Christian Beliefs about the Creation of the World (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Creation of the Universe

Christian Beliefs about the Creation of the universe

• Christians believe that God created the earth and all living things on the earth

  • This is written in the bible (Genesis Chapter One)

  • The bible says that it took six days to create the universe and God rested on the seventh

• Some Christians (Creationists) believe that the biblical account of creation happened exactly as it was written

• Many Christians believe that although it may not be scientifically accurate, the account contains religious truth, and the important part is that God caused it to happen by choice

• Christians believe that God is the sole and omnipotent Creator of the universe

• The bible says that God created a universe that was ordered, not chaotic

• Christians believe that all of the beings of the Holy Trinity were involved in Creation

  • God the Father is seen as the Creator

  • The Gospel of John describes the Son of God as ‘the Word’ and makes it clear that:

• The world was created by God acting through the Holy Spirit:

Creation of Humans

Christian Beliefs about the Creation of humans

• Christians believe that humans were created on the sixth day of creation

• The first two humans were Adam and Eve and they lived in the Garden of Eden

• God created human beings in His own image

• God gave humans dominion over the rest of the created world

• Christians believe that Adam and Eve disobeyed God and that this led to evil and suffering entering the world

How the Creation Story influences Christians

• The universe was not created by chance therefore human lives have meaning and purpose

• Because humans were made in God’s image we should remember that all human life has potential and we should treat everyone how we would wish to be treated

• Because God created humans it means that they are important to God and should therefore be treated with love and kindness

• Our dominion over living creatures means we have a responsibility to treat everyone equally and to show all created beings, human and non-human, love and respect

• This idea is known as stewardship

• As Christians have been given stewardship of the world they may involve themselves with protecting the planet and everything in it