God is often described as all-powerful, all-knowing and all-merciful. Sometimes God can also be a vengeful character, particularly towards the unfaithful who may be condemned to hell, as may unrepentant sinners. How does this description of God fit in with the modern world and with different cultures? For example, some Christians and Muslims believe that homosexuality is a mortal sin; others do not. Can these differences be reconciled?

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The Compatibility of Science and Religion

Science and religion often disagree about fundamental issues. For example, a literal interpretation of the Bible’s creation story is completely at odds with what science understands about the creation of the universe, of the Earth and of human beings. Read Chapters 1 and 2 of the Book of Genesis for the biblical story of how the world and humans were created.

How do believers reconcile the role of God in creation when considering the opposing scientific and religious views?

Learn about the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe and Darwin’s theory of the evolution of life on Earth.

Learn about the beliefs of fundamentalists who take the Bible literally and about those believers who accept modern science.

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Revelation and Enlightenment

How do believers perceive God and how is He revealed to them? For both Muslims and Christians, prayer is central to the perception of God, but the two religions have different rituals and practices. Hindu and Buddhist rites are even more different. Think about the different ways that people of faith see God and their attitudes to the supernatural.

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