Forms of expression

• Michelangelo's Creation of Adam


  Symbols on the tree of life
• Beliefs about

  • God
  • Humans
• God

  • Presented as active
  • Lying on the earth
  • Dynamic figure
  • Hard working
  • Shown as being older
  • Has a beard
  • More muscular
• God is shown as the creator as stated in Genesis
• God is shown as omnipotent as he created the universe
• God's age highlights that he is omniscient - all knowing, showing his wisdom
• Stretched hand shows God giving Adam life
• God is shown on a cloud surrounded by angels to represent his transcendence, the cloud could represent his omniscience
• The Creation from dust as mirrored in Genesis links to the idea that humans were created to protect the environment
• Adam


  • Perfect human being
  • Young
  • Non-ageing
  • Resembles God
• Adam's pose mirrors that of God
• The symbols in the fresco in the Church of San Clemente (Rome) include twelve lambs representing the twelve disciples who were given the task to pass on Jesus' message
• The lamb in the centre with angels represents Jesus, the lamb of God who sacrificed his life
• The vine and tree of life represent how the message of Christianity will grow and spread throughout the world
• The reaching hand represents God reaching out to Jesus and taking him to heaven, showing God's power to overcome death (Resurrection)
• Alpha and Omega represent God as having no beginning or end
• The Ten Commandments represent going against worshipping idols, which is against God's will
• The Kippah is a sign of respect towards God
• The Chi-Rho is the symbol for Christ
• The Menorah and Ner Tamid represent Jewish beliefs about God and Jesus as a saviour
• Catholic beliefs use symbolic ways to represent God's presence, such as bringing light
• The Bible is a source of wisdom