Creation

Creation

1. Michelangelo's Creation of Adam

   • Meaning and significance
     • Focuses viewers attention on how dependent we are on God
     • At the same time shows that humanity is made in the image of God
   • Reflection of beliefs and teachings
     • Adam is shown as a perfect man
       • Reflects what is taught in Genesis: that God made everything 'very good' (Genesis 1:31)
     • God is powerful but ancient
       • White hair and beard reflect age but body shows he is muscular
       • Evokes the idea that man is made in the image of God
     • Their hands are reaching out to each other
       • Reflect the longing for a relationship
       • Isn't just passing of life; it's the build up of harmonious love, knowledge and appreciation for each other
     • Carried by angels
       • Shows transcendence
     • God is the creator of everything; nothing comes into being without God
   • Controversial aspects
     • Genesis 2 states that Adam was made out of dust and brought to life by breathing into his nostrils
       • Doesn't say anywhere that God touched Adam to bring him to life
     • They are depicted as nearly the same size
       • Suggesting man is equal to God, which doesn't reflect Catholic beliefs
     • Some people don't like the idea of the eternal God being shown as an old man

2. Other Christian art that depicts Creation

   • 19th century stained glass window
     • Shows God blessing Adam and Eve after making them and the animals
     • Represents Genesis 2 account
     • Animals behind and humans infront of God
       • Reflects relative importance of humanity
         • Not shown in CoA
     • Physical similarity to God but God is a little bigger and Adam and eve are standing differently
       • Reflects idea they are subservient and dependent on God
   • 20th century mosaic
     • Hand of God
     • Circle around edges and lines going out to them
       • God's influence and power to touch all things
     • Hand is relatively large
       • Shows God's greatness and power
     • Conveys a greater sense of God as a creator than the CoA
       • CoA = 1 point of view. This shows god always creating
     • Some prefer the way God is presented
   • 15th century fresco
     • Creation of sun and moon
     • God is holding a book
       • Reflects the idea that creation was made through God's word
       • Shows that the Bible is the word of God
     • Halo shows holiness

3. Genesis 1

   • Transendent
     • When God says 'Let there be...' that thing immediately comes into being
       • Doesn't need anything beyond created world
       • Completely beyond created world
   • Omnipotent
     • All powerful
     • Create things from nothing (ex nihilo)
     • Everything he made was 'good
       • Has the power to make everything exactly how he wants it - no imperfections

4. Genesis 2

   • Significance of beliefs
     • The belief that God is transcendent means human can only begin to appreciate what God is
     • Vastness of universe = omnipotence
     • God cares for every person = intimacy

5. Significance of Creation stories

   • Stewardship
     • Believers have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
     • command given to humans to subdue and have dominion over God's creation (Genesis 1:18)
   • Dignity
     • Being worthy of honour and respect
     • humans made in the image and likeliness of God and we are equal as we all share the same qualities as God
     • No one should be mistreated in any way
   • Sanctity of life
     • All life is holy as it is created and loves by God; human life should not be misused or aboused
     • Gift from God

6. Origins and structure of the Bible

   • Old Testament
     • The Law (Torah)
       • First 5 books
       • Shows how Jews became people of God
       • Also includes God's guidance for how he wanted the Jews to live
     • History books
       • Show how God guided his people but they refused to listen
         • Help later generations avoid same mistakes
     • Wisdom books
       • Prayers, psalms, books of advice and poems
       • Show people how to use God-given talents to do what is right
     • Prophets
       • Containing words of inspired figures who were sent out by God to teach people about how God is active in the world, and to challenge people to stay faithful to God
   • New Testament
     • Gospels
       • Record actions and teachings of Jesus
     • Acts of the Apostles
       • Tell some of the events of the early Church up to about 60 CE
     • Epistles (letters)
       • show Christians how to live by Jesus' teachings and what it means to be a Christian
     • Book of Revelation
       • Apocalyptic book written by John, featuring his how mystical visions, which some Christians believe describe the end of the world
     • Criteria
       • Authority behind material had to be one of the apostles
       • Written early on
       • Matched other presentations of Christian beliefs
       • Accepted equally by all Christian Churches

7. Inspiration and Bible as Word of God

   • Bible as the word of God
     • Through the Bible God speaks to his people so the Bible is the word of God
     • The way he speaks is through gentle stirring within the human heart. This is the HS
     • Prophets and WoG
       • Inspired to see God's work in a special way
       • Passed on God's word and message
     • Gospels and WoG
       • Jesus is the WoG made flesh
       • Present the teachings and actions of Jesus - Gospels are in a very special way, the WoG
     • Epistles and WoG
       • Writings of the apostles
       • Apostles were filled with HS so are inspired to preach and teach God's word
   • Teachings of the Magisterium and the Bible
     • HS constantly working in Catholic Church
     • Books were chosen with guidance of HS so they are regarded as true WoG
     • Pope and bishops excercise the teaching authority know an the Magisterium
       • It is through the Magisterium that the true message of the Bible is to be interpreted

8. Interpreting the Genesis Creation stories

   • Catholic interpretations
     • Accept Genesis 1:1-2:4 and 2:5-2:27 as 2 creation stories written as MYTHS
     • As the Bible is not to be interpreted literally, Catholics are able to accept both creation stories and the theory of evolution
   • Fundamentalist interpretations
     • Main beliefs
       • The Bible is the WoG and so must be accurate in all aspects
       • God has informes humanity of his truth
       • Since God loves all humans, he will not mislead people by giving incorrect information
       • Humans have no right to prefer their own interpretations to the actual words of God
     • Some fundamentalists, called literalists, believe that every word in the Bible is accurate
       • Some believe the world is only a few 1000 years old

9. Natural law and science

   • Natural law
     • Moral principles and values that are considered to be inherent to all humans
     • Basic natural law is 'do good and avoid evil'
     • Humans have an instinctive knowledge of what it is to be good and fully human, beacause each person is made by God
     • 'If people are to do good and avoid evil, certainty about what is good and evil must be inscribed within them. In facts there is such a moral law that is, so to speak, 'natural' to men and can be known in principle by every person by reason' Youcat 333
   • Catholic Church and science
     • During the Second Vatican Council, the Magisterium stressed the need for science and religion to be mutually supportive.
     • Science explains the how and religion explains the why

10. Caring for the environment

    • Catholic teachings about creation and the environment
      • The whole of creation is God's gift and it's holy because it comes from God
      • There is nothing in creation that should be neglected or rejected
      • Pope Francis' understanding for the word creation
        • 'the word 'creation' has a broader meaning than 'nature', for it has to do with God's loving plan in which every creature has its own value and significance'
    • How Catholics care for the environment
      • By valuing what God has created
      • Balance
      • Everyone's actions, or lack of them, affect everyone else, and future generations
      • No one should expect other people to take action to care for the environment without doing the same thing themselves
      • Example: Using solar panels to power the Vatican

11. Stewardship

    • The idea that believers have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
    • 'The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it' Genesis 2:15
      • Leads to the idea of stewardship
    • Local
      • Reduce waste
    • National
    • Global

12. Cafod and sustainability