Revision Notes on Section 1.1 - The Universe & the Place of Human Beings

SECTION 1.1 The Universe and the Place of Human Beings Objectives: 1. Compare religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about the origins of the universe. 2. Outline beliefs about the place of human beings on earth. 3. Evaluate how these beliefs may affect the lives of human beings....

SECTION 1.1 The Universe and the Place of Human Beings Objectives: 1. Compare religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about the origins of the universe. 2. Outline beliefs about the place of human beings on earth. 3. Evaluate how these beliefs may affect the lives of human beings. Key Vocabulary: Animal rights: (The principle of) treating animals fairly NON-RELIGIOUS THEORIES  natural rather than supernatural processes  accidental/coincidental rather deliberate UNIVERSE Two Competing Theories Concerning the Origin of the Universe: 1. Steady State theory proposed that the universe was infinite or eternal and essentially unchanging. 2. Big Bang theory originated in a form in the 1930s when Georges Lemaître (who happened to be a Roman Catholic priest as well as a cosmologist) suggested that a 'cosmic egg' exploded creating the Universe. Evidence Supporting Big Bang Theory: 1. Red shift of the light from far away galaxies demonstrates that the universe is expanding. If it is expanding then something must have initiated that expansion. Red shift was first proposed by Edwin Hubble. 2. Cosmic background radiation was discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson in 1964. This electromagnetic radiation is like the echo of the Big Bang and it was predicted before it was discovered. HUMAN BEINGS Evolutionists: The theory of evolution was developed by Charles Darwin although another naturalist, Alfred Wallace, had independently developed a very similar theory. They announced their discovery jointly in 1858 and Darwin hastily published 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection' in 1859. This was followed by 'On the Descent of Man' in 1871 which made explicit the fact that humans, like other animals, had also evolved. Despite describing the process of Natural Selection neither Darwin or Wallace understood how traits were inherited. Gregor Mendel an Augustinian Friar had studied the process of inheritance in pea plants and published his findings. His findings could have helped Darwin and Wallace to explain how characteristics were passed on however, Mendel's work went largely unnoticed even though he is now credited as one of the founding fathers of genetics. The Theory of Evolution:  Animals produce large numbers of offspring many of which die.  Those that survive do so because they are best suited to their environment.  Animals which survive well live longer produce more offspring.  These offspring often inherit traits from their parents. Therefore, beneficial genetic mutations or variations are passed on and preserved.  Over time these small beneficial changes can cumulatively cause huge divergence between species. Evidence Supporting Evolution:  The selective breeding of domestic animals demonstrates that traits can be selected, passed on and that over time huge variety can be produced (all domestic breeds of dog descend from the wolf).  The fossil record shows that species have changed over time and also that some species have died out. For example, fossils of a Archaeopteryx (feathered dinosaur) show that birds evolved from dinosaurs. Religious Beliefs (Christian) Christians would argue that:  The Universe and human beings are created deliberately  God is the creator of both humans and the Universe  The Universe and human beings have a God-given purpose. Two Biblical Accounts of Creation: 1. Genesis 1 - God creates the world in six days before resting on the seventh. - The order of creation is hierarchical. - The implication is that the world is created in order to support the life that God has created. - 'God saw that it was good' suggests that creation has intrinsic value and is loved by God. 2. Genesis 2-3 - In Genesis 2 the earth already exists but is formless because there are not yet human beings to work the land and because God has not yet sent rain. - God creates man (Adam), then creates the animals which Adam names. - Finally God creates woman whom Adam names Eve. This story of creation then leads into the story of the Fall. Adam and Eve live in Eden, a paradise garden full of good things to eat that God has provided. Again the impression is given that God creates the world with the express purpose of providing human beings with a place to live. Different Christian Interpretations:  One traditional way of interpreting the Genesis 1 story is to say that the Hebrew word translated 'day' can just mean a period of time. Thus the six day creation was not six days but six distinct periods of time.  Conservative Christians could argue that the six day creation story presents an order of creation that can be roughly aligned with the scientific theories.  Liberal Christians are less concerned with correlating the Bible with the science. They would argue that the Bible contains many out-dated and inaccurate teachings and would view the Genesis stories as myths.  Fundamentalist Christians who believe that the Bible is literally the inspired word of God usually believe God literally created the world in seven days as it says in the Bible.  For many Christians:  Genesis stories do provide a literal account of the origin of the universe  scientific theories about the origin of the universe and of human beings are acceptable although they might believe that these processes were created by God N.B. You need to be careful when describing 'Christian views' and avoid implying that all Christians believe exactly the same thing. They don't! Religious Beliefs / Teachings about Human Beings:  Christianity teaches that human beings have a privileged place in God's creation because we are created in God's image and are given a very specific role.  Genesis 1: humans are created on the sixth day along with the other land animals.  After God creates human beings as the pinnacle of creation he rests, his work done.  Genesis 2:  more detailed account of the creation of mankind  God creates man out of the dust of the earth and then breathes into him. (Christians sometimes use this to show that humans have two aspect, a physical body and a spiritual soul.)  God then creates the animals and Adam names them. The act of naming suggests that Adam has power over the animals and the fact that none of them are a suitable companion for him implies that they are perhaps a lesser form of life.  God then makes Adam fall into a deep sleep and takes a rib from him from which he creates Eve to be a companion to him. Natural Law:  The medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas believed that humans could use their reason to work out God's intended purpose for creation. This idea is called 'Natural Law' and central to it is the concept that it is good to use something for what God made it for and it is morally wrong to use it in a way which prevents God's purpose from being achieved. Aquinas thought that we could logically work out that humans are intended to: 1) Preserve life 2) Reproduce 3) Educate children 4) Live in society 5) Worship God From these 'primary precepts' we can work out other 'secondary precepts'. The concept of Natural Law can be used when discussing moral issues. The Purpose of Human Beings: According to Genesis: 1. 'Go forth and multiply' (Genesis 1:28); suggests that part of the human purpose is to have children 2. 'Fill the earth and subdue it'; to rule the world; gives humans the right to use creation for their own good; they should rule the world as God would want them  to; God and humans should work together to care for the world (Genesis 3:17) 'work the ground' 3. STEWARDSHIP. A steward is someone who looks after something for someone else; Christians should look after it in the way that God intends; applies to the environment and to animals but it could also be applied to private wealth and assets 4. Story of the Fall. Man: to work hard to make the land productive; Woman: pain in childbirth and to have her husband as master over her; St Augustine believed that when God created woman he created her specifically as a helper in the task of procreation; the main purpose of women is to be wives and mothers Other Purposes:  The ultimate purpose is to get to heaven.  Jesus summarised the whole law in the statement 'Love God and love your neighbour as yourselves' (Luke 10:27).  Many Christians believe that it is part of their duty to proselytise (preach the word of God). They might support this by pointing to the 'Great Commission' found at the end of Matthew's Gospel in which Jesus says 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:19) You might be able to think of other things that Christians would regard as part of the purpose of human beings. ANIMAL RIGHTS:  the Bible makes it clear that humans can use animals; also stresses that they should be treated fairly and the use of animals should not be cruel  necessary for humans (e.g. for food or for medical research); unnecessary things (e.g. testing cosmetics or putting wild animals in circuses) Examples of how they will try to treat animals fairly:  Buy only free-range products or meat with the RS freedom food label.  Avoid products that had been tested on animals.  Give money to charities that support conservation. A Rocha is a specifically Christian environmental charity and Operation Noah is an anti-climate change Christian group.  Choose to be vegetarian or limit the amount of meat they eat. Traditionally Christians avoided meat on Fridays and during Lent. Biblical teachings about the use of animals and treatment of the environment  'Eat the fruit but do not destroy the trees; the trees are not your enemies' (Deuteronomy 20:19-20)  God blessed Noah and said 'All the animals, birds and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now eat them as well as green plants' (Genesis 9:1-3)  'You [God] appointed them [people] to rulers over everything you made; you placed them over all creation; sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too' (Psalm 8:6-7)  'Good people take care of their animals, but wicked people are cruel to theirs' (Proverbs 12:10)  'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God' (Luke 12:6)