Arguments and Icons

Last week, I taught three different Verulam Year 7 classes our slightly revamped Arguments for the Existence of God lesson (and there are 2 more later this week). The lesson explored three main arguments for God's existence- the cosmological (or first cause) argument, the teleological (or design) argument and encounters with God (religious experiences).

One of the recent additions to this lesson has been to add a reflective activity to consider what icon they would choose if there was an app created just for each of the arguments. It has led to some fascinating reflections and allowed the boys to think more deeply about what they had been taught. Some of the suggestions have included 

• a picture of the Big Bang with an image of God and a question mark (cosmological argument)
• a hammer (teleological argument)
• a watch (both cosmological due to the beginning of time and teleological as we reflect on Paley's Watch illustration with our own Kinder Surprise challenge) 
• a Kinder Surprise toy (see point above)
• a domino (cosmological)
• God's hand reaching down to our hand (encounters with God)
• Phone image to reflect God trying to connect/talk with us (encounters with God)
• 5 loaves and 2 fish (encounters with God)

The lessons have been a huge success. It's always great when a young person's comment perfectly segways 2 sections of a lesson. In one of the classes, a lad put his hand up while we were concluding the cosmological argument and said "If God was the first cause, then that means He must have planned all this", which led on very nicely to the design argument that follows.

In March, we will be spending a whole day with this year group, which will include looking at a fourth argument that we touched upon very briefly - the person of Jesus. If the first 3 lessons are anything to go by, this promises to be a great day and I am very much looking forward to journeying this this year group over their time at Verulam

Geoff