Creation summary sheet

• Image of God


  The belief that all humans share some of the qualities of God
• Sanctity of life


  The belief that all human life is precious and holy
• Stewardship

  The idea that believers have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
• Transcendent


  The belief that God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe; he is unlimited
• Genesis 1:27: '"God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them"'
• Genesis 2:15: '"Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to till and keep it"'
• Pope Francis: '"The Big Bang does not contradict the act of creation, but requires it"'
• Genesis 1:3: '"Then God said, 'Let there be light; and there was light'"'
• Humanity is created last and scripture tells us that "God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them" (Genesis 1:27). This means that humans share qualities with God like love and knowledge.
• God does not require more than his own word in order to create. God is beyond the created world, which means he is transcendent.
• Genesis 1 shows us that God has the power to do whatever he wants: he can create things from nothing (ex nihilo).
• Catholics do not believe that this is a scientific account of creation. It is meant to give a reason for creation rather than how it was done. It is not interpreted literally or as a historical document.
• The Old Testament

  • The Law (Torah)
  • The history books
  • The wisdom books
  • The prophets
• Natural Law

  Moral principles and values that are considered to be inherent to all humans
• Catholic teaching states that God made everything good. Humans are part of this whole, beautiful and good creation; and they find their fulfilment in becoming the people that God wants them to be.
• The basic natural law

  To do good and avoid evil
• The New Testament

  • Gospels
  • Acts of the Apostles
  • Epistles
  • Book of Revelation
• The Big Bang Theory argues that the universe started as a dense collection of mass which massively expanded creating stars, galaxies and planets
• The Theory of Evolution comes from Charles Darwin who observed that animals change over time and argued that humans were not designed by God but evolved from apes
• These theories do not fit with a fundamentalist Christian's view but could fit with a Catholic view
• Stewardship

  Christians have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God and for future generations
• Genesis 1:28: '"Rule over [...] every living creature"'
• Laudato si' is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. The encyclical has the subtitle "on care for our common home".
• Adam

  • The perfect man, full of strength and potential
  • Man is created in God's image
  • Humans have a unique place in creation, as they are created specially by God
• God

  • Powerful (muscular body) but ancient (white hair and beard)
  • God is transcendent-represented by the angels
  • The outstretched hands represent a longing for a relationship between God and humanity
• The painting shows the moment God brings Adam to life, revealing God's omnipotence and love.