Lesson 5: If God is all-powerful, can suffering not be stopped?

Learning objective

To explore different beliefs about God’s role in suffering.

Success criteria

To identify some

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Religious Education Council Curriculum Framework for RE in England (non-statutory guidance):

A2: Describe and understand links

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Cross-curricular links

RSE

Respectful relationships

Pupils should know:

The importance

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

1: Lesson plan

An area for you to put useful resources from the previous lesson

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Could record their responses to the statement about prayer on the Activity: Responses to prayer using audio recording; could use the Knowledge organiser: Religion and worldviews – Why is there suffering? Part 1 to check keyword definitions throughout the lesson.

Pupils working at greater depth

Should include specific examples in the Activity: God and suffering; could suggest outcomes of prayer that are more subtle, such as a feeling of peace even if the suffering continues.

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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: identifying reasons people might

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Vocabulary definitions

intercession

A type of prayer where someone asks a deity to help or heal others.
omnibenevolent

Always being good and doing the right thing.

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In this unit

Assessment - Why is there suffering? (Part 1)

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Lesson 1: How do people suffer?

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Lesson 2: What is free will?

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Lesson 3: Why do we cause suffering?

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Lesson 4: Does being good always mean less suffering?

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Lesson 5: If God is all-powerful, can suffering not be stopped?

Lesson 6: How might beliefs about Jesus affect responses to suffering?

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