Re Paper 1

• Creation story in Genesis Chapter 1


  Describes God's creation of the universe over six days, using the power of his word to bring things into being
• Creation story in Genesis Chapter 2


  Describes God personally creating human beings
• God in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2


  • Creator
  • Only creator, who has created everything
  • Omnipotent, all-powerful, can create things from nothing and make everything exactly the way he wants
  • Transcendent, beyond time and space, unlimited and only needs his own word in order to create
• Humans in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2


  • Made in the image of God
  • Given free will, the ability to make their own choices
• The Genesis creation stories influence important Catholic beliefs about the role of human beings in the world
• Stewardship


  The belief that humans have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
• Dignity of human beings

  All humans are equal and all people have dignity, they are worthy of honour and respect
• Sanctity of life


  The belief that human life is particularly precious and sacred, and every stage of life should be treated with care and respect
• Inspiration and the Bible


  The Bible is the word of God, revealed to humans and teaching them about God and what he wants for humanity. The writers were inspired (guided) by the Holy Spirit.
• Magisterium


  The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, which comes from the Pope and the bishops, and is continually inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit
• Types of writing in the Bible


  • Historical accounts
  • Poetry
  • Laws
  • Prophecy
  • Letters
• The Catholic Church teaches that the Genesis creation stories should not be interpreted literally, but as myths that convey deep or complex spiritual truths
• Fundamentalist Christians who interpret the Bible more literally believe the creation stories are a factual record of events
• Michelangelo's Creation of Adam


  • God is shown as transcendent and ancient, while Adam and God both look powerful and muscular, suggesting humanity is made in the image of God
  • God and Adam are reaching out to each other, showing the longing for a close relationship between God and humanity
• Stewardship


  The idea that Christians have a duty to look after the environment on God's behalf
• Catholics believe they should care for the environment because all creation was created good by God, God made humans stewards of the earth, and Jesus taught to love your neighbour as yourself
• Other Christian art depicting creation

  • Heiden Meren's mosaic shows God's hand in the act of creation, emphasising God's greatness and potency
  • Michelangelo's Creation of Adam shows the relationship between God and humanity
• Natural law


  The belief in a natural order to the world, and a natural moral law, given by God
• The Catholic Church teaches that humans are born with the ability to know what is good and what isn't because God made all creation good and humans are made in the image of God
• The Catholic Church and science support each other and do not have to contradict, with religion trying to explain why things happen and science trying to explain how things happen
• CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, works in ways that help protect natural resources and ecological balance, supporting sustainable farming methods and working with groups that promote sustainability
• Michelangelo's Creation of Adam


  • Painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome in the 16th century
  • Reflects important Christian beliefs about creation (God bringing the universe into existence) found in Genesis
• Beliefs shown about the nature of God

  • God is carried through the air by a group of angels - God is transcendent
  • God looks much older than Adam - God is ancient/eternal
• Beliefs shown about humanity

  • God and Adam both look powerful/muscular and are in similar positions - humanity is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
  • God and Adam are reaching out to each other - there is a longing for a close relationship between God and humanity
• Catholics believe they should care for the environment because all creation was created good by God, so Christians should look after it
• Other Christian art that depicts creation

  • Hildreth Meière's mosaic in New York's St Bartholomew's Church shows the hand of God in the act of creation
• Hildreth Meière's mosaic


  • Only God's hand is shown - some Christians think this is a more acceptable way of depicting God's transcendence
  • The rays of light going outwards shows a greater sense that God is always creating everything, but is less about God's relationship with humanity
• Some Christians object to depicting God as an old man, as this does not capture God's eternal and infinite nature
• Creation of Adam vs Meière's mosaic


  • Creation of Adam focuses on the act of God creating humanity, so it is more about the relationship between God and humans
  • Meière's mosaic is more about the act of creation and God's omnipotence
• Stewardship


  The idea that Christians have a duty to look after the environment on God's behalf
• Ways Catholics might carry out their duty of stewardship

  1. At a local level: Throwing away less waste and recycling more

  2. At a national level: Putting pressure on politicians to support laws that protect the environment and buying products from environment-friendly businesses

  3. At a global level: Putting pressure on governments to implement policies agreed at international meetings (e.g. Paris Climate Agreement) and boycotting international companies that threaten the environment
• Natural law


  The belief in a natural order to the world, and a natural moral law, given by God
• The Catholic Church teaches that humans are born with the ability to know what is good and what isn't because God made all creation good (Genesis 1) and humans are made in the image of God
• The most basic natural law is to do good and avoid evil, and as part of this is the moral principle to protect and preserve life - the sanctity of life
• The Second Vatican Council stressed that religion and science support each other and do not have to contradict each other - religion tries to explain why things happen while science tries to explain how things happen
• Sustainability


  Working to develop ways of living that help protect natural resources and ecological balance, often with long-term goals in mind
• For Catholics, living sustainably respects God's creation and helps them to be good stewards of the earth
• Examples of how CAFOD supports sustainability


  • Supporting or setting up projects that use renewable energy e.g. solar panels for health clinics in Kenya
  • Working with groups like MONLAR in Sri Lanka, which helps farmers to adopt sustainable farming methods (such as the use of natural fertilizers)