Origins & Meaning

• Catholics


  Believe there is no contradiction between what Genesis says and what science says, because Genesis is theology, not science
• The Big Bang


  Explains the origins of the beginning of the world and the scientific understanding that the universe originated in an explosion of light, matter and energy that created time and space
• The Big Bang needs an explanation

  There must be something that is not dependent on anything - a First Cause, or necessary being
• 'Nothing comes from nothing' (Aquinas)
• Some Christians (creationists)


  Reject other scientific theories and believe that Genesis is a scientific account, with no Big Bang as everything was started by God as explained in Genesis 1
• Jews


  Believe that God rested on the Seventh day
• The belief in one God who created everything, including the potential for evil, is reinforced in Isaiah 45:6-7: 'I am Yahweh and there is no other, I form the light and I create the darkness.'
• Catholics


  Are not worried about the alleged conflicts between Genesis 2 and Darwin, seeing purpose - God's intention or loving plan - as the important factor, not length of time
• According to Pope John Paul II, Theories of evolution which reject God as creator and do not see human beings as 'created in God's image' do not contain the whole truth
• Some Christians


  Claim that Darwin is wrong and that the story of Genesis is literally true, with no 'evolution'
• Other Christians


  Claim that evolution works together with God's creation, with God's creation being continuous and always evolving
• Some Christians


  Believe in the idea of 'Intelligent Design', which says that God must have created a universe and all living things as there are particular features of these which can only be explained by an intelligent designer and not by evolution
• Many Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews


  Believe that the story in Genesis is a literal truth and that it happened around 600 years ago, rejecting scientific theories of evolution
• Other Jews


  Accept that an evolutionary theory may be correct and that the universe is much older, but still believe that God made everything happen
• Catholic Church


  Teaches that direct (deliberate) abortion is morally wrong - it is the taking of an innocent human life
• Double effect


  Allows an operation where the foetus may be destroyed as a side effect
• Some Christians


  Agree that abortion is always wrong
• Church of England


  Believes that life is sacred and abortion is wrong but there are some circumstances where it should be permitted, e.g. incest / rape
• For many Jews


  God is believed to be the sole creator, giver and taker of life, and Genesis teaches that humans are created in 'the image of God' and life is precious
• Pikuach Nefesh


  The saving of a life - may permit abortion to save the mother's life
• The Bible


  Is 'the word of God' - God is the author and the human authors are inspired by God
• Some Christians


  Believe that in order to understand the Bible, all we have to do is read it - the Bible contains literal truths, e.g. Genesis - 6 days (Fundamentalists / literalists)
• The Bible


  Does not need to be taken literally, as it contains religious and symbolic truths
• Scripture, tradition and the Magisterium


  Are the sources of the Church's teaching
• Jewish scripture


  Is referred to as the Tenakh, consisting of the Torah (law), Nevim (prophets) and Ketuvim (writings), which were inspired by God
• Some Jews


  Believe that the Tenakh contains literal truths
• Catholic Church


  Teaches that we are stewards of God's creation and that God has given human beings a duty to look after that creation: 'Have dominion...' / "Go blessed them and said: 'Be fruitful and multiply, and have dominion...' (Genesis)
• In the encyclical Laudato Si, Pope John Paul II, reminded Catholics of their duty to care for God's creation: 'the destruction of the human environment is extremely serious, not only because God has entrusted the world to us as men and women but because human life is itself a gift which must be defended.
• Environmental responsibility


  Means that humans should look after the world in such a way that future generations can enjoy it too. It involves not using up the world's natural resources and ensuring that the planet is cared for and preserved.
• As stewards of God's creation, Christianity

  Teaches that humans have a responsibility towards the environment, and each individual is responsible for their contribution to the environment and must ensure they act to protect it.
• Jews


  Believe that God created the world and all life, and most Jews believe that it is very important to respect and care for the environment as it is a gift from God. The Torah demands that nature is respected.
• Most Jews


  Believe that they have responsibility to heal the world; this is known as tikkun olam.
• What do Catholics believe about the creation of the universe?


  "They believe God made the world from NOTHING - Creation ex nihilo. They believe the Genesis account holds eternal (life-long) meaning for why God made the world. But it is not a scientific book! Instead they may interpret the book as they are NON-LITERALIST Christians. Therefore thinking that maybe God made the world in six periods of time. Genesis teaches us that God loves us. Therefore Catholics accept the Big Bang and Evolution as processes that God used to make the universe. God caused the BIG BANG.
• Why do Catholics believe their faith is compatible with Big Bang theory / evolution?


  Big Bang needs God - something cannot come from nothing. -The world is too designed for God to not have been involved. -The Bible and scientific explanations can fit together e.g. 'Day one- let there be light'. "Religion and science should work together to understand where the world has come from." -Pope John Paul II"
• What do other Christians believe about the creation of the universe?


  They believe that the Genesis account is a factual account that teaches us exactly how the universe was created. They are LITERALIST Christians. They Bible is the exact words of God and therefore only what is in the Bible is deemed to be true. Creation happened exactly as it says in the Bible - God created the universe in six days and rested of the seventh.
• What do Jews believe about the creation of the universe?


  God is the source of all life as stated in the Torah. -They are Monotheists (ONE GOD). -Orthodox Jews reflect this in their prayer the 'Modeh Ani' - which is said each morning to thank God for allowing them to live another day. God is the sustainer. -God made from nothing (creation ex nihilo). -God planned his creation - we can see this from the universe (ordered/designed)
• What different opinions do Jews have about the Torah accounts of the Genesis story?

  Some Jews believe: The Torah is the exact words of God and therefore only what is in the Bible is deemed to be true. Others believe: That the Torah is inspired and therefore the Creation accounts should not be taken as exact fact. Perhaps God caused the Big Bang.
• How do Jewish beliefs about creation affect their lives?


  Observant Jews will rest on the Sabbath, just as God rested on the seventh day. They celebrate Rosh Hashanah (new year) linking to the creation of the world.
• What do Atheists believe about the creation of the universe?


  They do not believe that God exists. They believe that the Big Bang created the universe. Humans evolved from more simple life forms. The world does not need God to exist it can be it's own cause. They believe that Genesis is not a historical or scientific book. It is written by humans with no real truth. They believe people who wrote the bible were trying to understand the world before scientific understanding has developed.
• What does the creation account of Genesis 1 tell us about God?


  God is eternal as he created the earth 'In the beginning' showing that he existed before anything. God is omnipotent - 'And God said let there be light' God commands and the earth is created. This also shows that God creates from nothing CREATION EX NIHILO