Different Interpretations Regarding the Origins of Life (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Scientists look for scientific theories to explain how the universe came to be

Religious people might look to scripture for the answers to questions about the origins of the universe

Scientific teachings develop from theories which result from reason and evidence

The basis of religious teachings is faith and an acceptance that scripture is based upon truth

Scientific questions about the origins of the universe examine how the universe came to be

Religious explanations are also interested in why it happened in the first place

Some religious people believe that science and religious views about the origin of the universe are compatible, but some do not

People may argue scientific truth is more important for many reasons:

• They are atheists or agnostics and do not believe that scripture contains any truth as God does not exist

• Based on experimentation, scientific truth is more reliable because it is repeated and verified,

• Religious experiences and scripture are based more on personal opinions and views

• It explains facts about the world, and how things work – this is practical and useful information

Others may argue that religious truth is more important for other reasons:

• It is the knowledge that comes from God, who is all-knowing, which means religious truth is as reliable as scientific truth

• It answers questions about meaning and purpose. This is more important for humans who as intelligent beings need to understand their place and role in the universe

• Scientific truth is constantly proven wrong, and ideas about science change all the time

• Based on scripture religious truth does not change and is absolute, therefore more reliable

There are clear differences between some scientific and religious accounts of the origins of the universe

Christians believe that God created the universe whereas some scientists believe it happened by chance

Some Christians (literalists) interpret the bible to mean that God created the universe in 6 days and rested on the 7th

Scientific theories claim that the universe has changed over a longer period

Some religious people believe that God created human beings in their current forms

Scientists believe that living creatures have evolved over a long period. The process of natural selection led them to evolve from simple organisms to complex life forms

Religious interpretations may be more authoritative for some religious They believe that scripture contains the absolute truth even if this contradicts scientific theories

Some religious people might completely reject scientific theories regarding the age of the They believe that God has made it appear older than it is

Many Christians have no problem accepting the Big Bang Theory

• They see the cosmologists as helping them to understand how God brought the world into being

Some Christians do not interpret the biblical account Instead, they believe it was appropriate for the time when it was written

• They believe that the Big Bang could have been the mechanism God used

• They might argue that there is nothing in the theory itself which proves that there is no such being as God

Some Christians don't see any contradiction between their understanding of the biblical account and the scientific theory of evolution

• They believe that the bible provides a simple guide to the order in which God created the universe

• They believe that science and religion are asking different questions and so are compatible

Christians who don't see any problem with evolution see the Bible as an authoritative account of God's relationship with human beings and the wider universe

They might view it as part of God's plan, and that humans have special rights and responsibilities as a result