B Religion and Life
Religious teachings about the origins of the universe, and different interpretations of these. The
relationship between scientific views, such as the Big Bang theory, and religious views.
The origin of the universe
Scientific view - the Big Bang Theory
The Bing Bang Theory → universe is still expanding due to red shift → explosion from a single
point
Christian Teaching (Genesis)
- God created the Earth in 6 days from nothing
Day 1: “let there be light” - “called the light day, and the dark night”
Day 2: God created “skies and oceans”
Day 3: land and plants
Day 4: sun moon stars
Day 5: birds and fish
Day 6: animals and humans (Adam & Eve)
Day 7: day of rest “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it, God rested
from all his work”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God” ~ John 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was
formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit
of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and
there was light” Genesis 1:1-3
The role of the Trinity in creation
→ all exist alongside each other within the same God
“the spirit of God was hovering over the waters” → holy spirit
“The Word” = Jesus → involved in creation too
“God created the heavens and the earth” → God
Christian interpretations of creation in Genesis
Metaphorical view
⟶ would not believe if it happened as described
⟶ search for lessons within the story
1. Demonstrates God’s omnipotence
2. Day of rest is followed on Sunday in Christianity
B Religion and Life 1
, 3. Stewardship → we must be responsible for God’s creation (no pollution)
4. We are made in the image of God → respect human life (equality & dignity)
Fundamentalist view (literal truth)
The bible is infallible
The universe was created by God from nothing in 6 days
Adam and Eve were the first humans.
evolution and science are false when explaining creation
Influence:
1. They would question the scientific account of the universe as it clashes with the Bible
2. They would worship and respect God as the creation story shows God can do anything.
Catholic view
against literal version of Genesis
“created in God’s image”
Science should be accepted but needs God (big bang)
Creation should be seen metaphorically, not literally
Liberal view
Genesis account is simply a story to help Christians understand that God is the creator of the
world
the world was not random, humans have a special role to play in God’s creation “God has a
plan for us”
Buddhist view
no creator god to explain the origin of the universe
teaches karma (cycle of Samsara): present events are caused by past events and become
the cause of future events
The value of the world and the duty of human beings to protect it, including religious teaching about
stewardship, dominion, responsibility, awe and wonder.
“have dominion over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the heaven and
over every living thing that moves over the earth” ~ Genesis 1
“rule over… all the creatures that move along the ground” – dominion
“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter heaven” ~ Matthew 19
“The Lord God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” -
stewardship
Conservation ⟶ To preserve or maintain the natural order in the environment
B Religion and Life 2
, Stewardship ⟶ The duty to protect and look after the world for future generations
“The Lord God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it”
Dominion ⟶ The term used in genesis to highlight our position over the rest of creation
“rule over… all the creatures that move along the ground”
Awe & Wonder
God saw that his creation was good → Christians believe that natural world is created by God
and is good.
We should have awe and wonder for God’s creation
Christian Attitudes towards dominion/stewardship/awe & wonder
To use the world’s resources as humans need to do so, but without abusing them
Use renewable energies like wind and solar. Install solar panels
Stewardship is most important
Campaign against climate change
Work for conservation organisations like WWF
Buy responsibly sourced food.
Questions
State 2 ways human activities are polluting and damaging the environment[2]
plastic pollution
endangers the lives of animals
production of non-stick pans
a very harmful chemical that affects foetus and people can be born with teflon markers
permanently because of companies like dupont
Explain 2 different christian responses to pollution in todays world[5]
plant trees to reduce the effects of global warming to protect living things
“have dominion over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the
heaven and over every living thing that moves over the earth”
give away money for the production and search for renewable energy sources to reduce
pollution in the future
The use and abuse of the environment, including the use of natural resources, pollution
Pollution ⟶ To contaminate something, to make unclean
causes:
fumes from cars and factories
effects:
asthma, lung cancer, other diseases
devastates marine life → poisons water supplies
B Religion and Life 3
Religious teachings about the origins of the universe, and different interpretations of these. The
relationship between scientific views, such as the Big Bang theory, and religious views.
The origin of the universe
Scientific view - the Big Bang Theory
The Bing Bang Theory → universe is still expanding due to red shift → explosion from a single
point
Christian Teaching (Genesis)
- God created the Earth in 6 days from nothing
Day 1: “let there be light” - “called the light day, and the dark night”
Day 2: God created “skies and oceans”
Day 3: land and plants
Day 4: sun moon stars
Day 5: birds and fish
Day 6: animals and humans (Adam & Eve)
Day 7: day of rest “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it, God rested
from all his work”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God” ~ John 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was
formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit
of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and
there was light” Genesis 1:1-3
The role of the Trinity in creation
→ all exist alongside each other within the same God
“the spirit of God was hovering over the waters” → holy spirit
“The Word” = Jesus → involved in creation too
“God created the heavens and the earth” → God
Christian interpretations of creation in Genesis
Metaphorical view
⟶ would not believe if it happened as described
⟶ search for lessons within the story
1. Demonstrates God’s omnipotence
2. Day of rest is followed on Sunday in Christianity
B Religion and Life 1
, 3. Stewardship → we must be responsible for God’s creation (no pollution)
4. We are made in the image of God → respect human life (equality & dignity)
Fundamentalist view (literal truth)
The bible is infallible
The universe was created by God from nothing in 6 days
Adam and Eve were the first humans.
evolution and science are false when explaining creation
Influence:
1. They would question the scientific account of the universe as it clashes with the Bible
2. They would worship and respect God as the creation story shows God can do anything.
Catholic view
against literal version of Genesis
“created in God’s image”
Science should be accepted but needs God (big bang)
Creation should be seen metaphorically, not literally
Liberal view
Genesis account is simply a story to help Christians understand that God is the creator of the
world
the world was not random, humans have a special role to play in God’s creation “God has a
plan for us”
Buddhist view
no creator god to explain the origin of the universe
teaches karma (cycle of Samsara): present events are caused by past events and become
the cause of future events
The value of the world and the duty of human beings to protect it, including religious teaching about
stewardship, dominion, responsibility, awe and wonder.
“have dominion over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the heaven and
over every living thing that moves over the earth” ~ Genesis 1
“rule over… all the creatures that move along the ground” – dominion
“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter heaven” ~ Matthew 19
“The Lord God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” -
stewardship
Conservation ⟶ To preserve or maintain the natural order in the environment
B Religion and Life 2
, Stewardship ⟶ The duty to protect and look after the world for future generations
“The Lord God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it”
Dominion ⟶ The term used in genesis to highlight our position over the rest of creation
“rule over… all the creatures that move along the ground”
Awe & Wonder
God saw that his creation was good → Christians believe that natural world is created by God
and is good.
We should have awe and wonder for God’s creation
Christian Attitudes towards dominion/stewardship/awe & wonder
To use the world’s resources as humans need to do so, but without abusing them
Use renewable energies like wind and solar. Install solar panels
Stewardship is most important
Campaign against climate change
Work for conservation organisations like WWF
Buy responsibly sourced food.
Questions
State 2 ways human activities are polluting and damaging the environment[2]
plastic pollution
endangers the lives of animals
production of non-stick pans
a very harmful chemical that affects foetus and people can be born with teflon markers
permanently because of companies like dupont
Explain 2 different christian responses to pollution in todays world[5]
plant trees to reduce the effects of global warming to protect living things
“have dominion over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the
heaven and over every living thing that moves over the earth”
give away money for the production and search for renewable energy sources to reduce
pollution in the future
The use and abuse of the environment, including the use of natural resources, pollution
Pollution ⟶ To contaminate something, to make unclean
causes:
fumes from cars and factories
effects:
asthma, lung cancer, other diseases
devastates marine life → poisons water supplies
B Religion and Life 3
