Creation and the nature of humanity

Question 1

How does Genesis 1:26-31 describe the creation of humans?

Answer 1

In which humans are created with the power and responsibility given by God showing how the creation accounts are significant in understanding the nature of humanity because they set out God’s intention for the human race

Question 2

What does Genesis 1:27 say?

Answer 2

'’God created man in his own image’’

Question 3

What does ‘Imago Dei’ mean?

Answer 3

Latin for the image of God

Question 4

Why is Genesis 1:27 important?

Answer 4

Its important to Catholics because they believe that human beings are not divine yet possess a relationship with God which is different from other creatures. Since we are made in his image Catholics believes that gives humans dignity/worthiness

Question 5

In what 5 ways do human beings bear the image of God/

Answer 5

1. Human beings are rational
2. Human beings have free will/conscience
3. Human beings can relate to God
4. Human beings can give and receive love
5. Human beings are answerable to God

Question 6

How does Human beings being rational link to God?

Answer 6

Humans have been given intelligence so by reflecting on things in the created world are able to find their to God their creator as said in Romans 1:20 and CCC 1704

Question 7

How does Human beings having free will conscience link to God?

Answer 7

Humans are meant use their ability to choose in order to choose what is right/true not false/wrong and so they imitate God

Question 8

How does Human beings having a conscience link to God?

Answer 8

The conscience is the voice of God within an individual encouraging them to do goo and not evil = moral obligations from an absolute moral authority not human authority. Everybody experiences the obligation to follow their conscience even if they don’t manage to

Question 9

What SOWA refers to conscience?

Answer 9

’‘[Within man’s conscience] there he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths’’ (Gaudium et Spes 16)

Question 10

How does sin and misuse of free will make life difficult?

Answer 10

Genesis 3 shows misuse where Adam and Eve disobey God = banished from the Garden of Eden. With sin life becomes much harder for them with them ‘covering up’ since they knew they were naked (Genesis 3:7). Hide from God and try to rationalize and pass the blame for what they have done = Adam to Eve to the serpent

Question 11

What is Genesis 3:7?

Answer 11

'’they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leave together and made themselves aprons

Question 12

What do Catholic believe about sin?

Answer 12

That god loves humans and is a friend regardless of their sins so when he goes in search for them they believer they should repent and receive grace of God to help make amends to turn back to God. Not what Adam and Eve did

Question 13

How can Human beings relate to God?

Answer 13

Being created in his image allows for them to enter into a relationship with him. The image indicates God intended human beings to relate to him in this world and enjoy eternal life with him beyond death

Question 14

What do some Christian commentators describe?

Answer 14

The ‘God-shaped hole’ : a longing within human beings which only God can fill

Question 15

What does an absence of God mean and what humans do with it?

Answer 15

Humans experience a deep sense of longing or yearning = yearning for God but humans misunderstand this and accidently or deliberately long for things within in the world but since God is creator only God alone can satisfy

Question 16

What does the yearning for God show?

Answer 16

Catholics believe the hunger for God points to the reality of God and heaven

Question 17

How does Human beings being able to give and receive love link to God?

Answer 17

God = community of persons (trinity) who give and receive love to one another and to Creation so humans being made in his image means they can give and receive love. They can never truly be who they intended to be (created by God to be) until they enter into a divine life of giving and receiving love. Human happiness can only come through love

Question 18

How can humans demonstrate God’s love?

Answer 18

• Helping the homeless

Question 19

How are human beings answerable to God?

Answer 19

Image of God can be a reminder of God’s authority over humans as their creator (Rulers would often use images of themselves to remind people of their power/authority). So IoG can be interpreted as humans being accountable or answerable to God for their lives and so use their lives to serve him by giving and receiving love as he does

Question 20

What humans in terms of creation?

Answer 20

They are the most important part of Creation but still creatures not creator so are still part of the creation

Question 21

What does it mean for humans and dominion?

Answer 21

The rest of creation ‘‘is a garden’’ [Genesis 2:8] over which God grant humans ‘‘dominion’‘[Genesis 1:26] and by the nature of the world as a garden suggest God intended for a loving cultivation and care of the world. Humans = stewards of creation

Question 22

What does dominion mean?

Answer 22

Authority to rule

Question 23

How does this create a dilemma for Catholics?

Answer 23

Accounts of creation have two conflicting instructions 1. rule or dominate over the earth 2. care for/steward it. Catholics believe God made humans superior to the rest of Creation by giving them reason +free will so entrusts humans with mastery over nature (Genesis 1:28-29) and expects rule with consideration and compassion

Question 24

What does mastery mean?

Answer 24

CCC 377 = mastery of self is the core meaning so through Mass/sacraments/and teaching of the Church Catholicism give humans the various spiritual graces required to achieve mastery

Question 25

What is secular understanding of stewardship?

Answer 25

Many secular groups have definite ideas about the nature of humanity which are sometimes compatible with the idea of Catholics but not from God. Humanists believe they have a moral responsibility to care for the planet as this is the best interests for humanity not stewardship given from God