SECTION 4 CHRISTIANITY- TOPIC 1.4.1 Origins And Value Of The Universe Flashcards
What is the most accepted scientific theory for the origin of the universe?
The Big Bang Theory
-Matter is eternal; it can neither be created nor destroyed forces of gravity helped to join some of the matter into stars and, about 5 billion years ago, our solar system was formed.
What is the evidence for the Big Bang?
-Redshift effect is evidence that the
universe is still expanding from the point of the initial Big Bang
-Higgs bosons
Higgs bosons
– the particles that make up the Higgs field, which gives evidence for the Big Bang
Christian responses to the Big Bang theory and how many are there?
3
Creationism
The Intelligent Design Response
Christian responses to the Big Bang theory
Creationism
-Christian responses to the Big Bang theory
-Evidence for Big Bang Theory can be explained by actually being because of Noah’s flood
-Believe in Apparent Age Theory-theory claims that if you accept the biblical account of creation in Genesis, then when Adam was made the earth was six days
old, but to Adam it would have looked billions of years old.
What is the Apparent Age Theory?
How does it help prove that the Universe came to be through God and not the Big Bang Theory?
– the idea that the
world would have looked billions
of years old when it was only a
second old
theory claims that if you accept the biblical account of
creation in Genesis, then when Adam was made the earth was six days old, but to Adam it would have looked billions of years old.
The intelligent design response
think that the universe is so complex that it can’t have happened by chance. They believe that it must have been created by an intelligent designer – God
They believe that the universe has different types of complexity
Those who believe in The Intelligent Design Response also believe that the universe has different types of complexity, what are they?
What do these claims mean?
‘irreducible complexity’ – the universe depends on many interacting parts and the removal of any one of those parts would mean that the whole system would stop working
‘specified complexity’ – the patterns in living things, for example in DNA.
They claim that these complexities mean that neither the Big Bang nor evolution could have happened by chance.
The compatibility response
they believe in the Big Bang, but believe that God set it off and controlled how the world has developed since.
believe that both the scientific and biblical explanations of creation are true
biblical stories of creation aren’t meant to be read as literal accounts - simply meant to show us that God created everything
SOWAA for The compatibility response
argue that Genesis 1
‘God said, “Let there be light”’
is a direct reference to the Big Bang.
Pope Francis said ‘the Big Bang…does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator’
The value of the universe in Christian teaching
Christianity teaches that God
created the universe and everything in it, and that he made it in such a way that it has produced an environment on the earth which is perfectly suited for human life.
‘fill the earth and subdue it.’
Using the universe as a commodity
A few Christians believe the universe and all its vast resources are simply a commodity which humans can use, and misuse, as they wish, even though ideas like this have led to the growth of pollution, climate change and depletion of resources.
Beliefs about being against the universe as a commodity.
God made earth, the earth belongs to God, not to humans, and so it must be treated with respect, not as a commodity:
-As God has made everything, humans must respect the whole
environment.
-The environment is a gift from God to humans and so must be treated
with care.
-The Old Testament teaches that humans have a responsibility to treat animals humanely and to treat the land kindly by not growing crops every fiftieth year.
-end of the world when people will be judged on their beliefs and
behaviour and how well they fulfil their roles as stewards of the Earth
SOWAA for the Christian view that humans must not treat the universe as a commodity
In the Parable of the Talents Jesus taught that God expects humans to pass on to the next generation more than they have been given.
God’s creation “requires a religious respect” -catechism
Commodity –
something that humans need or want
