CREATION

• creation of Adam, Michaelangelo depictions

  • imago dei- physical likeness between god and adam

  • god as old man- shows omniscience

  • adam lying on ground- shows he was created from earth

  • god floating above- shows transcendency
• creation of adam, michaelangelo NEG

  • god as old man: isn't he timeless?

  • god shown to be human: diminishes him, he is confined to human limits; isn't he transcendent?
• adam and eve 19th century glass stained window, belgium

  •adam and eve stand in way that shows dependence on god

  • humans in front of god rather than behind (like other animals)- humans are more important in creation

  • imago dei- physical likeness between god and humans

  • snake and symbolic tree- ref to the fall, genesis 3
• god as creator


  •"god created the heavens and the earth.", genesis 1
• god as transcendent


  •"but will god really dwell on earth", 1 kings
• god as omnipotent


  •"For nothing will be impossible with God.", luke 1
• imago dei: human beings are made in the image of god

  • therefore, humans have dignity

  "god created mankind in his own image.", genesis 1
• free will: the capacity to choose

  humans abuse this to sin- sin destroys relationship with god
• sanctity of life: inviolability of life


  because of:

  • imago dei

  = humans are pinnacle of creation (have special relationship with god)

  • humans are ,"very good.", genesis 1
• bible

  •73 books:

  46 in OT (about covenant w/ jews, promise of messiah),

  27 in NT (covenant w/ people, heralds coming of messiah)

  •theologically infallible- writers inspired by HS

  • contains factual errors- written by humans

  • reveals god and his message to us (how to live)

  • word of god

  • most authorative document
• law, old testament

  about god giving law to jews through moses
• history, old testament

  •about history of jews

  •shows relationship between god and jews
• wisdom, OT

  •poetry in praise of god

  •books on how to live
• prophets, OT

  •prophecies about coming of messiah

  •warnings to change behavior; stay faithful
• gospels, NT

  • has life, death, resurrection and ascension of jesus

  • has jesus' techings
• acts of the apostles, NT

  •letters of first Christians and apostles

  •starts with Pentecost, the beginning of the church
• letters (epistles), NT


  teaches people how to be good Christians
• book of revelation, NT

  • prophecy of jesus' second coming

  • describes end of time
• fundamentalists: believe the bible is factual 


  because the bible is word of god; must be the truth as he love us

  because humans have no right to prefer their own interpretation to god's word
• what's wrong with the fundamentalist belief?

  • interpretation at odds with scientific method

  • ignores genre of genesis 1-2 (hebrew poetry)
• what does rcc believe about genesis?

  •"religion tells us why, science tells us how.", dr john polkinghorne -

  bible coincides with science, gives meaning to it

  • not all truth has to be literal, can be in symbol
  • " If methodical investigation is carried out in a genuinely scientific manner it never truly conflicts with faith", gaudium et spes
• natural law: people have innate sense of right and wrong


  comes from imago dei

  learnt from:

  • revelation: things revealed by god (e.g. bible)

  • reason: capacity to work things out (e.g. conscience)

  
  

  • "if people are to do good and avoid evil, certainty about what is good and evil must be inscribed within them" -Youcat

  
  

  e.g. sanctity of life
• magisterium

  guided by HS= they have authority to interpret bible

  they deliver their teachings through:

  • papal encyclicals (e.g. Laudato si)

  • documents from ecumenical councils (e.g. Vatican II): give guidance on how to interpret bible

  • catechism

  • apostolic tradition
• stewardship: humans have a responsibility to care for the earth from god


  "god took the man and put him in the garden of eden to work it.", genesis 2

  "love of god and neighbor."

  = protect the environment and share its resources

  • how Christians show their love for god, values his creation

  • shows thought about how actions affect future generations
• stewardship on different scales

  •locally: recycle

  •nationally: buy from environmentally-friendly businesses

  • globally: boycott companies that threaten environment
• laudato si, pope francis, 2015

  • overview of environmental crisis from religious view

  • global problems require global solutions; everyone is linked to creation and has effect on it

  "a fragile world entrusted by god to human care."
• CAFOD: catholic agency for overseas development


  aim is to achieve a just world and sustainable development

  
  

  • helps communities develop

  • emergency aid

  • education

  • protect, spread awareness