The Creation

Question 1

What does the Creation tell us about the nature of God?

Answer 1

God was the Creator of the world and everything in it
God is omnipotent - all powerful. “Let there be light” it happens at once.
Transcendent above world ‘ex nihilo’ “the world was for less and empty”
Designer - the world was planned - created something new each day “God saw that it was good” - a good world - omni-benevolent
Holy Spirit present at Creation
B - Benevolent
O - Omnipotent
C - Creator
E - Ex nihilo
T - Transcendent

Question 2

What does the Creation tell us about the nature of humanity?

Answer 2

Created man in his own image
We are part of Gods nature, our soul that lives after death
More important than other animals
We are Special and sacred
“ rule over the fish, the birds and all the wild animals”
Authority and dominion to humans - Adam named animals
Responsibility to look after world
Free will - make our own decisions

Question 3

What does the Creation story tell us about Stewardship?

Answer 3

World is gift from God- duty to look after world on his behalf
It is his omnipotent gift
Dominion over everything
Stewardship is our responsibility to fulfil Gods wish

Question 4

What does the Creation story tell us about dignity of human beings?

Answer 4

We are made in gods image and equal in his eyes
Dignity means care and respect for other people
Using free will to love responsibly including sex
Being worthy of honour and respect

Question 5

What does the Creation story tell us about the sanctity of life?

Answer 5

Human life is sacred
Life is gift from God and every stage must be respected
Unchanging truths about sanctity of life
All life is Holy - created by God - life should not be abused or misused

Question 6

What is the Fundamentalist view of the Creation?

Answer 6

Bible is word of God
God loves humans so won’t give false information
Humans have no right to prefer their own interpretation of gods word
Called literalists
Don’t accept scientific evidence - god created world in 7 days as in genesis
Fundamentalists - voice of God

Question 7

What is the conservative or catholic view of genesis?

Answer 7

Catholic/conservative view - inspired by god
Accept scientific evidence
Myth is a simple story conveying a deeper complex truth
Not meant literally - people reflect on underlying truths presented
The message of the story is of greatest importance
Truths are spiritual messages
The author of creation stories was not a scientist

Question 8

What does science say?

Answer 8

1. Big Bang theory - origins of world 18bn years ago - small dense mass exploded sending mass and matter in different directions- cooled to form planets and stars - evidence is background radiation
2. Evolution - origins of humanity - Darwin said humans evolved from apes - natural selection of survival of the fittest - fossils evidence

Question 9

Can you believe in religion and science?

Answer 9

Conservative view is that message is important - genesis not written by scientist and not a scientific account - Big Bang and evolution
Fundamentalist won’t accept science