Prawns? Lycra? Gay sex?Aren't the Old Testament's prohibitions against shellfish, mixed fibres and homosexuality indicative of an arbitrary and outdated morality? This lesson on homosexuality examines Biblical texts, discusses the meaning of the 'moral' and 'ceremonial' laws, introduces a Foucaultian persective on sexuality as power, and gives three personal stories - Rev Vaughan Roberts, Mark Cannon, and Vicky Beeching (shortlised for Stonewall's Hero of the Year award, 2014). Students encouraged to analyse the differing perspectives within one faith tradition and to finish with an essay plan on the role conscience plays in sexual matters.

Explains the origin of the Intelligent Design movement, the influence of Michael Behe, common criticisms and strengths. Features stimulating youtube video material of Behe, a bacterial flagellum (!) and Dawkins.

An introduction to both the evidential (Good Morning Vietnam) and logical (Epicurus, inconsistent triad) problems of evil. Students watch the interview between Gay Byrne and Stephen Fry on RTE (now has over 6 million hits on youtube) and try recreate it (God is capricious, mean and stupid to allow bone cancer in children). Students also consider whether or not atheists have a 'problem of evil', by examining the views of Richard Dawkins.

Exploration of deontological approaches to marriage and sex, with a particular focus on Immanuel Kant. Are extramarital and premarital sex irrational? Also features a youtube video, 'C.S. Lewis' famous essay 'We have no right to happiness', which proved very provocative with my students! A great discussion starter on the differences between deontological and teleological approaches in sexual ethics.

What is the Big Bang theory, and does it have implications for religious believers? This lesson explores no - NOMA (Stephen Jay Gould); yes- God is irrelevant - Prof. Stephen Hawking; and examines responses from Profs John Lennox and Alistair McGrath. Differences between young Earth creationists and progressive creationists summarized. Contains several stimulating Youtube clips, and an infographic summarising different views on dinosaurs.

Profoundly unsettling and difficult to describe, is the experience of the 'uncanny' evidence for the existence of God? This lesson introduces Otto's ideas, and presents C.S. Lewis' critique of them in the form of an animated retelling of his famous introduction to 'The Problem of Pain' (ghost in the room, tiger in the next room etc). Isaiah's vision of the Lord filling the temple analysed, and a discussion of how the Numinous links with Gothic Horror literature. Students to synthesise their thoughts in an essay plan.

Background to the Fourth Gospel. Deals with authorship, dating, fragmentary evidence (very briefly!) Useful before diving into the Prologue.

Gives a brief intro to myth and then to Bultmann, focussing on his desire to strip away 'peripheral legends' and discover the 'Christ of faith' through demythologising the Gospel texts.

Intended for Edexcel new spec Topic 1.2 of Paper 3 - New Testament. Exploring the social, economic and geographical context of the events of the Gospels. As yet untested on an actual class - feedback welcome!

The new Edexcel specification asks for 'biblical examples of situationist teaching, such as illustrated in the ministry of Jesus' (page 21). This is my attempt at fleshing that out! Good for synoptic links between NT and Ethics papers.

Powerpoint introduction to the Goodness of God topic. Basis of God's goodness in his character and divine simplicity. Introduction to what 'good' means for God through the Euthyphro Dilemma, and examination of two difficult texts - Abraham's call to sacrifice Isaac, and the Amalekite genocide of 1 Samuel 15. Views of Professors William Lane Craig, William Darwall, Richard Dawkins and Dr Tim Keller summarised or linked to. Includes several Youtube clips and links to wider reading.

A lesson prepared for my school's MOCKsted inspection, featuring introduction to the term 'conversion', excerpts from James' lectures on the subject, a video testimony of gangster-turned-preacher Nicky Cruz, plus the confession of the 'most dejected convert in all England': C.S. Lewis. Students consider whether James' idea that conversion is a 'normal adolescent phenomenon' is borne out by evidence.

Powerpoint explaining key Christian views on resurrection, using biblical passages and images. The timeline of the first and second resurrections explained, plus the nature of the resurrection body and what the disembodied soul is like before resurrection (Tertullian's traducianism and Aquinas' creationism of the soul are summarised). Starter activity using a popular Christian song, with an evocative video - students to analyse lyrics and explain symbolism used. Links to other syllabus areas e.g. is eternal punishment fair? How can Heaven be perfect if there is something that the disembodied soul is waiting for in it?

A brief powerpoint exploring the doctrine of divine simplicity - does God have parts? What implications does this idea have for discussion of such attributes as omniscience, omnipotence, eternality?

Powerpoint providing examples of corporate religious experience. From the ethereal chords of Mozart's Requiem to the base guitar and full rock band of megachurch Hillsong Australia, how does music influence religious experience? Finishes with an investigation into charismatic phenomena (signs and wonders, esp healing and glossolalia) and also a research task into the Toronto Blessing.

This video is mainly an excellent overview of Business Ethics, with a section on Catholic views at the end. Moving from the simple transactional ethics in an agrarian society, to the challenges of today's anonymous globalised markets, it concludes with a section on what future challenges to for business ethics might look like, and suggestions to make business practice more ethical. Very clear, excellent graphics and lots of useable case studies. 22mins. Worksheet contains headings to help with student notetaking.

Advanced articles, relevant for topics 3, 4 and 6 of Edexcel's New Testament Studies unit (paper 3). The approach of the radical Jesus Seminar is laid out by its founder, and contrasts with the conservative evangelical approach of Michael Bird.

Extracts from Mill's 'Three Essays on Religion', focussing on his claim that Nature is excessively cruel. Does the amount of pain in the natural world indicate that the world is not good? Also examines Richard Dawkins' example of the Digger Wasp and his counterclaim that nature is not cruel, merely 'pitilessly indifferent'.

Visiting PhD student provided our dept with this! (hence the excellent footnotes). What is ‘predestination’? What Biblical support is there for the doctrine? What are the implications for moral responsibility? What did Augustine, Pelagius, Calvin, Arminus, Edwards and John Wesley have to say? This was the handout to his talk. Questions included at the end.

I have turned some of the work of Rev. Dr Thomas Williams' entry on Anselm in the SEP into a handout. Focusses on how Anselm develops his discussions of God's impassibility, timelessness and simplicity, from his several statements of the ontological argument in Proslogion 2 and 3. Actually not as complex as it sounds! Full article found at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/anselm/