Origins of man

• Evolution


  Scientific account of creation of mankind
• Genesis 2


  Biblical account of creation of mankind
• Literal interpretation


  Bible is word for word true
• Liberal interpretation


  Bible is a metaphor and symbolic
• Liberal attitudes to how the world was created

  • Liberal Christians believe man was made on day 6 of creation but the word 'day' can be translated as a 'period of time' which is compatible with scientific theories. Evolution took millions of years, but day doesn't' have to mean 24 hours.
  • Liberal Christians believe God guides evolution. Evolution is complex so needs an omnipotent, omniscient creator to help it to be successful.
• Literal attitudes to how the world was created

  • Literal Christians believe man was made on day 6 of creation and as the Bible is word for word true, man was made in 24 hours, not over millions of years as Evolution suggests.
  • The Bible says 'man is made in God's image.' Christians believe all humans have a spark of the divine and are equal (link to dominion – man is the most important part of creation)
• Religion and science compatibility

  • Yes: Liberal interpretation
  • No: Literal interpretation
• Yes: Liberal interpretation


  • 'God created the world in 6 days' but the word 'day' can be translated as a 'period of time' which is compatible with scientific theories
  • Humans are made on 6th day as most important which is the same as evolution (humans are in charge)
  • Only God is powerful enough to create life/guide evolution so he must have helped
• No: Literal interpretation


  • Genesis contradicts scientific theories e.g. time period and process
  • Evolution does not require God's action (chance) but Genesis does
  • Evolution has observable proof e.g. fossils, Genesis 2 has Bible as proof
• The Bible says 'man is made in God's image': 'Christians believe all humans have a spark of the divine and are equal (link to dominion – most important part of creation)'
• The Bible says 'man was made on day 6': 'Literal interpretation: Bible is word for word true – it took 24 hours to make man'
• Liberal interpretation: 'Bible is a metaphor and the word 'day' can be translated as 'period of time' which is compatible with scientific theories'