re p1

Cards (170)

  • Imago Dei
    In the image of God. The belief that human beings are uniquely a reflection of God's personhood. Unlike the other animals, human beings are rational, free and moral.
  • Stewardship
    The duty to care for creation responsibly, as stewards rather than consumers, and to protect it for future generations.
  • Inspiration
    "God breathed" The belief that the Spirit of God guides an individual to act or write what is good and true.
  • Transcendence
    Existing outside of space and time; God exists in a way that makes him nothing like anything else that exists, above and beyond creation.
  • Evolution
    The process of mutation and natural selection which leads to changes in species over time to suit particular environments.
  • Omnipotence
    The belief that God is all powerful
  • Revelation
    The word used to describe all of the ways in which God makes himself known to human beings. Christians believe that God does this finally and fully in the person of Jesus Christ.
  • Creation Ex Nihilo
    Creation out of nothing. Before God created the universe, nothing existed. Only God can create out of nothing.
  • Christians refer to the act of God bringing the universe into being as creation. Nothing existed before God created it.
  • Only God creates because he is omnipotent, all powerful.
  • The idea of creation out of nothing is called creation ex nihilo. This belief can be found in the Bible. It can also be found in the writing of St Augustine.
  • St Augustine: 'You, O Lord made something in the beginning, which is of yourself, in your wisdom, which is born out of your own substance, and you created this thing out of nothing. You created heaven and earth but you did not make them out of your own substance'
  • Attitudes towards the creation account in Genesis
    • Liberal beliefs
    • Literalist beliefs
  • Liberal beliefs
    • The authors of the biblical books are inspired by God
    • The books of the Bible contain God's revelation
    • The books of the Bible are the Word of God
    • Must take into account the context in which the Bible was written
    • Genesis is seen as a symbolic parable about humans relationship with God and creation
    • Catholics do not see Genesis as an alternative to the Big Bang and evolution but instead believe that science answers the how questions and religion why
    • Catholics interpret the period of 6 days as 6 periods of time rather than taking it literally
  • Literalist beliefs
    • The authors of the biblical books are Inspired by God
    • The books of the Bible contain God's revelation
    • The books of the Bible are the Word of God
    • They believe that the Bible accounts should be taken literally
    • Creationists are Fundamentalist Christians and they have a literal understanding of how the universe was created as described in Genesis
  • Jewish beliefs about creation
    • God is the creator and the source of all life
    • Each week Jews celebrate Sabbath, recalling that God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh
    • Jews share the 2 stories of creation with Christians as they are in Genesis, which is also the first book of the Torah
    • Some Orthodox Jews believe these stories are true accounts, revealed to Moses by God
    • Others, like Reform Jews, think that the creation accounts are stories which should not be taken as historical facts
  • Some Orthodox Jews have difficulty accepting modern scientific ideas. They reject evolution and the Big Bang theory. Others believe that God started the universe through the Big bang and has guided the creation of life through evolution.
  • The Big Bang Theory
    • Matter was originally concentrated into a tiny point which, as a result of a massive explosion in space 13.7 billion years ago, expanded into the universe and is still expanding today
    • This caused particles and atoms to be formed, leading to the formation of stars and planets
  • This led some people such as Stephen Hawking to doubt the existence of God saying that we can explain the origins of the universe without the need for God.
  • Powerful telescopes can detect evidence of background radiation which is thought to be left over from the initial explosion at the start of the universe.
  • Catholic view of the Big Bang
    • Catholics are happy to accept the Big bang, as this theory supports the belief that God created the universe out of nothing
    • Many Christians accept scientific explanations, but say that we must understand Genesis symbolically, not as a scientific explanation of the beginning of the word, but as a theological statement about the worlds relationship to God
    • The Big Bang was put forward by a Catholic priest, Father George Lemaitre
    • Science explains how the universe came about and Genesis explains why the universe began
  • Many people think that science and religion are in conflict over the origins of the universe. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. There is only a problem if a person chooses to interpret the Bible literally.
  • Even if the scientific view is correct in saying that the universe began with a big bang, have they really solved the question of "where does the universe come from?" It is reasonable to ask what caused the big bang. Christians would argue that this is God.
  • Scientific theories of evolution
    • Proposed by Charles Darwin
    • Organisms gradually change and develop into new species by a process known as "natural selection"
    • Certain characteristics help animals survive as they breed and pass on these traits it leads to new species developing
    • This theory is supported by fossil records, DNA research has also shown similarities between species
  • Richard Dawkins
    • A modern supporter of evolution
    • An atheist who believes evolution does away with the need for God and the belief that humans have souls
    • Each living organism's body is just a survival machine for its genes and does not serve any other purpose
    • Humans are a genetic mutation and are just advanced animals
  • Catholic view of evolution
    • Literalists do not accept the theory of evolution. Catholics DO NOT SEE THE BIBLE LITERALLY BUT SYMBOLICALLY
    • Pope John Paul II restated the view of Pope Pius XII that there is NO conflict between evolution and the teachings of the Christian faith
    • What is important to Catholics is not whether God chose to create through the process of evolution over many millions of years but that God created with purpose and so everything that exists is part of his loving plan
    • The Pope's message sees no conflict between evolution and Catholic belief
  • Sanctity of life
    • Most people, religious or not, would accept that human life is special and should be cared for
    • Catholics believe that each person is unique because God made them
    • The creation of humans was unlike the rest of creation because they were made in a unique way and in the image of God – imago Dei
    • The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and that everyone has a right to life which should be valued and respected at every stage
  • Catherine of Siena
    • Origin – We are not random organisms – our origin is in God, our life belongs to God
    • Conscience – Because we have God's love and truth in our lives, we also have an inner conscience that tells us when we have done wrong
    • Dignity and sanctity of life – Catherine spent much of her time with outcasts and sinners. She knew that because God loves us enough to create us and make us in his image , we can be confident that he will pick us up to try again
    • Destiny and sanctity of life – More than just respect in this life, Imago Dei means that the true destiny of each human being is to live in the eternal love of the Trinity
  • Jewish beliefs about the sanctity of life
    • God is the creator, he alone gives and takes life
    • Genesis teaches that humans are created in the image of God and life is precious
    • In the Tenakh there are references to a relationship with God even before birth 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you'
    • The Ten Commandments, believed to have been given to Moses, also forbid the taking of life
  • Different Christian attitudes to abortion - Catholic and other Christians

    • Catholic
    • Other Christian's
  • Catholic attitude to abortion
    • "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception." CCC
    • Life begins at the moment of conception
    • No one can interfere with the life of the unborn child
    • Sanctity of life – ALL life is precious and holy
    • Encourage adoption
    • Doctrine of double effect
  • Other Christian attitudes to abortion
    • "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"
    • Share the sanctity of life view
    • Recognises that people may have different views on abortion
    • "The Church of England combines a strong opposition to abortion with a recognition that there can be – strictly limited – conditions under which it may be morally preferable to any available alternative"
    • It may at times be the lesser of two evils and the most loving thing to do
  • Humanist view on abortion
    • Humanists value happiness and personal choice
    • In making a decision they would look at the evidence, consequences and rights and wishes of everyone involves
    • Life is not sacred but is worthy of the highest respect
    • Generally they would take a pro choice stance and many Humanists campaigned for abortion to be legalised in the 1960s so that unsafe, illegal abortions could not take place
    • At the heart of the debate is whether the rights of the mother should outweigh the rights of the foetus
    • Quality of life would be seen as more important than preserving life at all costs
  • Peter Singer's views
    • Even though human life has value it does not all have equal value
    • If a person has no ability to think, relate to others or experience then their life has limited value
    • Embryos and new born babies are examples of biological but "non human persons"
    • Therefore it is morally acceptable to take the lives of these "non human persons" if it will bring about less suffering and greater happiness
  • Catholic responses to Singer's views
    • Catholics would argue that humans remain a person whether they are conscious or not, even when they are asleep, in a coma or have not been born
    • Catholics would agree that animals should be treated with care and looked after. As stewards of creation they have an obligation to do this. However, humans were made in the image and likeness of God, therefore they have a dignity which animals do not have
  • Comparison of the first (Genesis 1:1-2:3) and second (Genesis 2:4-24) creation accounts
    • First account - outlines the days of creation, emphasises the greatness of God as creator of the universe
    • Second account - God created a man, called Adam, out of dust and breathes life into him, God provides him everything he needed in the Garden of Eden, but told him not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God puts Adam to sleep and creates Eve, a woman, from his rib
  • Themes in the first creation account

    • TranscendenceGod exists above and beyond creation which makes him unlike anything else that exists
    • EternalGod creates heaven and earth. "In the beginning" shows that he existed already, God has no beginning
    • Omnipotent – God is all powerful, creation happens just by him commanding it to happen. He creates from nothing - creation ex nihilo
  • Themes in the second creation account
    • OmnibenevolentGod creates out of love. God does not want man to be lonely so creates Eve
    • ImmanentGod is not distant from the world, but is involved in it, he is close to the first humans and does everything for them
  • The significance of the Creation narratives with regards to Catholic beliefs about the nature of human beings and their relationship with creation is the sanctity of life - humans are created last and are the highest point of Gods creation.
  • Creation narratives
    Symbolic way of revealing important things about the nature of God and humanity