Creation (P1) Flashcards
Significance of creation of Adam
Humanity is dependant on God and made in the image of God
Creation of Adam reflecting catholic beliefs
- Adam is perfect man, full of strength and potential suggests that God made everything ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31)
- God is powerful yet ancient (white hair and beard reflect age but is muscular) Humanity made in image of God
Controversial aspects of Creation of Adam
- Genesis 2 says God made Adam out of dust and brought him to life by breathing into his nostrils
- God and Adam are depicted as nearly the same size, suggesting man is equal to God, which does not reflect catholic beliefs
Jean-Baptiste stained-glass window depicting Adam and Eve
Presence of animals behind God, while Adam and Eve stand in front reflects the importance of humanity compared with rest of creation.
Physical similarity between humans and God, God is a little bigger, also, it seems like Adam and Eve are subservient to God.
Stained glass window shows snake and symbolic tree between God and humans, links to Genesis 3.
Meière 20th century mosaic of God’s hand
- Lines going out from hand to touch the edges of the universe, God’s influence and power touch all things
- God’s hand is large compared to the clouds, helping to illustrate God’s power and greatness.
John of Kastav 15th century depicting creation of sun and moon
- Presence of land, water and trees.
- God is holding a book, God created world through the power of his word.
- God shown in almost human form, reflecting idea of being made in image of God.
God is transcendent
- ‘Let there be…’
- He does not require anything beyond his own word to create things, God is completely beyond the created world
God is omnipotent
- God can make everything the way he wants it ‘very good’, nothing God makes has imperfections.
7 days of creation
- (1) God created heaven and earth
- (2) God creates the sky
- (3) God creates dry land
- (4) God creates all the stars and heavenly bodies (sun moon)
- (5) God creates all life that lives in water
- (6) God creates all creatures that live on dry land
- (7) God rested
Significance of beliefs about nature of God and humans
- Humans can see the power and wonder of God through all the things that he has created.
- Vastness of the universe reflects God’s omnipotence, humans given their distinct nature by God.
Stewardship
- Believers have a duty to respect all of God’s creation, Humans should do their best to ensure that no part of creation is destroyed or undervalued
- God made everything good. God is omnipotent.
Dignity of human beings
- God made in image and likeness of God
- Everyone is a part of God’s creation, no one should be mistreated in any way
Sanctity of life
- All creation is holy as it’s blessed by God.
- God is creator of all life, every stage of life treated with respect
Books in Old Testament
- The law (Torah)
- The history books - show how God guided his people
- Wisdom books - Prayers and psalms showing people how to use God-given talents
- The Prophets - teach people how God is active in the world
Books in New Testament
- The Gospels
- The Acts of the Apostles
- The Epistles - letters which show Christians how to live by Jesus’ teachings
- Book of Revelation - written by John featuring his own visions to describe the end of the world
Dei Verbum 11
‘The books of scripture must be acknowledged as teaching without error’
Dei Verbum 9
‘Sacred scripture is the word of God’
Genesis interpretations of creation
- God made everything
- Everything that God made was good
- Humans are the high point of God’s creation
(Should not be taken literally)
Fundamentalist views on genesis creation
(Genesis is entirely accurate)
- Bible is word of God so must be accurate
- Since God loves humans, he will not give people false information
Natural law
Do good and avoid evil
- This principle applies to all humans because everyone was made in likeness of God (Gen 1:27)
- Sanctity of life
Catholic Church and Science
During second Vatican Council, The Magisterium stressed that Science and religion should be mutually supportive.
Gaudiem et spes 36: ‘all believers of whatever religion always hear his revealing voice in the discourse of creatures’
How catholics care for the environment
- Take care of world because it’s God’s creation
- ‘Love thy neighbour’ by caring for the environment they live in.
- Catholics must not allow themselves to become hypocrites, expect others to help environment without doing it themselves.
Stewardship and interdependence
- Catholics have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
- Recycle more - Use public transport
- (nationally) - put pressure on politicians to support laws to aid the environment
- (globally) - expose multinational companies that threaten the environment through their drive to make profit
Sustainability
Using natural resources at a rate that they can be replaced
- Reduce poverty
- Reduce tension between countries and their resources
Catholic influence on sustainability
- Pope Francis said ‘bottom-up’ projects take poorer people into consideration
- Pope Francis said people need to listen to each other
CAFOD on sustainability
- Working with international organisations
- Working to make farm production more sustainable and farming techniques more sustainable
- Improve Quality of life through the ‘Beyond 2015 campaign’
