REVISION OUTLINE

COMPONENT 1.1 – ORIGINS AND MEANING

Key Features:

  • Christian creation stories on the origin of the universe and the origin of man (Literal and Liberal)
  • Scientific theory on the origin of the universe and the origin of man
  • Imago Dei – Christians views on human life
  • Humanist views on human life
  • Biblical account of creation – inspiration and revelation
  • Christian views on Stewardship
  • Humanist views on Stewardship
  • Christianityexpressed through art – Adam, Tree of Life
  • Catholic Social Teaching – CAFOD and SVP
  • THE BIBLE – all Christians believe that the Bible contains the word of God revealed to humans.
  • Literal Christians believe God dictated the Bible to human authors and therefore every word in the Bible is the spoken word of God. This word should not be doubted or challenged in any way as God has revealed to humans all they need to know.
  • Catholics believe that the human authors of the Bible were inspired by God. Therefore, the words in scripture are a human interpretation of God’s word and that scientific developments should be seen as compatible with the scripture.

Christian Creation Stories

Genesis 1 – creation of the universe -literal Christian interpretation.

  • God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th.
  • Prepared the universe in advance for human survival.
  • Created from nothing – ex nihilo, see St Augustine’s Confessions (anthology).

Genesis 1 – creation of the universe - Catholic interpretation.

  • God created the universe but the account in Genesis is a simplistic outline.
  • Created from nothing – ex nihilo, see St Augustine’s Enchiridion (anthology).
  • Genesis 1 is compatible with Big Bang – see Pope John Paul II document on the compatibility of the sciences with religious teaching/doctrine.

Scientific theory for the origin of the universe – Big Bang, accepted by Humanists.

Genesis 2 – creation of humans - literal Christianinterpretation.

  • God created Adam as the first man and Eve to be his companion.
  • Humans created in God’s image – Imago Dei, see St Catherine of Sienna (anthology).

Genesis 2 – creation of humans – Catholic interpretation.

  • Compatibility of religious teaching/doctrine and scientific theory – Evolution, see John Paul II document (anthology).
  • Humans created in God’s image – Imago Dei, see St Catherine of Sienna (anthology).

Scientific theory for the creation of humans – Evolution, accepted by Humanists.

Impact of these beliefs on the sanctity (value) of human life:

Sanctity of life:

  • Christian – Imago Dei, life is a gift from God and should be respected and protected.
  • Abortion – can be justified in certain circumstances, e.g. rape, incest, risk to mother’s life
  • Catholic – Imago Dei, life if a gift from God and should be respected and protected.
  • Abortion – life begins at conception and therefore abortion is murder.
  • God gives life and only God should take it away.
  • Alternatives, e.g. adoption.
  • Humanist – Life is special but not sacred as there is no God. Human life has evolved.
  • Abortion – the woman has the right to choose what’s happens to her body.
  • The foetus has no human rights until it is born and therefore abortion is not murder.

Responsibility for the environment:

  • Christian – stewardship, humans has a duty to care for the world that God has created for them and protect it for the next generation.
  • Catholic – stewardship, duty of care – see Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ letter on the environment (anthology).
  • Humanist – no stewardship as no creator God, humans have a responsibility to care for the environment and ensure that futures generations can survive in this world.

Christianity expressed through art – Adam and the Tree of Life

Creation of Adam – Michael Angelo

  • Imago Dei – Adam created in God’s image
  • Transcendence – creation without physical contact
  • God seated on heart (all-loving/omnibenevolent) or brain (all-powerful/omnipotent)
  • Adam seated on the world – created in advance for him

Tree of Life mosaic

  • The death of Jesus on the cross in the centre brings everlasting life with God
  • Twelves doves on the cross symbolise the 12 apostles
  • The vine is the symbol for the Christian Church which grows from the cross of life
  • Greenery reminds of the Garden of Eden, paradise, where Christians will go after death
  • The serpent under the cross shows that Jesus death brings victory over evil
  • The four Gospel writers are there to symbolise the spreading of the word of God and the story of Jesus’ saving actions.

Christianity expressed through action – Catholic Social Teaching

The parable of the Sheep and Goats – Judgement

Imago Dei – seeing God in others

Catholic responsibility for those who are less fortunate

Living out the teachings of the parable through Catholic agencies – CAFOD and SVP

Faith in action – hearing the word and responding

REMEMBER THE KEY TERMS FOR THIS SECTION:

Key term: / Definition with example:
Creation ex nihilo
Evolution
Imago Dei
Inspiration
Omnipotence
Revelation
Stewardship
Transcendence

How to……

Successfully answer each type of exam question:

a)Questions are worth 2 marks – These questions will always relate to the key terms for each unit - give the definition of the key term and an example.

b) Questions are worth 5 marks and are all DESCRIBE questions:

  1. Describe a belief, teaching, concept
  2. Support with evidence for a source of authority
  3. Make two different points of description

c)Questions are worth 8 marks and are all EXPLAIN questions:

  1. Name/identify a point
  2. Give evidence for this point
  3. Show its impact with an example
  4. Provide a second viewpoint with contrasts or contradicts the first

d)Questions are worth 15 marks and are all EVALUATION questions – each answer must contain the following:
K – Knowledge and understanding
I – Influence/impact on the believer
S – Specialist language and key words
S – Sources of authority
J – Judgement of how strong/weak, valid/invalid each point is
O – Other view point – for Origins and Meanings this MUST be non-religious (Humanist
or Atheist)