Theme B - Life

• the origins of the universe

  • the universe was formed at Gods command (bible)
  • in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (bible)
  • made from water every living thing (Quran)
  • God who created the heavens and the earth in 6 days (Quran)
• agree with religion + the big bang

  • likelihood of the big bang is 1/10230 so divine intervention was needed
  • could describe physical process following Gods initial creation
• disagree with religion + the big bang

  • natural process rely on observable evidence (expansion of universe + cosmic radiation)
  • doesnt require a deity's involvement
• stewardship

  • God took man and put him in the gardens of eden to work it and take care of it (bible)
  • Allah has made you his stewards (Hadith)
  • It is He who has mad you successors (Khalifa) on the earth (Hadith)
• dominion

  • rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and every living creature that moves on ground (bible)
• use of the environment

  • the time has come for ... destroying those who destroy the earth (bible)
  • the earth is the Lords and everything in it (bible)
  • do not seek from it more than what you need (Quran)
  • do not be extravagant (Quran)
• eating meat

  • everything that lives and moves about will be food for you (bible)
  • food doesnt bring us nearer to God (bible)
  • it is Allah who provides livestock for you ... some for your food (Quran)
  • He has provided from them of animals. so eat of them (Quran)
• animal experimentation

  • the righteous care for the needs of their animals (bible)
  • for everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected (bible)
  • cause corruption therin and destroy crops and animals. and Allah does not like corruption (Quran)
• origins of human life

  • God created mankind from his own image (bible)
  • God formed a man from the dust of the ground (bible)
  • We certainly created man from clay of altered black smooth mud (Quran)
  • humans were lifeless and He gave you life (Quran)
• agree with religion + evolution

  • metaphorical interpretation of holy texts
  • teachings are symbolic and evolution is factual
• disagree with religion + evolution

  • evolution doesnt require divine guidance + intervention
  • incompatible with religion where God is sustainer of all
• abortion

  • do not kill the innocent and righteous for i will not justify the guilt (bible)
  • you shall not murder (bible)
  • isaiah prophesised murder of children in babylon - they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb (bible)
  • dont kill your children for fear of poverty (Quran)
  • dont take life ,which God made sacred, except by right (Quran)
• euthanasia

  • in Gods hands is the life of every living thing (bible)
  • death is better than a miserable life (bible)
  • no soul may die except with Gods permission at a predestined time (Quran)
  • my slave hurried to bring death upon himself so I have forbidden him (to enter) Paradise (Hadith)
• afterlife

  • he will come to judge the living and the dead (the apostles creed)
  • no one comes to the father except through me (bible)
  • they will go away to eternal punishment but the righteous to eternal life (bible)
  • we have indeed made whatever is on earth ... to test which of them is best in deeds (Quran)
  • race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a garden whose width is like the width of the heavens ... prepared fir those who believed in Allah and His Messengers (Quran)
  • their penalty will not be lighten nor will they receive respite (Quran)