Creation

• creation


  The act of creating the universe or the universe which has been created
• dignity


  being worthy of honour or respect
• free will


  The idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
• humanity


  the human race
• Magesterium


  The pope and the bishop being guided by the holy spirit to be able to interpret the bible and tradition for Catholics today
• Natural Law


  The inbuilt ability of humans to be able to decide between right and wrong
• Omnipotent


  all-powerful
• prophecy


  messages of god delivered by a prophet/ chosen person
• Sanctity of life


  Life is a gift and belongs to God
• Stewardship


  Looking after something so it can be passed on to the next generation
• tradition


  The passing on of customs or beliefs from generation to generation
• transcendent


  God is beyond all physical laws
• Omnibenevolent


  All loving
• omnipresent


  present everywhere at the same time
• omniscient


  all-knowing
• Fundamentalist belief on creation


  Bible is 100% true, e.g. Genesis story literally happened in 6 days
• Catholic belief on creation


  Catholics can accept scientific explanations e.g. big bang, evolution. Creation story is a metaphor
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)


  Italian priest, philosopher and theologian who came up with natural law
• reason


  power to think and make rational decisions
• Dominion


  In genesis, God gave humans power over animals and the environment
• Interdependence


  relying or depending on each other. Our actions affect others
• Two pieces of artwork that depict creation

  • Michaelangelo's creation of adam
  • Meiere's mosaic
• Where is the creation of adam

  Sistine chapel in Rome
• Why is Adam depicted as not fully alive in the creation of adam

  Because he is waiting for God's touch to bring him to life, it shows that humanity depends on God for life
• Why are God and Adam both muscular and lying in similar positions


  Reflects teachings that humanity is made in the image of God
• Why is God much older than Adam


  God is ancient and eternal while humanity is not
• Why is God carried through the air by a group of angels


  Shows god is transcendent
• Why do God and Adam have their hands reached out to eachother


  Longing for a close relationship between God and humanity
• Why is God bringing a HUMAN to life rather than an other species


  Humans are unique as they are specially created by God and are in close contact with him
• Why is Adam shown as the perfect man and muscular


  God made everything "very good"
• Two ways the creation of Adam doesn't reflect Catholic beliefs

  • In Genesis, God brought Adam to life by breathing into his nostrils rather than touching him
  • In the painting God and Adam are nearly the same size which suggests humans and God are equal which goes against Catholic teachings
• Why is God's hand large compared to the size of the cloud above it in Meiere's mosaic


  Helps to show God's greatness and power
• Why are there lines extending from God's hand to the edge of the circle (edge of universe) in Meiere's Mossaic


  Reflects the idea that God created everything in the universe, and that his influence and power touch all things
• Gods Nature

  Both pieces of artwork show God is the creator and that he is powerful and eternal
• How God is shown

  In Creation of Adam, God is shown as an old man. Some christians object to this because they believe that an eternal God should not be shown as an ageing man.

  In the Mossaic, only God's hand is shown. Some christians think this symbol of God's creative power is a more acceptable way of showing God as God is infinite
• God's role in creation

  Creation of Adam focuses on the act of God creating humanity, so it conveys more about the relationship between God and humanity

  However, Meiere's Mosaic is more abstract. It conveys a greater sense that God is always creating everything, but shows less about God's relationship with humanity
• Nature of God

  • God is omnipotent
  • God is transcendent
  • God is creator
• What allows humans to have a close relationship with God


  We are made in his image so humans share qualitites with God like love and compassion
• "God saw everything he had made and indeed it was very good"
• What does belief in omnipotence mean


  Christians can trust God, as they know he has the power to do or change anything