SECTION A:
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE:
Creation Story: a narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it
There are various interpretations of the creation story in Genesis 1:
- Some believe it was created from matter (scientific)
- Most believe God created the world from nothing
- Some take the bible literally
Progressive Christianity: a form of Christianity that is characterized by a willingness to
question tradition, acceptance of human diversity, a strong emphasis on social justice and care
for the poor + oppressed, and environmental stewardship of the Earth (Ex. Quakers)
Conservative Christianity: a term used to describe identified Christians who tend to follow
conservative values which stands in contrast to liberal Christianity. Some members of the clergy
identify themselves as Conservative Christians (Ex. Roman Catholics)
Evolution: the process in which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have
developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the Earth.
CREATIONISTS say the world was made in 7 days
EVOLUTIONISTS say the world was created over millions of years
WHAT DOES THE CREATION STORY TELL US ABOUT GOD?
Commonality: the belief that all living creatures are part of the same process of development
Dominance: the belief that human beings have been given the right to exercise control over all
other living beings
Stewardship: Looking after some so it can be passed onto the next generation.
Purpose of the Universe:
CHRISTIAN BELIEF HUMANIST BELIEF
- To show God’s love, grace, mercy, - There are no supernatural beings
power and glory - Science provides the only reliable
- For humans to feel love for one source of knowledge about the
another and God universe
- For humans to live a good life and - Human beings purpose is to live
follow God’s commandments, so as to ethical and fulfilling lives, their moral
reach Heaven code comes from history, personal
experiences, and thoughts.
SCIENTIFIC VIEWS
,Cosmology: the study of how the universe began
Big Bang Theory: the scientific theory that the universe came into existence in a rapid
expansion.
EVIDENCE:
- Professor John Polkinghorne is a scientist and a Christian priest and believed that
Genesis and the Big Bang could come together.
- “Genesis is not there to give short, technical answers about how the universe began. It
gives us the big answer that things exist because of God's will. One can perfectly well
believe in the Big Bang, but believe in it as the will of God the creator”
The Big Bang:
- There was a massive explosion, which caused matter and gases to fly out in all
directions.
- All of the galaxies in the universe were formed from these gases and matter.
- Slowly the gases cooled, forming first the stars and then the planets, including Earth
EVIDENCE:
- There is evidence to prove the Big Bang Theory: background radiation shows the
universe was once a lot hotter than it is today.
- Red light or red shift (expanding light waves make red light) shows the universe is still
expanding...
Oscillating Universe Theory: The universe expands rapidly (Big Bang) and then collapses
(Big Crunch). The cycle is often called the Big Bounce and the argument is favoured by some
scientists as it means the universe does not have a beginning (or an end) and the state of the
universe just changes in form.
Evolution: Darwin’s Theories
- Darwin believed that - over time - species of animals and plants have evolved
- He also believed in natural selection: as the conditions and the climate changes, animals
and plants with favourable traits become more common in successive generations than
those with unfavourable inheritable traits.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP:
Christian teachings about stewardship:
- Christian teachings show that God made the world and that he gave humans the world
as a gift, to be in charge of and to use as they wanted.
- However, other teachings show that God made the world and then gave it to humans to
look after.
According to the creation story human beings are given a special responsibility within creation:
to be ‘good stewards’. A steward is someone who carefully looks after something that is not
,theirs, just like you’d expect a friend to look after anything you’d lent them. They look after it to
the best of their ability whoever really owns it – in this case, God. So it is the role of the humans
as stewards to pass on the world to the next generation in a better state than they received it.
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Animal rights: the idea that animals should be treated fairly, without cruelty and should not
suffer.
St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian, Catholic friar and preacher.
- He is considered the patron of animals and the natural environment.
- He preached that the world was created good and beautiful by God.
- He believed that it was the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature as both stewards of
God’s creatures and creatures ourselves.
- Many of the stories about St. Francis say that he had a great love for animals and the
environment.
Vegetarianism: Practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat
Veganism: Practice of abstaining from the use of animal products
Pescetarianism: Practice of a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals
CHRISTIAN’S VIEW ON ANIMAL RIGHTS:
- DOMINION: Most Christians today are agreed that although humans have dominion
over animals this is a role of responsibility not privilege, and they have an obligation to
treat animals as humanely as possible as animals are sensitive and capable of suffering.
- SOULS? There is some debate among the Christian churches as to whether or not
animals have souls. The Roman Catholic Church has stated that they do not have souls
but, other Christians take different views.
- STEWARDSHIP: Most Christians believe in the sanctity of life, which means that life is
sacred because it is created by God. It therefore belongs to God, and is only God’s to
give or take away. This extends to non-human life and therefore anyone who neglects or
ill-treats animals is not respecting God's creation.
- STEWARDSHIP: Christians today interpret this to mean that human beings have
stewardship over God’s creation and should care for everything in it, including all animal
life which is valuable and to be respected. God has given humans the right to use
animals for their survival but they are expected to do so humanely and sustainably. With
this power and privilege comes the responsibility to exercise it with care.
HUMAN NATURE AND HUMAN CONDITION
Immortality: the idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body
,Soul: The spiritual or non-material part of a person
Christians believe that each person has a ‘soul’, which does not die (immortal) when the body
and the mind die, but lives on after death. The spirit, being non-material, obviously cannot decay
in the way that material things can. Paul says that in the afterlife natural bodies will be replaced
by spiritual bodies. It is the soul that is judged by God, and which can join Heaven forever:
- Not physical
- Lives on forever after the body dies
- The unique spiritual aspect of a human
- Allows a relationship with God
He believed that because everyone is created According to Augustine, human beings have
in God's image all people are essentially two parts, a body and a soul. Both of these
good. He believed that people never sin are necessary for us to be human and both
deliberately. He thought that the Fall are created by God. The soul is the rational
damaged people's ability to use their reason
correctly. This meant that when people are and moral part whereas the body is more
deciding how to behave they sometimes think driven by instinct and physical drives.
something is the right course of action when it Augustine said that the soul should therefore
is not. They mistake an apparent good for a guide the body (because it is rational so can
real good. make reasoned decisions).
NON RELIGIOUS VIEWS:
Many atheists and some agnostics might argue that a
soul does not exist. They do not believe that humans
continue to live on after death. They believe in
physicalism. For example, a physicalist might argue
that things like religious experiences can be explained
in terms of brain activity.
Physicalism: The belief that the real world is nothing
more than the physical world.
REASONS FOR THE SOUL REASONS FOR PHYSICALISM
, - Some people believe that Near death - There is no hard evidence for a
experiences prove that consciousness does soul. No hint of a soul has ever
not come from the brain. They would argue been found in operations or
dissections.
that consciousness survives death. Thus
- There is usually a clear possible
consciousness must come from the soul. rational explanation for things that
- Others believe in a soul because they think are supposed to be evidence for the
that this explains why people have a moral soul (like moral conscience,
conscience. Some might argue that if we religious experiences and NDEs).
are purely physical beings driven by bodily - Belief in the soul is likely to just be
desires then what reason do we have for wishful thinking.
being moral?
- the desire to find meaning in life or to be
artistic could, perhaps suggest that we are
not purely physical.
SELFISHNESS, IGNORANCE, GREED, AND SIN
Sin: Behaviour that is against the law of God
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Envy
- Wrath
- Greed
- Sloth
- Pride
Original Sin: every person is born with sin. This is because of Adam’s act of taking the apple in
the Garden of Eden. This is known as the Fall.
- The reason that sin was placed on people was because Adam and Eve failed to trust in
God’s love and power and goodness
- So they were cut off from him
- Humans lost their original state of holiness.
- Death makes its entrance into humanity
- An ingrained tendency towards sin
Actual sin: sin in the ordinary sense of the word and consists of evil acts, whether of thought,
word, or actions.
Selfishness: Self-interest and concern with individual needs/wants which excludes considering
those of others
Greed: An excessive desire for things, such as wealth or food, which bears no relation to actual
needs
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE:
Creation Story: a narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it
There are various interpretations of the creation story in Genesis 1:
- Some believe it was created from matter (scientific)
- Most believe God created the world from nothing
- Some take the bible literally
Progressive Christianity: a form of Christianity that is characterized by a willingness to
question tradition, acceptance of human diversity, a strong emphasis on social justice and care
for the poor + oppressed, and environmental stewardship of the Earth (Ex. Quakers)
Conservative Christianity: a term used to describe identified Christians who tend to follow
conservative values which stands in contrast to liberal Christianity. Some members of the clergy
identify themselves as Conservative Christians (Ex. Roman Catholics)
Evolution: the process in which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have
developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the Earth.
CREATIONISTS say the world was made in 7 days
EVOLUTIONISTS say the world was created over millions of years
WHAT DOES THE CREATION STORY TELL US ABOUT GOD?
Commonality: the belief that all living creatures are part of the same process of development
Dominance: the belief that human beings have been given the right to exercise control over all
other living beings
Stewardship: Looking after some so it can be passed onto the next generation.
Purpose of the Universe:
CHRISTIAN BELIEF HUMANIST BELIEF
- To show God’s love, grace, mercy, - There are no supernatural beings
power and glory - Science provides the only reliable
- For humans to feel love for one source of knowledge about the
another and God universe
- For humans to live a good life and - Human beings purpose is to live
follow God’s commandments, so as to ethical and fulfilling lives, their moral
reach Heaven code comes from history, personal
experiences, and thoughts.
SCIENTIFIC VIEWS
,Cosmology: the study of how the universe began
Big Bang Theory: the scientific theory that the universe came into existence in a rapid
expansion.
EVIDENCE:
- Professor John Polkinghorne is a scientist and a Christian priest and believed that
Genesis and the Big Bang could come together.
- “Genesis is not there to give short, technical answers about how the universe began. It
gives us the big answer that things exist because of God's will. One can perfectly well
believe in the Big Bang, but believe in it as the will of God the creator”
The Big Bang:
- There was a massive explosion, which caused matter and gases to fly out in all
directions.
- All of the galaxies in the universe were formed from these gases and matter.
- Slowly the gases cooled, forming first the stars and then the planets, including Earth
EVIDENCE:
- There is evidence to prove the Big Bang Theory: background radiation shows the
universe was once a lot hotter than it is today.
- Red light or red shift (expanding light waves make red light) shows the universe is still
expanding...
Oscillating Universe Theory: The universe expands rapidly (Big Bang) and then collapses
(Big Crunch). The cycle is often called the Big Bounce and the argument is favoured by some
scientists as it means the universe does not have a beginning (or an end) and the state of the
universe just changes in form.
Evolution: Darwin’s Theories
- Darwin believed that - over time - species of animals and plants have evolved
- He also believed in natural selection: as the conditions and the climate changes, animals
and plants with favourable traits become more common in successive generations than
those with unfavourable inheritable traits.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP:
Christian teachings about stewardship:
- Christian teachings show that God made the world and that he gave humans the world
as a gift, to be in charge of and to use as they wanted.
- However, other teachings show that God made the world and then gave it to humans to
look after.
According to the creation story human beings are given a special responsibility within creation:
to be ‘good stewards’. A steward is someone who carefully looks after something that is not
,theirs, just like you’d expect a friend to look after anything you’d lent them. They look after it to
the best of their ability whoever really owns it – in this case, God. So it is the role of the humans
as stewards to pass on the world to the next generation in a better state than they received it.
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Animal rights: the idea that animals should be treated fairly, without cruelty and should not
suffer.
St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian, Catholic friar and preacher.
- He is considered the patron of animals and the natural environment.
- He preached that the world was created good and beautiful by God.
- He believed that it was the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature as both stewards of
God’s creatures and creatures ourselves.
- Many of the stories about St. Francis say that he had a great love for animals and the
environment.
Vegetarianism: Practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat
Veganism: Practice of abstaining from the use of animal products
Pescetarianism: Practice of a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals
CHRISTIAN’S VIEW ON ANIMAL RIGHTS:
- DOMINION: Most Christians today are agreed that although humans have dominion
over animals this is a role of responsibility not privilege, and they have an obligation to
treat animals as humanely as possible as animals are sensitive and capable of suffering.
- SOULS? There is some debate among the Christian churches as to whether or not
animals have souls. The Roman Catholic Church has stated that they do not have souls
but, other Christians take different views.
- STEWARDSHIP: Most Christians believe in the sanctity of life, which means that life is
sacred because it is created by God. It therefore belongs to God, and is only God’s to
give or take away. This extends to non-human life and therefore anyone who neglects or
ill-treats animals is not respecting God's creation.
- STEWARDSHIP: Christians today interpret this to mean that human beings have
stewardship over God’s creation and should care for everything in it, including all animal
life which is valuable and to be respected. God has given humans the right to use
animals for their survival but they are expected to do so humanely and sustainably. With
this power and privilege comes the responsibility to exercise it with care.
HUMAN NATURE AND HUMAN CONDITION
Immortality: the idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body
,Soul: The spiritual or non-material part of a person
Christians believe that each person has a ‘soul’, which does not die (immortal) when the body
and the mind die, but lives on after death. The spirit, being non-material, obviously cannot decay
in the way that material things can. Paul says that in the afterlife natural bodies will be replaced
by spiritual bodies. It is the soul that is judged by God, and which can join Heaven forever:
- Not physical
- Lives on forever after the body dies
- The unique spiritual aspect of a human
- Allows a relationship with God
He believed that because everyone is created According to Augustine, human beings have
in God's image all people are essentially two parts, a body and a soul. Both of these
good. He believed that people never sin are necessary for us to be human and both
deliberately. He thought that the Fall are created by God. The soul is the rational
damaged people's ability to use their reason
correctly. This meant that when people are and moral part whereas the body is more
deciding how to behave they sometimes think driven by instinct and physical drives.
something is the right course of action when it Augustine said that the soul should therefore
is not. They mistake an apparent good for a guide the body (because it is rational so can
real good. make reasoned decisions).
NON RELIGIOUS VIEWS:
Many atheists and some agnostics might argue that a
soul does not exist. They do not believe that humans
continue to live on after death. They believe in
physicalism. For example, a physicalist might argue
that things like religious experiences can be explained
in terms of brain activity.
Physicalism: The belief that the real world is nothing
more than the physical world.
REASONS FOR THE SOUL REASONS FOR PHYSICALISM
, - Some people believe that Near death - There is no hard evidence for a
experiences prove that consciousness does soul. No hint of a soul has ever
not come from the brain. They would argue been found in operations or
dissections.
that consciousness survives death. Thus
- There is usually a clear possible
consciousness must come from the soul. rational explanation for things that
- Others believe in a soul because they think are supposed to be evidence for the
that this explains why people have a moral soul (like moral conscience,
conscience. Some might argue that if we religious experiences and NDEs).
are purely physical beings driven by bodily - Belief in the soul is likely to just be
desires then what reason do we have for wishful thinking.
being moral?
- the desire to find meaning in life or to be
artistic could, perhaps suggest that we are
not purely physical.
SELFISHNESS, IGNORANCE, GREED, AND SIN
Sin: Behaviour that is against the law of God
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Envy
- Wrath
- Greed
- Sloth
- Pride
Original Sin: every person is born with sin. This is because of Adam’s act of taking the apple in
the Garden of Eden. This is known as the Fall.
- The reason that sin was placed on people was because Adam and Eve failed to trust in
God’s love and power and goodness
- So they were cut off from him
- Humans lost their original state of holiness.
- Death makes its entrance into humanity
- An ingrained tendency towards sin
Actual sin: sin in the ordinary sense of the word and consists of evil acts, whether of thought,
word, or actions.
Selfishness: Self-interest and concern with individual needs/wants which excludes considering
those of others
Greed: An excessive desire for things, such as wealth or food, which bears no relation to actual
needs
