Life after death

• There are two stories of how God created the world which are found at the beginning of the book of Genesis in the Bible
• Some Christians regard Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 as two totally separate myths that have a similar meaning
• Others see the two chapters as part of one continuous story
• There are some contradictions between the two accounts in Genesis 1 and 2, such as the order of when animals and humans were created
• Genesis 1 states that animals, and finally humans, were created on day six
• Genesis 2 implies that humans were created before animals
• Some people think that Genesis 2 is just a more in-depth look at day six
• Christian views on how the Genesis account should be interpreted


  • Some conservative Christians believe the story to be absolutely true in every detail (literal)
  • Other Christians believe the story is more symbolic (non-literal) and myth-like in nature and that the account needs to be interpreted. They do not believe every detail of the story to be literally accurate or true
• Views on how the word 'day' in the Genesis creation story should be interpreted


  • A literal Christian may accept the term 'day' in the literal sense so that a day becomes 24 hours. They would therefore reject any scientific theory that said the universe has developed over millions of years
  • Many Christians may see the term 'day' as representing a longer period of time, so the seven 'days' of creation could actually represent millions of years. This means they can believe in both the creation story and the scientific theory that the Big Bang started the development of the universe. This would be a non-literal interpretation
• Regardless of whether Christians believe in the Big Bang theory, all Christians believe that God was the ultimate creator of the universe
• Different ways of understanding creationism


  • Young Earth creationism is the view that the world was created by God, in seven actual days, and this happened less than 10,000 years ago
  • Old Earth creationism agrees that God must have created the world, but it accepts the idea that creation took place millions of years ago. The seven days of creation refer to long eras of time, rather than 24-hour periods
• Muslim views on creation


  Islam teaches that Allah has absolute authority over everything in the universe and that the Qur'an is Allah's revelation to humankind. This means that Muslims can trust the Qur'an to be accurate in accounting for Allah's involvement in creation
• What the Qur'an says about Allah's creative work


  • created the universe over six days
  • formed everything from smoke, including the sun, moon, stars and planets
  • made all the creatures, angels, vegetation and rain
  • made Adam out of clay, and breathed life and power into him
  • made Adam and Hawwa (Eve) from a single soul
• The Qur'an confirms that Allah, being omniscient, has the knowledge to be able to create everything, including human life. He is eternal, omnipotent and the creator of everything in the universe
• Islam tends to teach Old Earth creationism, the idea that God created the world over six long periods of time
• The Big Bang Theory


  The study of the origins of the universe is called cosmology. Throughout history, some thinkers have argued about whether the universe had an origin or whether it has always existed; whether it is expanding or whether it is static (at rest). In 1965 cosmologists published conclusive evidence to show that the universe did in fact have a beginning. This theory, that time and space began around 15 billion years ago, became known as the Big Bang theory
• According to the Big Bang theory the universe began from a 'singularity', an infinitely tiny point. This 'singularity' was infinitely hot and infinitely dense and, as it expanded, sub-atomic particles and then atoms began to appear. This led to the formation of stars and planets, which make up the universe as we know it today
• Most physicists believe that the universe will continue expanding for countless billions of years to come, becoming bigger and colder
• Religious views on The Big Bang Theory


  • Liberal Christians, Jews and Muslims find no problem in accepting the Big Bang theory. They have no reason to question the evidence on which it is based and accept that this is a way that God may have chosen to allow the universe to create intelligent life
  • Religious creationists are very critical of these ideas. For them it contradicts the truth that God has formed all life through his own power
  • Even if scientists are correct in saying that the universe began with a 'Big Bang', have they really solved the question 'Where does the universe come from?'. We are still left with the question of what caused the Big Bang. Some Christians have argued that it was God
• Charles Darwin


  An English naturalist who studied variation in plants, animals and fossils during a five-year voyage around the world in the 19th century
• Darwin observed many organisms including finches, tortoises and mockingbirds, during his five-week visit to the Galapágos Islands, near Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean
• Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection challenged the idea that God made all the animals and plants that live on Earth. This idea contradicted the commonly held Christian views of his era
• Darwin's world expedition and observations, were backed by many years of experimentation, discussions with like-minded scientists and his developing knowledge of geology and fossils. Finally, he felt able to propose his theory of evolution by natural selection
• Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection


  • individual organisms within a particular species show a wide range of variation for a characteristic
  • individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are more likely to survive to breed successfully
  • the characteristics that have enabled these individuals to survive are then passed on to the next generation
• Religious views on Evolution


  • Theistic guided evolution: the belief that life came about through evolution, but this process was guided by the direct intervention of God
  • Natural evolution: many Christians accept the evidence put forward by science, which says that evolution Is the natural process through which life has emerged. However, they would say that God set down these laws of nature before the universe existed
  • Some Muslims will criticise the theory of evolution because ideas about evolution are often linked to atheism. The Qur'an makes specific reference to Adam's creation by God, so many Muslims, even if they accept most aspects of evolution, refuse to accept the idea of human evolution
  • However, there are also many Muslims who accept scientific explanations of the world while also believing in the Qur'an. They accept evolution, because they say that scientific ideas cannot disprove the existence of God. An important part of being a Muslim is to strive for better understanding of the world, so greater scientific knowledge gives a deeper awareness of the way God has created the world
• Stewardship (Christian)


  Christians believe that life is a gift from God and that God has given humans the role of stewards in the world. Genesis 1:26 teaches that God made men and women in his own image, meaning that humans have a soul which is unique. Genesis 2:7 says that God formed Adam from the dust and breathed his divine life into him. Both these passages imply that humans were created with a special status above the rest of nature
• Christian views on how humans should treat the environment


  • Evangelical Christians tend to take the Bible literally, so, when it says, in Genesis 1:28, that God created humans to 'rule over' nature, they believe that this gives us the right to utilise the world's natural resources. In other words they believe they have 'dominion' over nature
  • More Liberal Christians argue that humans should be stewards of the earth, rather than exploiters. Genesis 2:15 speaks of God placing Adam in the Garden of Eden to 'cultivate and care for it'. They say that humans have a responsibility towards the environment, looking after the planet's precious resources. God has entrusted us to live as stewards and we should be responsible global citizens, using the earth's resources in a sustainable manner
• Some 'Green Christians' are environmental activists who promote awareness and action at church, community and national levels
• What did Jesus mean when he taught his followers to 'love your neighbour'


  Some Christians argue that in this statement Jesus is referring to our fellow humans and it is therefore acceptable to kill animals and eat their meat, since they are not our equals. Other more liberal believers would say that when interpreting this passage today it should teach us that we need to have respect for all living beings
• St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals
• Muslim views on stewardship


  Islam teaches that animals must be respected, but, unlike human beings, they are not uniquely sacred. Muslims, like Christians, believe that God is the all-powerful creator of all life and that humans have been created with particular responsibilities. We are His trustees (khalifahs), appointed to care for the world and rule it as God would wish. It is not ours to waste or spoil; it must be safeguarded for future generations
• Islam teaches that there is a pattern and balance in the universe, known as fitrah. The survival and continuation of the planet relies on this balance being maintained. It is the role of humans, as khalifahs, to work to maintain this fitrah (balance) by being aware of the need to use the earth's resources fairly
• Muslim views on why they should treat the earth with care


  • Many Muslims say that this means that they should act as global citizens, living sustainable lifestyles
  • Others argue that the reason Muslims should treat the earth with care is because we will be judged by God on the way they have looked after the natural world
• Christian belief in the sanctity of life


  Christians believe life is sacred because: Life is created by God, protected by God and valued by God. In the Bible it says; 'You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb' Psalm 139:13. God is interested and involved in each human's life. God has created each individual person, and made them unique in their own right, just as he made Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:27 states that God created humankind in his own image. Life is a gift from God. Many Christians accept that only God should take life away. Catholics believe that only God should choose when life begins. Therefore, they disagree in practice with artificial methods of contraception and with IVF. Jesus also showed through his teachings and practice that all life should be valued. The way helped the leper, visited the sick and spoke to the Samaritan woman demonstrated that all lives are worthy of respect and compassion
• Muslim belief in the sanctity of life


  Muslims believe life is sacred because: All life is created by God, and only he has the right to take it away. Every soul has been created by God. God has a plan for each life, written before each person is 'planted as a seed in your mothers' womb'. Murder is explicitly forbidden in the Qur'an: 'And do not kill the soul which God has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right.' Qur'an 6:151. No one has the right to take their own or anyone else's life. This is discussed in the Qur'an. 'whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely'. Killing of just one soul carries the sin of killing all of humanity. Those who commit such crimes will face a severe punishment by God on the Day of Judgement
• Humanist view on the sanctity of life


  Humanists see a special value in human life. Because it is an atheistic tradition, humanists do not believe that the value of life comes from God. Humanists do not believe that people have souls, or that there is an afterlife in heaven, hell or purgatory, or that there is a God who judges where people go in an afterlife. They believe that we only have this life, and that it ends forever when we die. Life therefore has special importance because it is our only life. As humanists believe that one of the central purposes of life is to make ourselves and others around us as happy as possible, life is imbued with importance because it is our opportunity to benefit others through compassion and kindness. As such, life is not seen as sacred but is worthy of the highest respect
• Abortion


  'Pro-life' is a term used to talk about people who believe that abortion is morally wrong and should be illegal
• Qur'an: 'whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely'
• Killing of just one soul carries the sin of killing all of humanity. Those who commit such crimes will face a severe punishment by God on the Day of Judgement.
• Humanists

  See a special value in human life. Because it is an atheistic tradition, humanists do not believe that the value of life comes from God.