CLED 12A - Lesson 1, Quarter 2 PDF

CHRISTIAN LIVING EDUCATION 12 Mr. L. Santiago Estrada to “inherit the kingdom of God on earth” (1 Cor. 6:10)  Lesson 1: Creation and the Church’s Raison D’être Christian Living Education 12 Mr. L. Santiago Estrada Learning Objectives: 1. Expound on the true me...

CHRISTIAN LIVING EDUCATION 12 Mr. L. Santiago Estrada to “inherit the kingdom of God on earth” (1 Cor. 6:10)  Lesson 1: Creation and the Church’s Raison D’être Christian Living Education 12 Mr. L. Santiago Estrada Learning Objectives: 1. Expound on the true meaning of the creation story in the light of our faith. 2. Imbibe the virtue of faith in believing and learning from the story of creation. 3. Emphasize the value of praising God through His creation. Raison D’ Etre -In French, raison d'etre literally means "reason for being." From Merriam-Webster Dictionary: -reason or justification for existence of something -Someone's raison d'etre is the most important thing to them: Michael Jordan's raison d'etre was basketball. Beethoven's raison d'etre was music. Ecclesiology -The branch of theology that reflects on the meaning of the Church—the body of the followers of Christ. -The English word derives from the Greek Ekklesia— the standard Greek term for Church (literally those who are “called out” to form a community). Ecclesiology -Hebrew word Qahal, which meant those that were “assembled and assembling in the Lord.” “the chosen people, the family of the lord.” Ecclesiology -The Greek word used by early Christians was Ekklesia, which meant “assembly” and which became Ecclesia in Latin. -This word is still heard in the Romance languages (Roman or Latin-based) of Spanish (Iglesia), French (Eglise), and Italian (Chiesa). Ecclesiology “In Christian usage, the word ‘church’ designates the liturgical assembly (1), but also the local community (2) or the whole universal community of believers. (3). These three meanings are inseparable” -Catechism of the Catholic Church 752  The Origin of Everything “Where did everything come from?” The Creation As Catholic, the source of our faith is the Holy Bible and when we look at the Sacred Scripture there is a theological account of the significance of creation. The Book of Genesis tells us: Genesis 1:3-5 “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness ‘night’. The evening came, and morning followed – the first day” Creatio Ex Nihilo -God literally made something out of nothing. Not only is this a tremendous theological statement about God it's also particularly unique. -While many ancient religions existed alongside the ancient Israelites and had their own creation myths none of them believed in a God that created out of nothing (Creatio Ex Nihilo) Big Bang Theory -Another is The Big Bang hypothesis (Big Bang Theory) widely known in popular thought as the best explanation for how the universe came to be. -The big bang is how astronomers explain the way the universe began. It is the idea that the universe began as just a single point, then expanded and stretched. Big Bang Theory Formulated by a Belgian Catholic Priest: Rev Msgr. Georges Lemaître proposed that the expansion of the observable universe began with the explosion of a single particle. -It was called as the Primordial Atom. Big Bang Theory Science claims that the Big Bang Theory is the most plausible working theory for the origin of the universe – that everything started from a huge explosion billions of years ago.  Science and Religion Gaps between Science and Christianity. Gaps between Science and Christianity For the longest time, Christianity and Science have indulged themselves in the discussion about the origin of things and on how things really came into being and where everything will eventually end up. Science The word “scientia” (Latin) originally meant general knowledge and was inferior to “sapientia” which meant wisdom. Science as an occupation did not appear until the 19th century. (1830's) Science -Greek: -PHYSIS (φύσις) -“growing", "becoming” -Natural Philosophy -Latin: Philosophia Naturalis Before the 19th century, many scientists sought to provide evidence for religion (natural philosophy) What was there before Science and Philosophy? Mythopoetic Thought or “Mythos” Mythos- Story/Account Poesis - Imaginative Creation A certain way of thinking that placed the world in the context of its supernatural origins. Mythos explained worldly things by tracing them to exceptional, sometimes sacred, events that caused the world to be as it is now. Definition of Science -Acquisition of reliable but not infallible knowledge of the real world, including explanations of the phenomena. -Science is a process and a systematic body of knowledge. Definition of Science -Science is always tentative (what hasn’t been disproved) -Science deals with empirical knowledge -Science includes explanations in the form of hypotheses, theories, and laws. Religion The word “religio” initially meant an inner piety or desire to lead a Christ-like life. It is also from the word “Religare” which means to bind together or the bonds between Man and God. Religion Religion as a body of beliefs and practices appeared around the 17th century, partially as a result of Protestant Reformation. Definition of Religion -Religion is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny. -Institution to express belief in a divine power. -A belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine and the practices and institutions associated with such belief. Definition of Religion “Religion is the reaction of human nature to its search for God.” - Alfred Northwhitehead  McClean vs. Arkansas Board of Education Arkansas Creationism Trial Creationism The term refers to the belief that the universe, including living organisms originated from Divine Action and not from purely naturalistic events such as the Big Bang and Evaluation by Natural Selection. Creationism For Christians, the “Danger” of Creationism is the complete denial of natural events and the “literal understanding” of the Genesis Creation Story. BISHOP JAMES USSHER He claimed that Creation began “as the entrance of the night preceeding the 23rd of October...the year before Christ 4004, that is around 6PM on 22 October 4004BC.” In case of Ussher’s claims, the earth is only 6,228 Years Old Only. McClean Vs. Arkansas Board of Education In 1981, a lawsuit was filed against the Arkansas State Law known as the “Balance treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution Science Act” (Act 590 of 1981) w/c mandated the teaching of “Creation Science” in all public schools in Arkansas. McClean Vs. Arkansas Board of Education Judge william Overton decided on the case in January 1982. He ruled that: CREATION SCIENCE is not science but a religious teaching, using a set of standards for what science is supposedly is. Judge William Overton Essential Characteristics of Science (i.e. what demarcate Science from other things.) 1. It is guided by Natural Law (Scienctific Laws) 2. It has to be explanatory by reference to Natural Law. 3. It is testable against the empirical world. 4. Its conclusions are tentative. (Not Final) 5. It is falsifiable.  Catholic Church Position on Creationism and Evolution On Creationism and Evolution The Catholic Church is not against science, nor does it subscribe to every whim of the scientific community. The Church is quick to applaud science when it does something great for humanity, like cure a disease. On Creationism and Evolution However, the Church will stand against scientists who violate moral principles, on things such as embryonic stem cell experiments, which is barbaric experimentation on five-day old humans. Church and Science Church and Science The Church is not anti-science. In fact, there are many known scientists which are Catholics such as Fr. Gregor Mendel, the Father of Genetics. For the longest time, the Church speaks of faith, but she uses reason in dealing with such things. She does not act out of whim. Church and Science She respects Science, for the Church believes that things of the world and the things of the faith are derive from the same God. The Catholic Church has no fear of science or scientific discovery. SCIENCE RELIGION SCIENCE investigates RELIGION deals with the NATURAL Spiritual and WORLD. SUPERNATURAL Hence, the two can be complementary. Conclusion: “There is no necessary conflict between science and religion if the nature of religion is properly understood.” “Science without religion was lame, and religion without science was blind.” -Albert Einstein  Lesson 1: Creation and the Church’s Raison D’être Christian Living Education 12 Mr. L. Santiago Estrada CHRISTIAN LIVING EDUCATION 12 Mr. L. Santiago Estrada to “inherit the kingdom of God on earth” (1 Cor. 6:10)