Theology students have been thinking big with an essay competition challenging the existence of God.

The AS students had to tackle the question: ‘There are no convincing reasons to believe in God.’ Discuss. Head of Theology Mr Vaughan said the competition was set up as the question of God’s existence is such a major theme in the AS Theology course.

“The course requires students to engage with a variety of arguments that argument both for and against God’s existence,” he said.

He added that competition winner Chloe Elliott, formerly of Parrs Wood High School, had showed a brilliant understanding of how the concept of God’s existence relate to modern scientific ideas from the Big Bang to the Multi-verse theory.

Runner up Annie Lord, formerly of St Ambrose Barlow High School, took a more philosophical approach to the word ‘convincing’, while runner up Rachael Barber, formerly of Glossopdale Community College, demonstrated an accurate understanding of the traditional arguments regarding God’s existence, including Aquinas’ ‘5 Ways’ and the Problem of Evil.

As well as the winners being awarded certificates they were also awarded prize money which should come in handy for some last minute Christmas shopping!