Creation (Y11 - Autumn 1) Flashcards
What are the 3 Sources of Authority for Catholics (+Quote that shows who Jesus gave his authority to in order to start the Church)
The three sources authority are:
- Scripture (Bible)
- Tradition - The wisdom found in the lives and writings of inspired Christians
- Magisterium - The pope and bishops who are authorised to interpret scripture and tradition
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church… .”
(Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:19)
Why is the Bible considered as the Word of God?
The whole Bible is considered the word of God, because the writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
What are the 4 Sections of the Old Testament and What are They About?
Law:
The first 5 books, telling how the Jews became the people of God. Also contains the ‘laws’ or guidelines that God wanted the Jews to follow (including the 10 Commandments)
History:
These show how God guided the Jews and how they often refused to listen. These stories were included to help later generations avoid making the same mistakes.
Wisdom:
Includes a mixture of prayers, psalms, poems, and books of advice. These help people understand their faith and lives in a way that pleases God.
Prophecy:
The books of the prophets whose inspired words challenged the people to remain faithful to God and taught them that God is active in the world
What are the 4 Sections of the New Testament and What are They About?
The Gospels:
They cover the actions and teachings of Jesus
The Acts of the Apostles:
Tells of some of the events in the early Church (up to about 60CE).
The Episltles:
Letters that were written by the apostles and discusses how to follow Jesus’s teachings in everyday life.
The Book of Revelation:
Written by the apostle John. It includes his own mystical visions, which some Christians believe describe the end of the world.
What was the Criteria for a peice of writing to be accepted into the New Testament
- One of the 12 apostles had to be the authority behind each book (e.g, Mark was Peter’s Scribe)
- The books had to be written early (before the end of the first century)
- The books had to be accepted by all Christian Churches
What happened on each of the 7 Days of Creation in Genesis
Day 1: God created day and night
Day 2: God created the sky
Day 3: God created the earth, seas, and plant life
Day 4: God created the sun, moon, and starts
Day 5: God created the fish and birds
Day 6: God created all the animals and humans
Day 7: God rested
How are Catholics taught to interpret the Genesis 1 Story of Creation
- The Catholic Church teach that the Genesis creation stories are myths… simple stories which tells important, deep truths (not in the sense of being)
- It’s very unlikely that the events described in the creation story happened in the way that it was described
- Catholics believe that God made the world through the Big Bang, and that God made humans through evolution
What does Genesis 1 teach about God being the Creator? (+Quote)
(What Catholics should believe and why?)
Quote: “God created humans in his image, male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
- God is the only creator, who has created everything. This is significant for Christians because it means they should worship only this one God.
- All of creation is special, because all of it has beencreated by Gid. Therefore it should be cared for and looked after.
- Genesis 1:27 shows that God created humans in his own image, which means that humans share qualities with God (like love and compassion). These qualities allow humans to have a close relationship with God.
What does Genesis 1 teach about God being Omnipotent? (+Quote)
(What Catholics should believe and why?)
Quote: “God saw everything that he made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
- God has the power to do whatever he wants; he can even create things from nothing
- Genesis 1:31 says everything God made is ‘very good’, God is so powerful he can make everything exactly the way he wants it.
Belief in Gid’s omnipotence inspires Christians to trust in God, as they know he has the power to do or change anything.
What does Genesis 1 teach about God being Transcendent? (+Quote)
(What Catholics should believe and why?)
Quote: Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
- God only needs his own word in order to create; when he says ‘Let there be …’, that thing immidately comes into being. God is completely above and beyond the created world - he is transcendent.
- The idea of transcendence also means God is beyond human understanding. Christians believe God cannot fully be described in human words, or fully understood by human minds; God’s transcendence inspires awe.
What 2 things does Genesis 2 tell us about the Nature of Humans
- Humans share the Spirit of God:
- Genesis 2:8 explains how God made humans in his image
- God created Adam, the first man, by breathing into him
- The Hebrew word for breath can be translated as ‘spirit’
- This shows that humans share the Spirit of God, which gives humans some of his qualities (like love, for example)
- Humans are given the gift of free will:
- God commands Adam not to eat from the tree, but doesn’t actively prevent Adam from doing so. He gives Adam a choice (free will)
- Using free will to live in a way that pleases God, brings humans closer to God.
What does ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo show/tell us about God and Adam?
- Adam is the perfect man - full of strength - reflecting that God’s creation is ‘very good’ and humans are the highpoint of God’s creation
- God having white hair and a beard means that God is ancient, eternal, but humanity is new
- God is being carried through the air by angels, reflecting that God is transcendant - whereas Adam is firmly on the ground
- The green ribbon could symbolise the umbilical chord … cut as Adam comes to life
- God is in a brain shaped cloud - symbolising that our intelligence comes from God
- God and Adam are lying down in a similar position showing that humans are made in the image of God
- Humans reflect God through their ability to gain wisdom, create, love, and be spiritual
- The hands reaching out means Adam is not fully alive’, humans depend on God for their everything. Humans need a relationship with God
What are some of the Misleading Aspects about ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo tell us
- It does say in Genesis that God touched Adam to give him life
- God and Adam are the same size - does this suggest man is equal to God
- God shouldn’t be portrayed as an old man … God is pure Spirit
- Adam is portrayed as white, when he most likely would’ve been from the Middle East
What does Meière’s Mosaic reflect Catholics beliefs about God and Creation
- God’s hand is large compared to the size of the cloud above it
- This helps to show God’s greatness and power
- Lines extend from God’s hand to the edge of the circle (which depicts the edge lf the universe)
- This reflects the idea that God created everything in the universe, and that his influence and power touch all things
Pros and Cons of ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo
Pros:
- It shows that God is the creator
- It shows that God is powerful and eternal (or omnipotent)
-The Creation of Adam focuses on the act of God creating humanity, so conveys more about the relationship between God and humanity
Cons:
-God is shown as an old man. Some Christians object to thid as they think an eternal God should not be shown as an ageing man
Pros and Cons of Meière’s Mosaic
Pros:
- It shows that God is the creator
- It shows that God is powerful and eternal (or omnipotent)
-Only God’s hand is shown. Some Christians think this id a symbol of God’s creative power is a more acceptable way if showing God, as God is infinite
Cons:
-Meière’s mosaic is more abstract. It conveys a greater sense that God is always creating everything, but shows less about God’s relationship with humanity.
What Is The Vatican Council and How Do They Teach You Should Interpret the Bible
Between 1962 and 1965 the Pope and bishops of the Catholic Church (the Magisterium) held a series of meetings in order to discuss important issues and update the Catholic Church’s teachings on a number of topics. These meetings are known as the Second Vatican Council (or Vatican II). One document from the council (Gaudium et Spes) states clearly that when interpreting the Bible, we should:
‘…. carefully investigate the meaning the writers intended’
Catholics therefore believe that the two creation stories were written as myths (not literal, scientific explanations) i.e. simple stories which convey deep, important truths about God and humans.
What Is The Big Bang Theory and How Should it be Interpreted
By understanding the creation stories in this way, Catholics can accept the Big Bang theory which offers widely accepted scientific evidence that our universe sprang into existence around 13.7 billion years ago. Prior to that moment, there was nothing. The Catholic Church teaches that God created the world using the Big Bang.
What Is The Theory Of Evolution and How Should it be Interpreted
Catholics can also accept the Theory of evolution which is the process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors (now extinct), over a period of approximately six million years (also with strong scientific evidence). The Catholic Church teaches that God created humans through the process of evolution.
