Unit 1: Creation (Paper 1) Flashcards
The Creation of Adam [3]
- Part of the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome
- Painted by Michelangelo
- It shows God giving life to Adam
Anthropomorphisation [definition]:
To attribute human form or personality to something
Symbolisms of the ‘Creation of Adam’ [5]:
- God’s white beard and muscular figure show he is ancient yet powerful
- God being portrayed with a human body reflects the idea that we were made in his image
- The hands of God and Adam reaching out for each other show the longing for a close relationship between God and man
- God is shown being carried through the air by a group of angels, reflecting his transcendence
- Adam is kept firmly on the ground, below God which show how God is superior
Controversial aspects of the ‘Creation of Adam’ [3]:
- God and Adam are depicted as nearly the same size, suggesting that man is equal with God
- The eternal God is being shown as an old white man
- Genesis 2 states that God breathed life into Adam through his nostrils not by touching him, like in the painting
The Stained-glass window; depicting Adam and Eve
[4]:
- 19th century
- Painted by the Belgian artist Jean-Baptiste Capronnier
- In the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula in Brussels,
Belgium - It shows God blessing Adam and Eve after he made them and the animals in the Genesis 2 creation account
Symbolisms of the ‘Stained-glass window’
[4]:
- The presence of the animals behind God, while Adam and Eve stand in front of God, shows the relative importance of humanity compared to the rest of Creation
- There is a Physical similarity between the humans and God showing they were made imago Dei
- It shows the snake and a tree between God and humans which links to the story fall of humans in Genesis 3
- God is slightly bigger/ taller than the humans to shoe transcendence
The Mosaic depicting God’s hand
[4]:
- 20th century
- Created by the artist Hildreth Meière
- Found in St Bartholomew’s church in New York, USA
- It depicts God’s hand at work, in a powerful way
Symbolisms of the ‘Mosaic depicting God’s hand’
[3]:
- The lines going out from the hand to touch edges of the universe, reflecting that God’s influence and power touching all things
- God’s hand is relatively large, compared to the cloud showing God’s greatness and power
- Suggests the idea of God without the whole of him
The Fresco depicting the creation of the sun and moon
[4]:
- 15th century
- Painted by the artist John of Kastav
- It is found in the Holy Trinity Church
- It depicts the creation of the sun and moon like the 4th day of creation
Symbolisms of the ‘ fresco depicting the creation of the sun and moon’ [5]:
- The presence of land, water and trees show the cumulative effect of the earlier days of creation
- God holding a book, reflects the idea that God created the world through the power of his word. It also shows the bible as the word of God
- God is shown in almost human form showing how we were made imago Dei
- The halo around God’s head showing his holiness
- God has raised 2 fingers on his right hand to bless his creation which shows creation is blessed
God’s Omnipotence [definition]:
He is almighty, unlimited power (all-powerful)
God as transcendent in Genesis 1
[2]:
- ‘Let there be light, and there was light’
- This is far beyond anything of human capability
God as omnipotent in Genesis 1
[2]:
- He created the world ex nihilo
- Everything God made was ‘good’ which shows his omnipotence as his power allows him to create exactly the way he wanted
Genesis 1:3 (light):
“God said, ‘let there be light,’ and there was light”
Genesis 1:27 (imago Dei):
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
