Theme B: Religion & Life

• Scientific Truth:

  • Comes from a hypothesis that is then repeatedly tested to confirm a theory.
  • Describes the world and how it works.
  • Answers the what and how questions - explains the function and process.
  • Always developing its truths as it finds more evidence. Not absolute but conditional on the testing conditions.
• Religious Truth:

  • Comes from religious and holy books. These are from God and personal experiences.
  • Explains why we are here, who God is and what happens at death.
  • Answers the why, purpose and meaning questions.
  • Open to interpretation, but the teachings stay the same and remain relevant at all times.
• Religion and science usually disagree about how the universe began.
• The Big Bang Theory is a scientific theory about the origins of the universe.
• The Big Bang Theory:

  • A theory proposed by Alexander Friedmann in 1922.
  • The universe began 13.7 billion years ago.
  • All the matter in the universe was concentrated at one point. It turned into a small, dense, high temperature point.
  • Began to expand rapidly with an explosion, eventually cooling and creating the universe.
  • The Earth was hot and covered in primordial soup, a mixture of liquids, chemicals, minerals, proteins and amino acids.
  • These fused to give the first life forms, and from this, all life developed, including humans.
• Scientific evidence supports the Big Bang Theory. Scientists know the universe is expanding and can track the expansion back to a singular point. Background radiation from the explosion can still be detected in space.
• The Genesis creation story is believed by Christians, Jews and Muslims.
• The Genesis Creation Story:

  • In the beginning there was nothing.
  • Over six days God created light and dark, the heavens and earth, land, sea and vegetation, the sun, moon and stars, birds and fish, then land animals and humans.
  • On the seventh day, God rested, saying it was a 'good' creation.
• Views on the Genesis creation story:

  • Some believe that it is literally true. As God is omnipotent, it is easy to believe God was able to do this in six days.
  • Others believe that it is a metaphor. It may be a simplified version of what happened, as a 'day' could symbolise a long period of time.
  • Others say that Genesis simply provides a message of the purpose of humans. Humans were made in God's image, and so have a purpose. The story explains why humans are here rather than how we came to be here.
• Religious vs Scientific views on the origins of the universe:

  • Some see the Genesis creation story as completely accurate. They may say humans don't need to understand the origins of the universe, they just need to believe. Therefore, accepting scientific views is impossible.
  • Some fully accept the scientific view on the origins of the universe and believe religious views are nonsense.
  • Others combine religious and scientific views, believing that God started the Big Bang.
• Christain views on the creation story:

  Fundamental:

  • The Genesis creation story is literally true, and the world really was created in the 6 days.
  • Others say the days might represent ages, and there may have been a mistranslation.

  Liberal:

  • The story is symbolic.
  • The main message of the story is that God created the universe.
• Muslim views on the creation story:

  • There are some differences in the order.
  • Some believe that the world was created in six days.
  • Most believe that six days actually meant six stages.
  • There is a focus on creation being continuous every time a new person is born.
• Stewardship is a Christain practice that includes looking after the world for God.
• Khalifah is a Muslim term that means protecting the world for future generations.
• Numinous refers to when looking at the awe and wonder of the world reminds someone of God.
• Dominion is the religious idea that humans have the right to rule over the world (God's creation).
• The world is valuable to humans as:

  • God chose humans to take care of it, so we have a duty to protect it.
  • Humans have dominion over nature.
  • It provides us with food.
  • It is God's creation, so we should respect it.
  • There is only one Earth, and it cannot be replaced. Therefore, we need to maintain it for future generations.
  • God gave humans the privileged to live on the Earth.
  • Everything is interdependent so harming the planet or driving animals to extinction will harm people.
• Stewardship:

  • The Bible says that the natural world does not belong to humans for them to treat is as they wish.
  • In Genesis 2, Adam was given the task of looking after the Garden of Eden, and this responsibility to look after the world passes to us.
  • Humans have been appointed by God to respect the world, and so we should work with nature to preserve what God has given.
  • We are able to use what God provided us with in a sustainable way for our survival
  • The world is complex and fascinating and inspires a sense of awe in humans. This is evidence of God's creative power.
  • The world has value and should be preserved.
  • Many Christains believe they will be held accountable by God based on how well they looked after the world.
• Khalifah:

  • Khalifah means Muslims have a duty to maintain the planet.
  • All Muslims are members of the Ummah. This includes future generations, who need a healthy environment to live in.
  • Allah created Adam as his Khalifah. All Muslims are Allah's Khalifah's who have to keep the balance of creation and look after the Earth for Allah in the way set out in the Qur'an and Shariah Law.
  • Islam teaches that people will be judged by Allah on the way they have looked after the Earth.
  • Islam teaches that this life is a test from Allah. A part of this test is looking after the world. Those who fail will be punished.
  • Muslims should reduce pollution and preserve resources.
• Dominion:

  • Humans have the power and authority to rule over the world.
  • This means that humans occupy a special place in creation.
  • They have been appointed the rulers of creation.
  • The interests of humans will take priority over the interests of animals.
  • However, humans still have a responsibility to ensure that animals are looked after.
• Christain beliefs on Dominion:

  • The sanctity of life teaches that humans are more important than other parts of creation.
  • Humans have souls and this sets them apart from animals and plants.
  • Humans are made in God's image. This means humans are unique amongst God's creations.
  • God 'breathed life' into Adam. This means that God has a personal relationship with humans, which sets them apart from animals.
• Air Pollution:

  • The contamination of air.
  • Caused by fumes from factories and transport.
  • Causes global warming, climate change, acid rain, asthma and lung cancer.
• Land Pollution:

  • The chemical contamination of soil and the ground.
  • Caused by poor disposal of waste.
  • Poisons wildlife; impacts farming and food sources.
• Water Pollution:

  • When water the quality of water is reduced.
  • Caused by the dumping of both civic and factory waste in rivers and the sea.
  • Kills birds and marine life; can poison humans.
• Solutions for Pollution:

  • Government controlling factories to cut CO2 levels.
  • Reducing the use of fossil fuels and replacing them with cleaner energy.
  • Altering travel habits.
  • Being aware of our carbon footprints.
• Pollution is the introduction of something that is toxic to the environment.
• Global warming is the heating up of the world's atmosphere. This causes climate change.
• Global Warming:

  • The Earth naturally heats up and cools down but human activity over the past 100 years has speeded up this temperature change.
  • The change in temperature alters ecosystems as plants and animals have to quickly adapt or they will die out.
  • Extreme weather patterns lead to floods, droughts, ice caps melting, an increase in deserts and a reduction in rainforests.
• Solutions to Global Warming:

  • Humans need to be able to meet their needs for lighting, heating, industry and transport whilst not damaging the environment.
  • Scientists say we should change our energy use to cleaner energies.
  • Use of coal, oil and gas should be reduced and use of wind, solar, water and nuclear should be increased. These are more sustainable and cleaner but are expensive.
  • World leaders are attempting to address these problems via international agreements.
• Causes of the destruction of Natural Habitats:

  • Pollution (acid rain)
  • Oil spills
  • Deforestation
  • Using land for grazing, house building, mining, roads and the planting of cash crops.
• Deforestation is negative as trees take in CO2 and produce O2, which helps fight global warming.
• Solutions for the destruction of Natural Habitats:


  • Providing countries with alternatives to cutting down trees.
  • Finding alternative ways to earn money rather than timber.
• Natural Resources:

  • Include vegetation, minerals and fossil fuels, which have taken millions of years to form.
  • Humans are overusing them, and they are running out as they are limited and non-renewable.
  • When they run out, they are gone.
• A solution to the use of natural resources is finding renewable energies.
• Natural resources are the resources that the Earth provides without the aid of humankind.
• Sustainable development is the idea that technological advancements should be long-lasting and within reach for all nations.
• Conservation:

  • The act of protecting an area or species.
  • Returning areas of nature to their original state of natural beauty before they suffered the damage inflicted by humans.
  • Planting trees or making nature reserves, etc.
  • Breeding animals.
  • Establishing protected areas.
  • Using holidays to work for environmental projects.
• Ways we can reduce environmental problems:

  • Making small changes to life patterns.
  • Adopting animals in reserves where their habitat is protected.
  • Recycling.
  • Joining an environmental organisation.
  • Praying for people to work together.
• Buddhist attitudes to the environment:

  • All life should be respected.
  • As we will use the Earth during many lifetimes, we should protect it for ourselves as well as for our children.
  • Ignorance and greed (two of the Three Poisons) lead to most pollution.
  • The First Precept teaches humans to not harm other sentient beings.
• Christain attitudes to the environment:

  • God gave humans the world, entrusting them with this great gift.
  • Humans have the responsibility to look after it as stewards.
  • We also have the responsibility to look after each other (the poor and our future children) to make sure the world is intact for future generations.