Ian McCormack and near death experience
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can reflect on Ian McCormack’s conversion experience and use philosophical arguments to show how it could be used as support for the existence of God.
Key learning points
- People may have religious experiences that confirm their current beliefs or convert them to a new religious outlook.
- Ian McCormack was an atheist who had a near death experience and became a Christian.
- Following his near death experience and conversion, he has dedicated his life to spreading Christianity.
- Richard Swinburne argues the role of credulity and testimony support the validity of religious experiences.
- Philosophers may argue that whether his experience can be proven is less significant than the impact it has had.
Keywords
Conversion - a complete transformation, often involving a change in worldview, such as adopting a new religious belief
Ian McCormack - a man who converted to Christianity after having a near death experience
Near death experience (NDE) - a transformative experience often involving visions, feelings of peace or encounters with a higher power, typically reported by those who have been close to death
Richard Swinburne - a philosopher who argues that religious experiences should be taken as evidence for the existence of God
Common misconception
Ian McCormack’s experience is unique and proves the truth of Christianity.
McCormack’s experience is similar to those in other religions, where people report encounters with divine beings or light, showing such experiences aren’t unique to Christianity.
Teacher tip
Teachers could show a clip of Ian McCormack sharing his testimony or parts of the film about his experience 'The Perfect Wave'. Task B could be adapted as an oracy task or cloze task using the sample answers (students are presented text with key elements missing for them to complete).
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A religious experience is a personal feeling or moment when someone believes they connect with a power or God.
Q2.What method did William James use to study religious experiences?
Q3.Match the characteristic of religious experiences to its description according to William James.
The experience cannot be easily expressed or fully described in words.
The experience provides knowledge beyond ordinary understanding.
The experience is temporary but has a lasting impact.
The individual feels controlled by a higher power.
Q4.What is the temporal lobe?
Q5.What is Persinger's God helmet used to study?
Q6.How is scepticism used as a philosophical tool when evaluating religious experiences?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A complete transformation, often involving a change in worldview such as adopting a new religious belief, is called a ...
Q2.Which of the following is a common characteristic of near death experiences identified by Dr. Raymond Moody?
Q3.What is the order of events for Ian McCormack's near death experience?
Q4.How was Ian McCormack’s life transformed after his near death experience?
Q5.Which are explanations of Richard Swinburne's principle of credulity?
Q6.Why, according to Richard Swinburne, is Ian McCormack's near death experience evidence for the existence of God?
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Ian McCormack and near death experience, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Ian McCormack and near death experience, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Knowing God: does religious experience prove God exists? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.