Origins and Meanings 2 Flashcards
Omnipotence
- The belief that God is all powerful
Transcendence
- Existing outside of space and time
- God exists in a way that makes him nothing like anything else that exists, above and beyond creation
Creation ex nihilo
- Creation out of nothing
- Before God created the universe, nothing existed. Only God can create out of nothing
Evolution
- The process of mutation and natural selection which leads to changes in species in over time to suit particular environments
Imago dei
- In the image of God. The belief that human beings are uniquely a reflection of Go’s personhood
- Unlike the other animals, human beings are rational, free and moral
Who is Charles Darwin?
A famous scientist in 1800s and created the theory of evolution
How did Charles Darwin come up with the theory of evolution ?
By going on a voyage to observe and collect different types of plants and animals, where he found 15 different species of finch with different shaped beaks that matched the food they ate.
What did Charles Darwin also call evolution?
Survival of the fittest or natural selection - when surviving organisms of the species pass on the genes to their babies
What did Pope John Paul about evolution?
” There are no difficulties in explaining the origin of man, in regard to the body, by means of the theory of evolution
Who is Richard Darwin?
A modern day atheist scientist who has worked on the theory of evolution
What does Richard Darwin say about evolution?
When a new organism/ species emerges, sometimes random genetic codes slip in. Some of these can help the individual of the species to survive, while others make no difference to that survival.
Why is Richard Darwin an atheist?
Human are just packets of genes trying to survive and Darwin says that there is no such thing as soul or any evidence of one.
Why may Catholics say in response to Darwin ?
- From a limited human point of view, things may look random but we don’t have the same intelligence as god that allows us to understand his way of thinking.
- Soul isn’t a scientific study so science isn’t in a position to say anything about souls. Soul is a different dimension of reality - spiritual, another world, a share in the life of god, God’s breath in our body
Who is Lemaitre?
George Lemaitre was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest, physicist and astronomer.
What is Lemaitre known for?
First person to formulate the idea of an expanding universe and what was to become the Big Bang There of the origin of the universe
What do Catholics think about science?
Catholics have no contradictions between science and Genesis because Genesis is theology to show why things are the way they are and not how. It is for God to show the world had a beginning , which God invites to explore , and that creating the world was a creative act of omnibenevolence
Why do Catholics think science who God created the world?
Due to God’s omniscience, the Big Bang happened at the exact micro-second as if it was too early it would be too small to form stars and everything would have flown away before stars could form. Also, life on Earth requires carbon to bond with 4 other atoms and this is designed by God through his omniscience.
Due to God’s omnipotence, scientific laws such s gravity for the matter of the universe to form solar systems wouldn’t have been created
Why do some Catholics think science and the Bible are right ?
Some Catholics believe that the main points of the creation story matches the science as one day in the creation story could be million/billions of days. Also, some believe that God saying “Let there be light”is reference to the Big Bang
What do Creationists believe ?
- The Bible is the Word of the God and is accurate
- God has given his truth though the Bible
- Humans have no right to prefer their own interpretation to the actual words of God
- World was created 6000 years ago
- believe that fossils are bodies of organisms killed in the worldwide flood written in the Bible
- Faith doesn’t need evidence
- Scientist are biased with their discoveries based on belief
What is the difference between Catholics and Creationists?
Catholics believe the creation story is symbolic and are meant to give reason for creation while Creationists believe that the creations stories happened exactly in the way it was written down in Genesis
What theories do the Creationists not believe in?
- Big Bang Theory
- Evolution (all species in the world now are as they were when they were created)
Quote from Creationist
“Believing the world began as the bible in Genesis says that God created in 6 days , six 24 periods. “
What is the Laudato Si?
An open letter written by Pope Francis to all people about caring for the world
What does the Laudato Si say?
It asks everyone to care for the earth together as it is our common home and we live here together. It is full of beauty and wonder and belongs to everyone. We have taken more than our share and the poorest communities are affected. We should love our neighbour
