Religion and science

Religion and science

1. Origins of the world and humanity

   • Christian beliefs about the origins of the world and humanity are based on Genesis chapters 1 and 2
     • All agree
       • God is the creator of the universe and all forms of life
       • Everything in the universe has been carefully planned by God
         • Everything has a place and a purpose - nothing is accidental and without value
     • All disagree
       • The universe, human and animal life are accidental
       • How mans are essentially well-evolved animals - they are not special in any way (the only thing that makes humans superior to animals is their intellect)
       • Life is without value or purpose
     • Different interpretations of Genesis 1&2
       • Fundamentalist Christians
         • The bible is the exact word of God and is therefore completely accurate
           • The book of Genesis is an accurate description of the creation of the world and humanitt
         • Beliefs about creation
           • God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh
           • After the sixth day of creation the earth and all its life existed exactly as it is today
           • At the end of these six days there was one man and one woman here on earth - Adam and Eve
           • God gave Adam and Eve a soul, he "breathed life into them"
           • Humans are special - they are different to animals
             • God gave them a sound and the responsibility of stewardship
         • Reject scientific ideas about the origins of the world and life
       • Conservative and liberal Christians
         • The Bible is the word of God in some way - not God's exact word and so doesn't have to be read literally
           • The stories are just a way of communicating an important message
         • Beliefs from Genesis 1&2
           • The universe and all forms of life were carefully planned by God
           • Everything was created for a reason. The world is carefully balanced; everything has an important part to play
           • Humans are special (God gave humans a soul and the responsibility of stewardship)
         • Likely to agree with the theories of the Big Bang and evolution
           • God's way of creating life
           • Beliefs
             • The earth at the beginning of time is very different to earth today
               • The plant and animal species that we have today did not exist in this form to start with - they have evolved and changed considerably
             • Human life was not present on earth in the beginning - took billions of years
               • There was no first man or woman and humans weren't created out of the earth
   • Science
     • What does science say about the origins of the world?
       • Big Bang theory
         • Scientific discoveries led scientists to believe the universe is expanding
           • There may have been a time in the distant past when the entire universe was concentrated into a single point
             • From this single point the universe began to expand rapidly; as it expanded it cooled causing matter to appear, this led to the r action of clouds of hydrogen

2. What do Christians believe about the nature and value of planet earth?

   • Christians believe that as God's creation (Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning when God created the universe") planet earth is precious and ought to be valued and respected and that the earth and everything in/on it belongs to God
     • "The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it" (Psalm 24:1)
   • The creation of the world is an act of providence - an example of God doing something for his purpose
     • The earth is not simply for human habitation
       • We may have a unique status and a special role in creation but it would be a mistake to argue from that that it all exists solely for our sake - it exists first and foremost for God
         • It has a value all of its own in his sight
         • "You use the winds as your messengers and flashes of lightening as your servants" (Psalm 104:4)
   • The creation account in Genesis 2 refers to the Garden of Eden
     • Many Christians believe this to be a metaphor for planet earth and interpret it as suggesting that God created a perfect, harmonious and balanced earth
       • This is further demonstrated in Genesis 1 where following creation
         • God "... saw everything that he has made, and indeed, it was very good"
       • To maintain this balance and harmony God appointed h mans as stewards- Genesis 1
         • Humans have a responsibility towards the planet, this further reinforces the value of the planet for God - that he should want it to be cared for and respected
   • As God's creation many Christians believe that the natural world reveals something of God
     • Some argue that the complexities and wonders of nature reveal design - that design not chance are the cause of planet earth and that such intricacy must be the result of an intelligent designer
     • For some God is experienced through nature - when they see the interconnections, complexity and diversity of nature
       • Experience a sense of awe (a feeling of respect that there is a greater meaning and purpose behind things) and wonder (amazement at the complexity and beauty of the universe) and feel there must be something behind it all
   • Many Christians celebrate the wonder of the planet through harvest festival services where God as sustainer is thanked and the important relation ship between humanity and the earth is remembered
     • The earth provides for humans and humans are dependent and affected by the earth
       • The bible reinforces the idea that human actions affect the world
         • "Despair, all you farmers ... all the field crops - are ruined" (Joel 1:11-12)
           • When people act selfishly or irresponsibly, there are often negative consequences for our world

3. What do Christians believe about their relationship towards planet earth?

   • They have a responsibility to care for the earth
     • Christians believe they have a duty to care for the environment and all it's inhabiatants
       • Stewardship- based on Genesis 1:28 - God gives humans the responsibility of acting for others
       • Believe they should be concerned for the environment because by doing this they are fulfilling God's will and one of their purposes in life
     • Also believe they should care for it as it was created by God and therefore belongs to God
       • It is not ours to do with as we wish - Christians believe they should respect and preserve that which God has created
         • Way of showing obedience and live for God
     • Genesis also suggests that God created the earth perfect, balanced and harmonious - everything has a purpose and is connected to something else
       • If this balance is disrupted it can cause great pain and suffering to humans and animals
         • Christina's believe they have a duty to show love and compassion to others - caring for the environment is one way in which they can fulfil this obligation
           • E.g. Polluting a local river could damage the health of those who rely on it for food a d water
     • The principle and duty of stewardship means that Christians should work to preserve the balance and harmony in creation
       • Christians should avoid anything that causes unnecessary harm to the environment or its inhabitants s and they should speak out against those whose actions do cause harm
         • How a Christian could fulfil this obligation
           • Avoid buying products from companies that have a bad environmental record (e.g. They might cause excess pollution) or which cause unnecessary suffering to humans or animals (e.g. Intensive farming)
             • Could purchase organically reared meat and grown fruits and vegetables
           • Avoid purchasing anything that has been genetically modified
           • Recycle
           • But paper or wood products that have been sourced by sustainable forest
             • E.g. Every time a tree is felled another is planted in its place
           • Donate time or money to organisations that help to raise awareness of and correct environmental problems
           • Turn vegetable peelings and waste from food into compost to use on the garden. Avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides in the garden
           • Create a garden that is beneficial to wildlife
     • That humans should care for the environment and treat it with acre is reinforced in the Bible by passages which provide specific instructions for caring for the natural world
       • "Plant and harvest your crops for six years, but let the land rest and lie fallow during the seventh year" (Exodus 23:10-11)
   • Most Christians interpret Genesis to mean that humans can use the earth's resources to meet human needs but should not abuse them
     • Human needs : food, shelter, heat, clothing, medicines, power etc
     • Humans should not take more than is needed and should not exploit resources out of greed and a desire for wealth
       • Love of God, his creation and others should come before anything else

4. Environmental problems

   • Refers to the damage caused by humans to the natural world
     • Humans cause environmental damage by disrupting the balance of the natural world either through what they take form the earth or what they put into the environemnt
   • Examples of environmental issues
     • Pollution
     • Climate change
     • Over use of the earth's respurces
   • Examples of ways in which humans damage the earth
     • Burning fossil fuels
     • Deforestation
     • Destruction of wild habitats
     • Use of harmful pesticides and fertilisers in agricultural farming
     • Land fill
   • Ways in which environmental problems affect humans
     • Poverty
       • For example, a change in weather patterns can cause either flooding or drought which can cause crops to fail or destroys them resulting in either loss of income or food
     • Human health
       • For example asthma might be made worse by air pollution