Religion And Science (P)

Question 1

What’s science?

Answer 1

The logical theories for everything based on evidence and experiments.
It is the attempt to study everything through observations and experiments.

Question 2

What are the 5 different views on science and religion?

Answer 2

1) Religion is always correct and so science must agree with it.
2) Science is always correct and so religion must agree with it.
3) Science and religion are not interested in the same knowledge so shouldn’t disagree.
4) Science and religion don’t disagree, we are being tricked into believing that they do.
5) Science and religion work together when viewed properly.

Question 3

What’s the Big Bang theory?

Answer 3

The theory that there was a massive rapid expansion. 18 billion years ago leading to the creation of the whole world.
Gases and matter then cooled forming planets and galaxies.

Question 4

What are the scientific explanations to the creation of the world?

Answer 4

• the Big Bang theory
• 1740 - a paper published about preformationism arguing that aphids carried future generations inside them (plant eating insects). Others looked to find how animals evolved.
• 1830 - Darwin left England on a 2 yr expedition and published a book in 1859, suggesting single celled organisms evolved and developed the variety of plants and animals and natural selection
• a new theory is intelligent design that God must have created the world and all living things but there’s no evidence.
  Being a scientist doesn’t mean you’re atheist. Many believe God created everything but that science is a sophisticated way to explain it.

Question 5

What’s the creation story?

Answer 5

Day 1: “let there be light” - God separated light and dark and called it day and night

Day 2: He created the sky and formed a ‘vault’ or atmosphere

Day 3: God created the land, seas, plants and trees

Day 4: God created the sun, moon and stars

Day 5: God created fish of the sea, birds of the sky and animals on land

Day 6: God created human life - they were told to go on and multiply

Day 7: Rest

Question 6

What are the different interpretations of the creation story?

Answer 6

Literal - creation literally happened in 7 days (no science)

Symbolic - the days are more symbolic of a period of time e.g. A day is a million years (science can fit in - it may suggest that over the period of time, we evolved)

Mythical - someone who doesn’t believe that creation happened like the Genesis but the story is a myth and a celebration of God’s power (science can fit in - god still started creation but evolution and the Big Bang could have existed)

Question 7

What are problems with the environment and solutions?

Answer 7

Problems:
Greenhouse effect
Eutrophication (water pollution by nitrates)
Deforestation
Fossil fuels
Landfill 
Radioactive waste

Solutions:
Renewable alternative energy sources
Don't use fertilisers
Don't cut trees
Use nuclear fusion
Use less/no nitrates and pesticides

Question 8

What’s a steward?

Answer 8

Like a caretaker who looks after the world

Question 9

What’s stewardship?

Answer 9

A God given responsibility to manage or control the Earth. To carefully look after something for the real owner.

Question 10

What does dominion mean?

Answer 10

We are in charge. It doesn’t mean we do what we want, it means ‘kingship’ suggesting we should rule wisely.

Question 11

Why is stewardship important to Christians?

Answer 11

They believe God left the Earth in good faith that we would take care of his creation for him.
They feel we had this responsibility since the day God made us.

Christians can fulfil their stewardship by being environmentally friendly and recycling. They may also choose to vote for a political party which shows concern for the environment or take part in conservation projects.

Question 12

What is the Islamic view to stewardship?

Answer 12

They accept stewardship is essential and that they all must play a leading part in protecting the environment.
Allah made things in nature for use of man.

Question 13

What are bible quotes on stewardship?

Answer 13

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth” - he created the world for us to look after
To be aware, take action and ensure others accept responsibility is important to Christians.

“God said, ‘let us make man in our image…and let rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air….over all the Earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”.

Question 14

What is religion?

Answer 14

A person’s belief in the creation of the Earth and a spiritual God or leader.
It’s the attempt to understand the world through faith and a belief in something.

Question 15

What’s the Muslim view on science?

Answer 15

Muslims would argue that science does not affect their belief in Allah’s (God’s) creation of the world, instead it explains what the Qur’an does not say. An important part of being a Muslim is to strive for clear understanding, therefore scientific explanations are welcomed as they help Muslims to have a greater understanding of Allah.

Question 16

What’s the Christian view on science?

Answer 16

For many Christians there isn’t a conflict between the religious ideas about creation expressed in Genesis and the findings of science.

Professor John Polkinghorne is both a scientist and a priest in the Church of England; he says:

“Genesis is not there to give short, technical answers about how the universe began. It gives us the big answer that things exist because of God’s will. One can perfectly well believe in the Big Bang, but believe in it as the will of God the creator.”

Question 17

What’s the cosmological argument?

Answer 17

The theory that something must’ve caused the universe to exist in this first cause must’ve been God.

Question 18

What’s intelligent design?

Answer 18

The theory that certain features of the universe are best explained by the existence of an intelligent cause

Question 19

What’s the teleological argument?

Answer 19

The theory that the presence of order and design in the universe proves the existence of a designer which is God.

Question 20

What are the scientific arguments for the creation of the world?

Answer 20

Cosmological theories such as the big bang theory

Evolutionary theories such as the most well-known theory by Charles Darwin that things slowly changed from simple cells into a variety of complex lifeforms.

Question 21

What are the religious arguments for the creation of the world?

Answer 21

Based on the Bible that in six days of creation a one day of rest the world was created.

Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden - Adam is created from dust and clay. The garden of Eden is created around him with rivers and all the plants and flowers.
He is told he is able to eat from any seed or fruit producing plant except for the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Adam needed to help us so God created animals. Adam names of the animals thus gaining power over animals.
Adam was still only so good takes a rib and creates a woman Eve to help Adam in the garden.

Question 22

What is cosmology?

Answer 22

The science which deals with the origin and structure of the universe.
It doesn’t except the idea that God created the universe but supports ideas such as the big bang theory which are based on scientific evidence.
The science of cosmology appears to challenge religious views of the creation.

Many people now believe science answers the question of how whereas religion answers the question of why. In 1996 the Roman Catholic Church excepted that scientific theories of creation and evolution are correct

Question 23

What are religious views on evolution?

Answer 23

Some believe that evolution has occurred due to the work of God.

Others however challenge these ideas saying they are on true because they do not agree with the creation story is found in the Bible or other holy books.

Question 24

What is a miracle?

Answer 24

A miracle is an extraordinary event which defies the laws of science and nature and is attributed to was a god or higher power.

Question 25

What is the quote on religion and the environment from the bible?

Answer 25

“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty maker of heaven and earth”

“let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air”

“The earth and all life on it is a gift from God given to us to share” (Catholic)

The Jews were told to rest the land once every 50 years so that it would produce more in the future and what all did not destroy trees when they attacked the city

Question 26

Religion and science quotes:

Answer 26

God created the heavens and the Earth.

God created man in his own image.

Lord formed man from the dust of the ground.

Question 27

What are the Bible quotes on creation?

Answer 27

“God created the heavens and the Earth”

“God made the wild animals… And saw that it was good”

“God created man in his own image”

“From one man who made every nation”

“Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and drift into his nostrils the breath of life”