How many black circles can you see?

Does the circle move?

Are there any grey dots?

Is the book pointing towards you or away?

What is truth?People have looked for both religion and science to help them find the truth.• Religion is one way in which many people look for truth. It can

help them to answer ultimate questions such as ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Why am I here?’

• People have also used science to help them answer such questions. Scientists believe that the truth should be ‘proven’ through experiment and observation.

• Where else do you think people might look for and ‘find’ truth?

1. Make a list of six questions about life which you think are important.

2. Share your questions with a neighbour and explain why you think they are important.

What is your idea of truth?Your idea of truth will be influenced by the world around you and your experiences within it such as• Your education• Your friends and family• Your religious or non-religious beliefs• The mediaYour sense of truth will also help you to understand the world around you.

The media can have a great influence over what we believe to be true. In the film The Truman Show, a television show creates a world for one man to live in. He believes that the world he experiences Is real and what he is told is the truth.

The TV programme Big Brother does much the same

What makes you different than the person sitting next to you?

Add characteristics around your diagram -

Put :

Good ones in one colour.Bad ones in another.

helpful chatty

• Write a paragraph about one person who is an influence on you.

Who are they?Why are they an influence?What did they do ?How did you change?Was there any time that they really helped you or changed you?

I believeI believeI believeI believeI believe

I knowI knowI knowI knowI know

• What beliefs do you think are wrong to have? Try to give an example.

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• How do your beliefs affect your actions? Give an example.

• Do you think that people have a choice in what they believe. Remember to give reasons for your answer.

Conscience – right and wrong. ‘Inner voice’ tells you whether action is right or wrong. Some people think the ‘inner voice’ might be God.

Reason – your ability to think logically has a big impact on what you think is true.. In Maths and Science people try to find patterns of numbers or events in order to better understand the world around them.Authority – important to

listen to another person who you respect to find the truth. E.g.. The Pope or to refer to scriptures e.g., the Quran or the Bible. In science, a professor or someone who has received an award has authority

Culture – traditions, beliefs, religions of those around you influence the way you think. E.g. someone living in Falkirk is likely to have different experiences and beliefs to someone in Africa

Feelings – if you have a strong feeling about a person, idea or situation then this might influence how you understand the truth. Our emotions help us judge the world around us.

Peer Group – you might come to think something is true because many people your own age believe that it is. Have you ever judged someone based on what a friend has said ?

Rank these into order of importance in terms of affecting your beliefs and ideas of truth.