Religious Teachings About the Origins of Life (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Scripture Accounts of the Origins of the World

Religion and Creation

• Some religious people believe that scriptures contain stories which explain the origins of the universe

  • They believe that God created the universe and that scripture contains an accurate account of what happened

• Other religious people believe in scientific theories like the Big Bang. They believe the theory explains how the universe came into existence but it is religion that explains why

  • They would believe that God caused the Big Bang and controls evolution which has led to the existence of human beings

• Some religious people accept scientific theories relating to the universe but others do not

• Many religious people believe that the apparent design of the universe points to a creator

• The difference in beliefs is often defined as:

  • Literalists (also known as creationists or fundamentalists)

  • Non-literalists (moderates)

Religion & the Origin of the Universe

Christian belief

• Different religions have different ideas about how the universe came to be

• Christians believe that God created the earth in 6 days Ex-nihlo as revealed in the Book of Genesis

• The parts of scripture which inform Christians about creation are Genesis 1 and 2

• Genesis 1 focuses on the order of creation and the time it took God to create everything

  • Then over seven days God created light and dark, the heavens, land, sea and vegetation, sun, moon and stars, birds and fish, land animals and humans

  • Day 1 – light and darkness

  • Day 2 – skies and oceans

  • Day 3 – land and plants

  • Day 4 – sun moon stars

  • Day 5 – birds and fish

  • Day 6 – animals and humans

  • Day 7 - God rested

• Genesis 2 describes how God created man, then woman, and his relationship with us

  • The Bible states that God made Adam and Eve on the 6th day

  • God creates Adam from clay, and ‘breathes life’ into him suggesting a personal relationship

  • God created man in his image and made woman from man. ‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1: 27-28)

  • Adam was tasked with guarding the Garden of Eden. There is one rule, which is not to eat from the Forbidden Tree. ‘You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do you will die that same day’ (Genesis 2: 17)

  • Adam disobeyed and as a result, all mankind was punished. This is the Original Sin

Muslim beliefs about the origins of the universe

• Muslims have similar beliefs to Christians about the origins of the universe

• Some translations of the Qur’an refer to days, but most Muslims understand the original text to mean six phases

• The Qur’an does not specify exactly what took place during each period but it does describe some of God’s creations

• The Qur’an does not mention a day of rest but describes how, after creation, God organised the whole universe to be under his watchful command

• Muslims believe that God’s creation never ends as it continues with every new birth and the resources of the earth

Authority of Religious Teachings on the Origins of the World

The authority of religious teachings

• Some religious people believe that scripture contains the ultimate truth about the origins of the universe

  • For literalist Christians, scripture has They believe it contains an accurate account of the origins of the universe

• For others, scripture provides a symbolic account of creation which informs us about the nature of God

  • For non-literalist Christians, scripture has authority because it tells us about God and our place in the universe

• Christians believe that the story tells them things about God’s character and His relationship with mankind

  • The fact that God created the entire universe makes him omnipotent

  • God created the universe deliberately. It was planned and ordered rather than an accident

  • ‘God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good’ (Genesis 1: 31) meaning that God was happy with what he created

  • Humans were made in God’s image meaning that humans are special and have a unique relationship with God

  • God breathed life into Adam, suggesting a personal relationship between God and man

  • God created the perfect world but it became imperfect due to the sins of man. This is significant because ‘Christ died for our Sins’ (1 Corinthians 15:3) to ensure salvation for all mankind