1.2 Differences in views for the origin of the universe

Question 1

Catholics understanding on the origin of the world and humans in Genesis (ABI)

Answer 1

Answer it
- Not viewed as literal but as a story that conveys messages that are important (e.g. God’s nature).
- Genesis is not scientific so they consider

Back it up
“A thousand years are a single day [for the Lord]” - Psalms 90:4 (consider “days” in Genesis as a “period of time”).

Impact
- Believe in evolution and Big Bang - “there is no conflict” (JPII) between science and religion.

Question 2

Fundamentalist understanding on the origin of the world and humans in Genesis (ABI)

Answer 2

Answer it
- Viewed as literal as God is capable of doing so due to His nature (omnipotent, omniscient, transcendant)
- God loves humans so would not mislead them by giving incorrect information.

Back it up
“A thousand years are a single day [for the Lord]” - Psalms 90:4 (likely to think that God is transcendant so is not limited by time rather than the Catholic view).

Impact
- Do not believe in evolution and Big Bang - fossils are test from God

Question 3

Scientific understanding on the origin of the universe and humans (ABC)

Answer 3

Answer it
- Big Bang - huge explosion from 20 billion years ago.
- Universe doesn’t need a Creator.

Back it up
- Evidence that correlates to the earth expanding (e.g. red shift).
- “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.” - Stephen Hawkins

Counterargument
- Science is open to change, development and revision so can this theory be relied on (it itself had replaced the Steady State Theory so another theory could replace this one).
- Argue that there must be something that is not dependant on anything, the First Cause (unlike everything else in the universe that is dependant on its predecessor) - many believe this is God.

Question 4

Scientific views on evolution.

Answer 4

• Huge variety of species and creatures result from thousands of years of change and adaptation.
• Nothing was designed to look like it does today, or work in the way it does today.
• Things have changed so they can survive - not created by God thousands of years ago.

Question 5

Catholic views on evolution (ABI)

Answer 5

Answer it
- Had to be “intelligent mind” behind evolution or it would be total chaos.

Back it up
- Lack of conflict taught by Popes, starting from Pope Pius VII from 1950.
- Encyclical that outlines Bible is to be read carefully and science contributes to the Church’s wisdom and understanding - JPII (MttPAoS:oE).

Impact
- There’s no conflict between Darwin’s Theory and the Catholic understanding of God’s deliberate, purposeful creation of human beings.

Question 6

Jewish views on creation (ABI)

Answer 6

Answer it
- God is source of all life and sole creator.
- Orthodox believe Genesis is literal.
- Reform believe it shouldn’t be considered historical fact; some believe God began the universe through Big Bang and guided life through evolution.

Back it up
- Genesis 1 and 2 consists of the creation story and a more in-depth dive on Adam and Eve as humans.

Impact
- “Blessed be He who spoke and the world existed.” - Orthodox Jew prayer in synagogue.
- Celebrate Shabbat as day of rest - Genesis 1.
- Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, which marks New Year, as day God began to create.