Evolution, Big Bang, Creationism Flashcards
who came up with the theory of Evolution?
Darwin
what is the basic idea of Evolution?
different species have developed over time from simple life forms
how old does Evolution believe the world is?
believes Earth is 4.5 billion years old
when does Evolution believe the simple life formed?
simple life formed more than 3 billion years ago
does Darwin’s theory of Evolution conflict or agree with religion? why?
conflict
God made all animals and plants on Earth
how does Evolution work?
through natural selection:
individuals in a species show a wide range of variation (variation = different genes)
individuals have characteristics most suited to their environment and so they are more likely to survive and reproduce
the genes that allow individuals to be successful are passed to offspring
what is the Big Bang theory?
13.7 billion years ago all the matter in the universe was concentrated into a single incredibly tiny part which enlarged rapidly in a hot explosion and still enlarging today
what is evidence for the Big Bang theory?
e.g. all galaxies are moving further away from us
the further away a galaxy is, the faster it is moving away
lots of evidence but depends on one’s belief in science and this theory
what is Creationism also known as?
‘creation-science’
what does Creationism often go against?
the theory of Evolution
quote Rowan Williams in The Guardian, 21 March 2006 about Creatonism
“I think creationism is, in a sense, a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory like other theories.”
what is the theory of Creationism?
All life was created by the actions of God
Some Creationists say God did this in a single creative event
Some Creationists don’t limit creation to one event
All the forms of life existing today were created by the actions of God
The organisms created by God can’t produce new forms of organism — only God can do this
The world was made in six days
what is the most common theory of Creationism?
the accounts in the Biblical Book of Genesis, but most religions have their own creation story
what does modern Creationism do?
use scientific evidence to support scripture
what do most scientists say about the creationism theory?
it is false and unscientific
for many people, what does belief or lack of comes through?
experience of seeing and living in the world
why do some people not believe in God?
the Big Bang theory
Evolution and Natural Selection
Nietzsche — believing that God is simply a kind of ‘superstition’
Feuerbach — believing that God is ‘made up’ by mankind
Freud — believing that God is just a ‘wish’ or ‘dream’
Science has given us comprehensive explanations for how the universe came in to being and miracles
this effectively relegates God to the ‘god of the gaps’
unanswered prayers make people feel that God isn’t there or doesn’t care enough to act
the problem of evil and suffering
which Christians would believe in the Big Bang theory?
Liberal Christians as a metaphorical interpretation of God
which Christians would believe in Evolution?
Liberal Christians as a metaphorical interpretation of God
what is a quote for Creationism?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1)
which Christians would believe in Creationism?
Fundamental Christians - literal interpretation of the bible
who came up with the Teleological Argument?
William Paley
explain the Teleological Argument
uses the analogy of a watch - takes intelligence and thought to design a watch
only God could have intelligence and thought enough to design an intrinsic, complex and beautiful world
nature has such a design — designed for a purpose (e.g. fibonacci sequence in nature)
therefore God exists
how can the Teleological Argument strengthen your belief in God?
how could humans be just because? must be designed
unlikely that we are just chance
what are the flaws with the Teleological Argument?
evolution: natural selection survival of the fittest why would God make us with flaws? why not make a perfect human model? it could all be chance watches are man-made watches break and kink inductive leap: complexity of watch doesn’t equal the complexity of the universe fires, earthquake, disability — why be designed this way?
how can the Teleological Argument weaken your belief in God?
eventually we could have been formed
even the unlikely is possible
human beings are not watches, they change and reproduce etc…
the flaws with the theory
who came up with the Cosmological Argument?
St Thomas Aquinas
explain the Cosmological Argument
cosmos = universe
cause of the universe = God
everything must come from something: “Something cannot come from nothing.” (Richard Swinburne)
universe must come from something as everything needs to be caused
God = First Cause = causes everything
only God could cause the universe
domino effect from the First Cause
Christians felt it made logical sense — reinforcement
how can the Cosmological Argument agree with science?
Big Bang caused by God? — science and religion
Aquinas is before the Big bang — this idea has been implemented into his theory
what are the flaws with the Cosmological Argument?
premises make sense yet conclusion takes an inductive leap
universe exists —> causes —> first cause —> God must exist
why does God have to be the first cause?
suggests time is linear — doesn’t have to be
Big Bang — not caused by God, although what caused the Big Bang?
what came first — the chicken or the egg?
Nietzsche — God is Dead
breakdown briefly the Cosmological Argument
nothing can come into existence on its own —everything needs a cause
therefore the universe needs a cause
only God is powerful enough to bring the universe into existence and to keep it going
therefore God exists
explain the Meaning of life/Purpose and how it can lead to belief in God
where are we going?
what’s the purpose of life?
this searching can only lead people to think the purpose of this life involves the existence of life after death where the good are rewarded and the evil are punished
only God could provide an afterlife and decide who should be rewarded and who should be punished
how is religion evidence for the existence of God?
Religion and belief in God:
some people think that religion itself is evidence for the existence of God
people have always had religious beliefs, with the idea of God as creator and that life should be led in accordance with religious moral codes
86% of the world’s population belong to some form of religion
religion is clearly a major feature of the world
