1.5 Catholic beliefs on creation and the nature of God.

Question 1

Comparison of first and second creation accounts.

Answer 1

First creation
- Recalls the 6 day period of creation (light; sky; sea, land and vegetation; sun, moon and stars; sea and sky animals; land animals and humans in imago dei) and 7th day of rest, which was declared holy.
- Showcases God giving everything and everyone their own purpose (the trees and plants, the animals and humans)
- Highlights that everything God had done was good and completed - nothing else had to be done.

Second creation
- Deep dive into the creation of humans (Adam from dust and breathed the breath of life in His nostrils) and their role (take care of the earth and animals, and reproduce)
- God sees Adam needs a companion, in which He makes Eve, from his rib.
- God gives all the appealing plants with good fruit to men, giving them the choice to eat from it.

Question 2

Nature of God from Genesis 1 and 2 (AB)

Answer 2

• Omnipotent - “Let there be…” - He commands and it happens; “In the beginning, God created …” - He can create out of nothing.
• Transcendent - He is out of space and time.
• Omnibenevolent - “God blessed them” - He has a purpose and cares for humans; Genesis 2:8-9 - planted a garden with everything for them; Genesis 2:17-18 - He wants what’s best for us.
• Omniscient - Genesis 2:17-18 - He knows whats good for us.

Question 3

Nature of humans from Genesis 1 and 2 (AB)

Answer 3

• Created imago dei - “Let us make mankind in our image” (Gen 1:26)
• All human life belongs to God - “breathed…breath of life into his nostrils…man became a living being” (Gen 2:7)
• Given free will - “You are free to eat from any tree… but you must not eat from…”(Gen 2:17-18).
• Given responsibility (stewardship) over His creation - “they may rule over the fish…birds…livestock” (Gen 1:26); “…formed…every wild animal..bird…brought them to see what he would call it.” (Gen 2:19)
• Made complimentary to each other - male and female - “That is why a man must leave his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become on flesh” (Gen 2:24)