Origins and Meaning

• Creation ex nihilo


  Creation out of nothing. Before God created the universe, nothing existed. Only God can create out of nothing.
• What do Catholics believe about creation ?

  •Nothing existed before God created the world - Creation Ex Nihilo

  
  

  •Only God creates because he is omnipotent

  
  

  •This belief can be found in the Bible in Genesis or in St Augustine's writing

  
  

  •They believe it is a symbolic story.

  The world was NOT created in 6 days exactly as it says.
• Catholic View of Big Bang Theory

  Science explains how the universe came about and Genesis explains why the universe began. The theory was put forward by Catholic priest Fr George Lemaitre. Catholics would argue God is responsible for The Big Bang.
• Evolution


  The gradual change in a species over time to suit particular environments
• Richard Dawkins believes


  Evolution does away with the need for God and the belief that humans have souls.

  
  

  Humans are just a genetic mutation and are just advanced animals
• Catholic view on evolution


  - Genesis needs to be understood metaphorically

  
  

  - What is important is that God created with a purpose so that everything is part of His plan

  
  

  - Catholics want the why; not the how

  
  

  - Pope John Paul II's message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Evolution 'There is no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of faith regarding man and his vocation
• Imago Dei (Image of God)


  belief that human beings are uniquely a reflection of Gods personhood
• What does St Catherine of Siena say about being made in the image of God? (imago dei)


  • The soul is made in the image of God

  
  

  • Humans come from God - "Man is placed above all creatures"

  
  

  •God creates out of love. The fact humans are made with dignity and in Gods image shows how much God loves them.

  
  

  •Gods qualities are reflected in us - like a mirror.
• Catholics view on abortion


  - against abortion in all circumstances

  - Human life begins at conception - " Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you "

  - abortion goes against the Ten Commandments "do not murder"
• When is abortion "the lesser of two evils"


  - if the pregnancy is as a result of rape

  
  

  - if continuing the pregnancy might be dangerous to the woman's health

  
  

  - if the child is likely to be severely disabled (effects it's quality of life)
• Pro life


  idea that abortion is always wrong and every human has a right to life
• Pro choice


  The idea that women have the right to decide on abortion.
• Humanist views on abortion


  A foetus cannot be considered a separate life until its born

  
  

  A woman should have the right to do what she wants with her own body

  
  

  Quality of life is more important than preservation of life at all costs - what quality of life would a severely disabled child have?

  
  

  Abortion should be an automatic right after rape

  
  

  Many Humanists would use Utilitarian principles. They would neither argue for or against abortion but would argue for the right of the mother to decide for herself which decision would end with the greatest amount of happiness.
• Speciesism

  That human life is more important, is discriminatory against nonhuman animals just because of their species
• What does Genesis 1 show us about God?

  Shows that God is :

  • Transcendent- exists above and beyond creation
  • Eternal- God has no beginning
  • Omnipotent- God is all powerful, creation happens just by his command
• What does Genesis 2 show us about God

  Shows God is :

  • Omnibenevolent- He creates out of love. He created other species so that man won't be lonely
  • Immanent- God is not distant from the world but involved in it. (He is close to the first humans)
• How is sanctity of life shown in the creation accounts


  God reflects on his creation and says that it is good. This includes humans
• How is Imago Dei shown in the creation accounts


  Humans were made in Gods image

  "So he created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them" which makes them sacred and holy
• How is Stewardship shown in the creation accounts


  God commands that humans have authority over nature and a responsibility to take care of it.
• Stewardship

  Looking after something so it can be passed on to the next generation
• Why do Christians believe they should care for the environment

  Because they are superior to the rest of creation due to free will and reason and so are stewards of the world
• Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)


  most important books of the Bible for all Christians as they tell Jesus's story.

  
  

  "Gospel" means "good news" - good news about Jesus
• Explain how the Bible came into being

  • took 350 years for the books in the Bible to be accepted as authentic records of Christian belief
  • The Holy Spirit inspired them to write and give to followers
• The Creation of Adam:

  • God and Adam depicted as father and son by looks
  • God is omnipotent as above Adam
  • God is Transcendent as in sky
  • God is omniscient as cape with angels look like brain
  • Humans made in the image of God (Imago Dei)

  
• Chi Rho:

  Early symbol of Christianity and first 2 letters of Christ in Greek

  
• Alpha and Omega:

  Means Jesus is the beginning and the end

  
• Lamb:

  Jesus is the Lamb of God, the sacrifice, the passover etc.

  
• The Cross:

  Symbol of Christ's death, but also redemption and salvation

  
• Tree:

  Reflective of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in Genesis​

  
• The 4 Evangelists:

  Matthew – a man – Jesus humbled himself to be human ​

  • Mark – a winged lion – leadership and royalty – Christ is king​
  • Luke – a winged ox – ox used in sacrifice at temple – Jesus was a sacrifice for our sins​
  • John – an eagle – Jesus is God (In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.​

  
• Doves:

  Peace and the Holy Spirit

  
• What do Fundamentalist Christians believe about the Bible's creation story?

  They believe it is literally correct
• How do Liberal Christians interpret the creation stories in the Bible?


  They believe the stories are metaphorically true
• What is the Catholic stance on abortion?

  Catholics believe life begins at conception and abortion is wrong in every circumstance
• What is the Catholic view on the sanctity of life?

  Catholics believe all human life is sacred and should be protected
• What does Genesis 1 and 2 reveal about God?


  God is transcendent, omnibenevolent, eternal, immanent, and omnipotent
• What is the Catholic Social Teaching (CST) view on human dignity?

  CST teaches that all humans are created in the image of God and to love each other (Golden Rule)
• What is the role of interfaith dialogue according to CST?

  CST encourages cooperative dialogue with other faiths to promote mutual understanding
• What is the purpose of CAFOD?

  CAFOD works in developing countries to promote long-term development and social justice
• What is original sin according to Genesis 3?

  It is the introduction of pain and suffering into a perfect world due to Adam and Eve's actions