WJEC GCSE Religious Studies

Belief in a god or gods

A theist is a person who believes in a god or gods. The word covers several different positions, depending on how many gods a person believes in and how they regard other religions.

A monotheist believes that there is only one God. Christians, Muslims, Jews and Sikhs are monotheists, and each holds that God is the creator and sustainer of everything. A polytheist believes in many gods, each with a particular role or sphere of power. Hindus worship many deities such as Ganesh, Durga and Saraswati, though many Hindus understand these as forms or aspects of one ultimate reality, Brahman, which is why Hinduism is not always described simply as polytheism.

A religious pluralist believes that more than one religion can be a valid way of knowing the divine, so that no single faith has a monopoly on truth. A pluralist might hold that the major world religions describe the same ultimate reality in different cultural languages, and so would encourage respect and dialogue between them. This differs from the position of someone who holds that only their own religion is true, which is often called exclusivism.

An agnostic does not claim to know whether a god exists. Some agnostics think the question cannot be settled with the evidence available, and others have simply not decided. An agnostic is not necessarily non-religious in practice, since some agnostics still take part in religious life.

Why people believe in a god

People give a number of reasons for religious belief, and most believers would give more than one.

• Upbringing and community: many people are brought up in a faith, learn its stories and practices as children, and belong to a worshipping community that gives them friends, support and a shared identity.
• Religious experience: some people feel the presence of God in prayer, worship or a moment of wonder, and these experiences can seem more convincing than any argument.
• The existence of the universe: the world seems to need a cause, and many believers see God as the creator who explains why there is something rather than nothing. Some point to the order and complexity of nature as evidence of design.
• Scripture and tradition: believers trust their holy books and the teachings of their faith as revelation from God, or as the accumulated wisdom of those who came before.
• Meaning and purpose: religion offers answers to questions about why we are here, how to live and what happens at death, and many people find that belief helps them through suffering and loss.
• Answered prayer and miracles: some believers point to events in their own lives, or reported healings, that they take as signs of God acting in the world.

Atheism and humanism

An atheist does not believe that any god exists. Some atheists go further and argue that belief in God is mistaken or unreasonable, while others simply see no reason to believe.

A humanist is a person who bases their approach to life on reason, evidence and human experience, without belief in a god. Humanists hold that this life is the only one we have, that there is no afterlife, and that we have a responsibility to make life as good as possible for ourselves and others. Their morality comes from empathy, shared human values and the consequences of actions for human wellbeing rather than from divine commands. Humanists believe people should be free to choose how to live as long as they do not harm others. Many humanists take part in secular ceremonies for births, weddings and funerals, led by a trained celebrant.

All humanists are non-religious, but not all non-religious people are humanists, and a person can be an atheist without having any developed ethical or philosophical outlook.

Why people do not believe in a god

• The problem of evil and suffering: if a god were all-powerful and perfectly good, many ask why there is so much suffering from disease, disaster and cruelty, and they find the usual explanations unconvincing.
• Science: the Big Bang theory and evolution explain how the universe and living things came about without needing a creator, so some people see no need for a divine explanation.
• Lack of evidence: some people hold that beliefs should rest on evidence that can be tested, and they do not think the existence of God has been shown.
• Upbringing and surroundings: many people grow up in homes and communities where religion plays little part, and so never develop religious belief.
• The conduct of religions: some are put off by wars, intolerance and scandals carried out in the name of religion, or by teachings they find at odds with modern values.
• Other sources of meaning: people find purpose in relationships, work, nature, art and helping others, and do not feel the need for a religious framework.