Religion and Science Flashcards
Big Bang
The scientific theory that describes the early development of the Universe from a single dense point.
Charles Darwin
An English naturalist (1809 - 1882). Darwin published ‘On the Origin of Species’ in 1859 which outlined his theory of evolution.
Creation
The act of bringing something into existence. In religion, this refers to the creation of the world by God.
Design argument
The argument that the universe and everything in it seems to have been designed, and that this therefore implies the existence of a designer, ie God. Also called the teleological argument.
Evidence
Information or material that shows something is true.
Evolution
The process of change in the inherited traits of a population of organisms from one generation to the next.
Natural selection
The natural process whereby the best-adapted individuals survive longer, have more offspring and thereby spread their characteristics through a population. Sometimes known as ‘survival of the fittest’.
Creationist/Literalist
literally believe the world was created in 7 days as in Genesis.
COSMOLOGY.
The study of the universe and its origins.
Scientific views on the origin of the world.
Most scientists accept that the universe began about 18 billion years ago. Some (but not many) scientists believe that the earth has always been here, and that matter is always coming into existence. The majority of scientists state that there was a massive ‘explosion’ in which matter came into being, and it caused the newly formed matter to expand rapidly out in all directions. This is popularly called the BIG BANG.
Liberalist
They interpret the bible’s meaning and believe that though the Bible is a source of knowledge and wisdom it should not be followed exactly. It provides a meaning and understanding to an unanswered question that provides a role for God in the world. They would say the world is there to explain the purpose and direction for the world.
Omnipotence in creation
‘In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth’ Genesis 1:1 Christians believe that only God as an ALL-POWERFUL being can create the world as we have come to know it from scratch. The world is so complicated it can not have just happened by accident but rather by a powerful designer in control of everything. All of creation is well ordered and interdependent.
Omnibenevolence in creation
‘On the last day God created man… in his image’
Christians believe that God created a perfect world that humanity could live in. They were also given dominion and stewardship.
The bible as a myth
Other Christians regard these accounts as more like parables or symbolic accounts that tell (in story form) the profound truth that God brought the universe and all that is in it into being, and sustains his creation. These Christians might look to science to help them understand how God did this.
