Origins Flashcards
(12 cards)
Scientific explanations for origins
The Big Bang Theory - George Lemaître
The Theory of Evolution - Charles Darwin
The Big Bang Theory
The theory describes how the universe began as a large, hot and dense mass that quickly expanded and thus exploded, 13.7 billion years ago.
Evolution
Evolution is the change in organism characteristics over a prolonged period of time, so that it evolves into the form it is, in the present day.
Arguments for science
The BB was an entirely natural event with no room for God or a creator to have had any influence.
The theory is backed up by the abundance of elements that would not have existed without the kind of heat and pressure caused by the BB.
The evolutionary theory is backed up by the existence of fossils, showing that there are ancestors of a current life form, and that they have genetically changed over thousands of years as a result of evolution.
The existence of fossils also disproves Archbishop Ussher’s theory on the earth being only 6,000 years old, October 23rd 4004 BC (fossils being at least 10,000 years old).
Arguments against science
The Bible does not mention the BB or evolution, meaning it cannot have happened.
Science can be flawed and this still does not completely remove the idea that God can have created the universe.
Literal Christian explanation of origins
They believe that the Bible should be read literally and that it is a direct utterance from God.
According to the Book of Genesis, the universe was created in 6 literal days, this being a matter of faith and not science.
Arguments for Literal Christianity
Only simple faith and belief is needed, not complicated science.
The Bible does not need to be interpreted at all, since everything is from God directly and should be interpreted as such. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is inspired by God”.
Arguments against Literal Christianity
They do not even consider scientific evidence, naive.
If Genesis is taken so literally then so should the rest of the Bible, eg. Hitting children.
Liberal Christian explanation on origins
The Bible can, and should be interpreted.
The Bible is not to be taken literally but instead contains the truth and messages of God.
They see the Bible as something that contains symbols and metaphors telling the importance of God.
Arguments for Liberal Christianity
It avoids the issues surrounding Genesis 1 - issues in translation and timelines.
They are open to modern scientific theories and evidence, believing that God still created the universe and that he gave the scientists the knowledge as to how he created the universe.
Arguments against Liberal Christianity
If Genesis is not to be read literally and as God’s word then the whole Bible may as well be rejected.
It is hard to determine what is symbolic and what is truth.
Paul Davies (theoretical physicist) quote on origins
“We have specific laws … scientists did not invent these laws … science and maths discovered these laws … so where did they come from?”
