving God. For example, the existence of suffering and evil may lead individuals to doubt God's goodness and power.
Conversely, arguments against the statement suggest that suffering can indeed lead to faith. Catholics believe that suffering serves a purpose, such as spiritual growth and a demonstration of God’s love through the suffering of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, suffering is viewed as a means of developing virtues like patience and empathy. Ultimately, while suffering poses challenges to faith, it can also deepen one's understanding of God’s plans.