Origins of life

Question 1

Religious explanation

Answer 1

• rely on revelation in the form of scripture
• genesis is the first book in the bible and tells us how the world and the life on it came to be
• there are two stories within genesis that talk about the origins of life; genesis 1 and genesis 2
• can be understood either literally or symbolically

Question 2

Genesis 1

Answer 2

• religious account on the origin of life
• on the sixth day God created “man and woman in his own image”
• they are in charge of the whole world and are special to God

Question 3

Genesis 2

Answer 3

• religious account on the origin of life
• God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed life into him
• after Adam he created vegetation and animals
• God then created woman from mans rib and breathed life into her

Question 4

Literal interpretation of the religious explanation

Answer 4

• the bible is God’s word and God’s word is true
• humans had life breathed into them by God
• life was not formed gradually rather species are fixed and do not change gradually over time but remain as God made them (goes against evolution)

Question 5

Symbolic interpretation of the religious explanation

Answer 5

• God created the Earth and all its life forms
• it is not important how he did this, what is important is that he did
• God gave us responsibility of dominion over other life forms
• humans should maintain a close relationship with their creator (God)

Question 6

Strengths of the literal interpretation of the religious explanation

Answer 6

• clear and unambiguous (takes away any need for guessing or differing
  interpretations)
• gives answers to the meaning and purpose of human life (God created us specially, we have a role and purpose)

Question 7

Weaknesses of the literal interpretation of the religious explanation

Answer 7

• genesis 1 and 2 tell very different stories, you cannot accept both as being the absolute truth (one must be wrong)
• ignores scientific evidence for the origins of life
• not open to debate with anyone who doesn’t accept the bible as true (no leeway)

Question 8

Teleological argument

Answer 8

• put forward by the English theologian William Paley
• based on the observation that living things in the universe are incredibly complex, showing evidence of design
• it is silly to believe that something as complicated as the human eye or the distance from the sun to Earth came about by accident
• we must therefore conclude that there is a designing force behind nature
• Paley believed this force is what people call God

Question 9

Strengths of the teleological argument

Answer 9

• its logical and makes sense, the world is so orderly and fit for purpose surely this must be the work of an intelligent designer (God)

Question 10

Critiques of the teleological argument

Answer 10

• the world is not perfect, it has as much chaos and suffering as beauty, why would an intelligent designer create so much mayhem
• nature could be providing the design itself, no need for God (evolution)
• the argument points towards a designer, not necessarily a Christian God

Question 11

Scientific explanation

Answer 11

• scientists believe that life on Earth has changed over time
• this is the process referred to as evolution

Question 12

Theory of evolution by natural selection

Answer 12

• the theory was put forward by Charles Darwin
• based on the idea that all species on Earth evolved from simple life forms that existed millions of years ago
• relies on their being genetic variation in a population which affects the physical characteristics of an organism
• individuals with characteristics best suited to their environment are more likely to survive
• these individuals are more likely to reproduce and pass their genes on to their offspring
• as a consequence those individuals most suited to their environment survive, and given enough time the species will gradually evolve
• supported by evidence of fossil records and vestigial features

Question 13

Fossil records

Answer 13

• used as evidence for evolution
• fossils are the preserved remains of living organisms found in rocks
• the fossilised remains of organisms that no longer exist today show us that life on
  Earth has been changing for a very long time

Question 14

Vestigial features

Answer 14

• used as evidence for evolution
• there are structure that have no apparent function and appear to be left over parts form a past ancestor
• an example is the human appendix, it has no function now but is thought to have had a function for our past ancestors

Question 15

Strengths of scientific explanation

Answer 15

• meticulously researched
• supported by recent developments in many different scientific disciplines
• provides an explanation for biodiversity and the similarities between species

Question 16

Weaknesses of the scientific explanation

Answer 16

• much of the theory is circumstantial
• there are gaps in the theory
• doesn’t suggest a meaningful answer to the purpose/meaning of life

Question 17

How does the theory of evolution challenge Christian beliefs

Answer 17

• states that life on Earth began randomly, this does away with the need for a divine being (God)
• contradicts Christian beliefs that species were created fixed and in separate kinds
• human beings are no different to other living beings, we evolved as well and are not special

Question 18

The three main groups with differing views on whether religion or science is right

Answer 18

• liberal Christians (science and religion can work together)
• scientific materialists (science is right, religion is wrong)
• traditionalist Christians (religion is wrong, science is right)

Question 19

Science and religion working together (liberal Christians)

Answer 19

• the NOMA principle (science explains HOW the universe came to be and religion explains the WHY)
• biblical creation story could be understood as a myth or to have a symbolic meaning, it exists only to explain that God created everything including humans. It also contains messages about the special relationship between God and humans
• accept that evolution does not challenge God, rather it honours him as it is his way of working

Question 20

Science is right and religion is wrong (scientific materialists)

Answer 20

• they know that the evolutionary theory isn’t perfect but it is the best explanation we currently have
• genesis is a myth
• fossil records tell us that the Earth is a lot older than genesis tells us
• the missing evidence could become available in the future
• science does give our lives purpose (we only have one)

Question 21

Religion is right and science is wrong (traditionalist Christians)

Answer 21

• genesis gives a detailed explanation of the creation of life
• there is no mention of humans bearing any relationship to other living things (so they don’t)
• humans are made in Gods image, we are special and have the role of looking after Gods creation
• the bible is divinely inspired by God, why would he allow there to be mistakes in it
• humans did not evolve
• the reason there is suffering on Earth is through human choices (we make mistakes not God)