This document provides an overview of several topics related to religion and the environment, including: 1. The place and purpose of humans according to Christianity and Islam, which includes serving God, obeying commandments, enjoying the world's resources, and being good stewards of the environment. 2. Views on creationism from a literalist and non-literalist Christian perspective and Islamic perspective, as well as perspectives on evolution and the Big Bang theory. 3. Teachings on animal rights from a Christian perspective, which generally hold that animals should be respected but humans have dominion, and from an Islamic perspective, which also emphasizes respecting animals as part of God's creation. 4. Disc

1. Our World
Revision Guide
Topics
1. Key words
2. Place and Purpose for Humans (using talents)
3. Creationism (Literalists and Non-literalists)
4. Evolution and The Big Bang Theory
5. Animal Rights
6. Stewardship
Key Words
Humanity
The human race
Creation
The art of making
Dominion
Having control over an area
Stewardship
Responsibility given by God to look
after the planet
Soul
The spiritual form of a persons
identity or personality
Environment
The surroundings or conditions in
which a person, animal, or plant lives.

2. The place and purpose for Humans
What is the place and purpose of humans?
Make sure you understand the relationship
between God/ Allah and Humans.
Make sure you understand God’s/Allah's
expectations of Humans.
The place and purpose for Christians
•To serve God and live for him (this includes telling others about and
sharing ones faith)
•To obey God (following the way of life his commandments show and
which Jesus taught)
•To enjoy the world, it’s fruits and resources (they are a gift from God)
•To look after the world for God (Stewardship). (This includes sensible
use of resources and trying to conserve nature)
•To look after and live in harmony with others
•To have sexual relationships and children.
The place and purpose for Muslims
• To serve Allah and live for him (There is no God but Allah)
• To respect other human beings and animals (there is one creator
of us all)
• To act as KHALIFAHS or guardians of the planet (Allah gave this
responsibility to humans)
• To have sexual relationships and children. (this is a natural part of
life and a gift from Allah)
Natural resources of the
world are there for us to
enjoy and to make life better
God gave humans the
responsibility of caring for the
world. So we should natural
resources wisely.
How should we use
natural resources?
Natural Resources are limited
so we should be careful with
how we use them as they can
not be replaced.
We can not just take – we
have to put back too.
God gave us our talents so we
should be thankful and use it
Why should we use our
talents??
to benefit others.
Failing to use an ability is a
waste and an insult to others
and God.
It is important to share our
different skills and talents
with each other.
Not everyone can do
everything for themselves so
they rely on others to provide
a skill they have not got.
Possible questions
a)Explain what is meant by Humanity (2 marks)
b)Explain how religious believers feel we should use our
talents (4 marks)
c)‘Life has no built in purpose, you make it yourself’ Give to
reasons why a religious believer might agree or disagree with
this statement. (4 marks)
d)Explain the teaching about looking after the world in one
religious tradition (6 marks)

3. Literalists
Some Christians regard the
Genesis story as 100% true,
CHRISTIANITY
God created everything that is in the heavens and the earth
There were six 'days' or periods of creative activity; and a seventh of rest – a pattern
to be copied in life
The order of creation was –
- light and darkness
- sea and sky
- land and sea, and plants
- sun, moon and stars
- birds and fish
- animals and human beings
they take it literally.
Humans were the only ones created 'in the image' of God; and were given special
responsibility for the earth
Everything was created 'out of nothing' (ex nihilo)
Some regard the story as literal truth, others as not strictly literal but
containing truths; and others as entirely poetic and/or mythical
Accept references to the 'big bang' only if related to God as the cause.
Non-literalists
Some Christians believe that the Genesis story contains some truths but is not
100% as it is written in Genesis. (For example, they believe the world was
created in six periods of time rather than six 24 hour periods of time)
Creationism
ISLAM:
•Allah made heaven and earth, and all the animals, birds and
fish; the sun, moon and stars; the plants and the rain; the
angels.
•The angels were sent to being seven handfuls of earth – each
of a different colour.
• From these the first man Adam, was made; and from his side,
Eve – the first woman.
•They lived in Paradise – a beautiful garden; where they could
eat anything, except the fruit of one tree
•On disobeying Allah, after being tempted by Iblis (he
serpent/snake), they were placed outside the garden as a
punishment
Muslims believe…
Human beings were given the role of khalifah or guardian/steward to
look after the earth and treat it with respect.
This responsibility is binding on the ummah (community of Muslims),
and all believers on the Day of Judgement will be judged for their
part in looking after Allah's creation.
“He as made you His ruling
agents in the earth, and has
given some of you higher rank
than others, so that He might
test you in the gifts.
(Surah 6:165)”
Humans are
the ruling
agents on
earth
Humans have
higher rank than
others on the
earth
The test is how
well the planet is
cared for and if
you pass the test
you go to Paradise
for eternity
The gifts are the
gift of life, and
the gift of al
Allah’s creation

4. - Created by Charles Darwin
- 19th Century
- He noticed how animals adapt to their environment in
order to survive (survival of the fittest)
He believes
- Over millions of years changes have occurred and
animals today have evolved from, simpler and earlier
life forms.
BBC news…
The Theory of Evolution
Important to note….
-The theory has not been proved
absolutely
-The theory only describes a
process of development within a
species BUT does not explain the
transformation from one species
to another (for example; Ape to
Human)
A group of distinguished scientists is calling on the government to require that
every school in Britain should teach the theory of evolution, and to ban the
teaching of Creationism "as a scientific theory" in all publicly-funded schools.
The list of signatories includes some of the country's best-known scientists,
and the organisations associated with the petition include both the British
Humanist Association and Ekklesia, the Christian public theology think-tank.
Creationism and 'intelligent design' are not scientific theories, but they are
portrayed as scientific theories by some religious fundamentalists who
attempt to have their views promoted in publicly-funded schools. There
should be enforceable statutory guidance that they may not be presented as
scientific theories in any publicly-funded school of whatever type. But this is
not enough. An understanding of evolution is central to understanding all
aspects of biology. The teaching of evolution should be included at both
primary and secondary levels in the National Curriculum and in all schools."
Oldest footprints on Earth found
The oldest 'footprints' ever made on Earth by an animal have
been discovered in Poland, in Eastern Europe.
The tracks were made by an unknown creature, which scientists
think would have looked a bit like a crocodile, and lived 397
million years ago. Scientists are really excited about the
discovery, because it shows animals were walking on Earth
millions of years earlier than they thought. It's hoped the tracks
can teach them more about how animals have developed. The
tracks were found on rocks in a quarry in southeast Poland. They
are so detailed that scientists can even make out dents made by
the creatures' toes when walking.
Muddy Beach
When the animals were alive the quarry would have been a
muddy, tropical beach. Scientists can make out 'toes' on the
ancient footprints called Nature.
Scientists think these crocodile-like animals were some of the first
creatures that adapted to live on dry land.
Little is known about how creatures developed from living
underwater to walking on land, and it's hoped these footprints
will teach scientists more about this bit of evolution.
According to the theory of evolution, today's animals got here
after millions of years of growing and changing.
The research was published in a science magazine

5. Most astronomers believe the Universe began in a Big Bang about 14
billion years ago. At that time, the entire Universe was inside a bubble that
was thousands of times smaller than a pinhead. It was hotter and denser
than anything we can imagine.
Then it suddenly exploded. The Universe that we know was born. Time,
space and matter all began with the Big Bang. In a fraction of a second, the
Universe grew from smaller than a single atom to bigger than a galaxy. And
it kept on growing at a fantastic rate. It is still expanding today.
As the Universe expanded and cooled, energy changed into particles of
matter and antimatter. These two opposite types of particles largely
destroyed each other. But some matter survived. More stable particles
called protons and neutrons started to form when the Universe was one
second old.
Over the next three minutes, the temperature dropped below 1 billion
degrees Celsius. It was now cool enough for the protons and neutrons to
come together, forming hydrogen and helium nuclei.
After 300 000 years, the Universe had cooled to about 3000 degrees.
Atomic nuclei could finally capture electrons to form atoms. The Universe
filled with clouds of hydrogen and helium gas.
Important to note…
-It is only a theory and some scientists don’t accept some f the
evidence and question its accuracy.
-There are some questions which cannot be answered about
the theory such as “what caused the Big Bang?” and “where
did the matter come from in the first place?”

6. Christians think….
Animals are different from
human beings.
Only Humans are made in the
image of God.
Animals are for humans to rule
and control.
Human beings have a soul,
animals do not.
The Christian scriptures look
forward to a perfect world in
which human beings and animals
co-exist side by side.
Jesus said that even the death of
a small sparrow does not go
unnoticed by God.
God made every beast for Adam
Most Christians are happy
to eat meat for food,
although some are vegetarians.
They believe all animals are part of God’s creation and
should be respected.
God did give Adam control over animals but as humans
we must exercise that control carefully.
Genesis 2:19-20
“He brought them to the man to see what he would call
them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that
was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, every
bird of the sky, and every animal of the field.”
They warn their members not to give too
great an importance to animals.
People are still suffering in the world and
they should be given the focus and help
over animals.
Animals however, should not be treated
cruelly.
All churches believe that experiments carried out for
essential medical research are acceptable.
Because: the value of animal life is less that that of
human life. And sometimes it is necessary.
However: Experiments should not be carried out to
improve cosmetics or for other trivial reasons. The
animals must be treated humanely.
CHRISTIAN VIEWS TOWARDS ANIMALS
Genesis
(story of creation)
CHRISTIAN BELIEFS:
• Humans are more important than animals
• God gave humans responsibility to rule over them
• Only humans can go to heaven
• Animals do not have souls
• Animals do not have the same relationship with God
As humans do
• Jesus healed a man possessed by a demon and sent
It to live in a herd of pigs.
• If you rule animals you can use them for human benefit
• Responsibility = ensured the animals are not abused or
Mistreated because everything belongs to God and
Suffering should be kept to a minimum.
PSALM 24:1
The Earth is the
Lord’s and
everything in it, the
world and all who
live in it
GENESIS 1:28
God blessed them and said to them ‘Be
fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and reign
over it. Rule over the dish of the sea and the
birds of the air and over every living
creature that moves
Acts 10:10
Peter was hungry and
he dreamed sheet
came down from
heaven. A voice said
‘Get up Peter. Kill and
Eat.’
Peter protested he had
never eaten anything
unclean under Jewish
law. But the voice said
‘Don’t call anything
unclean that God has
made’.

7. Cattle market. One-third of
A good deed done to a beast is as good as doing good to a human being: while an
act of cruelty to a beast is as good as an act of cruelty to a human being”
Prophet Muhammad PBUH
(Hadith)
MUSLIM VIEWS TOWARDS ANIMALS
• Allah created all life for human beings to
treat with great respect and care.
• Muslims are allowed to hunt animals but
only for food, not for sport.
• If someone has killed an animal
unnecessarily, then the animal will testify
against that person on the Day of
Judgement.
• That person will be refused entry in to
heaven.
• Experiments on animals are allowed as long
as they are important in the battle against
human disease.
• Suffering of the animal must be reduced to
a minimum.
• Animal experiments for cosmetic purposes,
or any other trivial reason, are strictly
forbidden.
Ihram
Ihram is the practice of undertaking a hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The pilgrimage ends with the
celebration of the festival of Eid-ul-Adha, at which animals are slaughtered and their meat is
distributed to everyone.
There are two rules laid down about the slaughter of animals.
1. An animal must not be slaughtered in front of other animals
2. A person must not slaughter an animal that he or she has bred.
the animal’s meat is
consumed by direct family,
while the other two-thirds are
given away to friends and the
poor Islamic residents of the
community, respectively
An ox is readied for the slaughter
during the Muslim high celebration of
Eid al-Adha, also known as the
Festival of Sacrifice. This day caps
off the hajj, a traditional religious
pilgrimage to Mecca that occurs on
the 10th day of the last month of the
Islamic calendar. This is usually
during the months of November or
December
MUSLIM VIEWS TOWARDS
ANIMALS

8. HOW SHOULD WE TREAT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
• Being a steward or guardian for the world brings with it responsibility to be
careful in using the resources the world contains.
• Natural resources are limited so we should be careful with what we have
and make sure what we use we replace for the future
• God has given humans responsibility of caring for the world, so we should
use those natural resources carefully
• The natural resources are there for us to use, enjoy and make life better
• We can not just take, we have to put back too
TEACHINGS OF HUMAN KIND IN THE WORLD
CHRISTIAN
Humans are to:
•Serve God and live for him
•Obey God
•Enjoy the world, and it’s fruits/ resources
•Look after the world for God
•Have sexual relationships and children
•Take responsibility for the world and others in it
•Live lives that are useful and worthwhile
•Use their talents to care for others and the
world.
TEACHINGS OF CARING FOR THE WORLD AND
THE ENVIRONMENT
CHRISTIAN
Humans should:
• Live in partnership with God
• Exercise responsibility given by God to look
after the world
• Preserve and conserve the resources of the
world and the environment
• Give thanks to God for his provision
HOW SHOULD ANIMALS BE TREATED?
• Animals are living creatures and should be treated with respect like any
other living being
• Animals are a lower form of life, but should still be treated well
• An animals life is valuable; but should never be placed above the value
of human life.
• God created animals and gave humans the responsibility of caring for
them
• Humans have dominion over animals so they are there to serve ad be of
use to humans.
RELIGIOUS TEACHING ON HOW ANIMALS RIGHTS
•Animals are part of God’s creation and should be treated with respect and
care
•Although humans were given dominion over animals (Genesis 1) humans
should carry out their stewardship responsibilities carefully and not abuse
animals
•Showing kindness and treating animals well is part of a general lifestyle of
gratitude and thankfulness for God’s provision

9. Why should Christians care for the world?
Chico Mendes
Situation:
In Brazil there had been environmental problems. Trees were
being chopped down t make furniture and buildings. Mercury
was being used to separate the gold from the land and mercury is
very poisonous for humans and animals.
Many people living there were being affected and wanted the
area to be left alone.
Who was Chico Mendes?
Chico was the leader of the rubber tappers. He had been a
rubber tapper since he was 9. As a rubber tapper he had not
been able to go to school. Later in his life he organised the
rubber tappers to defend their homes from cattle ranches
(farms). He organised non-violent protests and found ways to use
Amazonian resources to support the economic benefit for the
local people and to protect the rainforest.
In 1988 he won the rights to stop cattle ranchers developing and
deforesting the area.
Chico was killed later that year
In his memory, the land he lived and died for was named the
Chico Mendes Reserve and is now protected land.
Stewardship
Responsibility given by God to look
after the planet
Christians believe
-God did not only create the world in the beginning but that his hand is still at
work in the world.
-They remind themselves of God’s work and worship him (harvest,
thanksgiving, grace before meals)
-There are organisations and charities which protect the earth and wellbeing
of animals.
Why should Muslims care for the world?
Muslims believe
- Allah created owns and sustains the world and all its creatures.
- Every human has a special role as a KALIFAH which is to protect
the environment.
Kalifah
Agent or steward working for Allah
Muslims believe
- They have a duty to use their skills to help
keep the balance which Allah created.
On the day of judgment all Muslims will
stand before Allah and have to explain
how they have treated the earth and all
living creatures.
Prophet Muhammad set an example of
the care that should be given to the
world
- He showed kindness to animals
- He showed kindness to humans
- He spoke of the importance of
planting trees and gardens so birds.
Humans, and animals can benefit.

10. We are here because:
God/Allah put us on the world
To try and make the world a better place
To get the most out of life
To care for the world and its creatures
To know and love God/Allah
To reproduce
OUR WORLD CHEAT SHEET
OR we don’t know – we should just live life as we want
CHRISTIANITY Islam
Humans:
Live for Allah alone
Respect other human beings
and animals
Act as Khalifahs of the planet
Humans:
Serve God and live for him
Obey God
Enjoy the world and its
fruits/resources
Are stewards – look after the world
for God
We are HUMAN not ANIMALS:
Thoughts and experience
Mix of body, mind, personality and soul
We are made in the image of God/Allah – animals weren’t
Conscience – we know the difference between right and wrong
BUT Animal like (evolution suggests we descend from monkeys)
The worlds resources:
Should be used – we were put in charge; Dominionship
The resources are here for us to enjoy
BUT
We are we given responsibility for the world as Stewards/Khalifahs
We can’t just take – we have to put something back
Resources are not limitless so we have to be careful for future
generations
CHRISTIANITY Islam
Animals:
Part of Allahs creation and
should be cared for
We are Khalifahs of Allahs world
and caring for animals is part of
that responsibility
The Hadith has examples of the
prophet being kind to animals
Animals:
Part of Gods creation and should
be treated with care and respect
Although given dominionship
(Genesis 1) we are also stewards
God has provided so we should be
respectful and grateful by treating
animals with kindness
Animals should be treated:
With respect as should all living things
God/Allah created them so we should look after them as stewards/khalifahs
BUT
We have dominionship over animals so they should be useful to us
Animal life is valuable but should never be placed above humans
CHRISTIANITY Islam
Care for world & environment:
We are Khalifahs and should look after the
world
Important to preserve Fitrah (balance) in
the world
All that lives or exists on the world is Allahs
creation and so should be respected
Care for world & environment:
Live in partnership with God and creation
Exercise responsibility as stewards to look
after the world
Preserve and conserve the resources of the
world and environment
Give thanks to God for provision
We should care for the world because:
It’s our responsibility
Future generations will loose out if we don’t
Good way to live – be kind and thoughtful to others
Natural resources will run out otherwise – so we must do things like recycle and replant
CHRISTIANITY Islam
Positive Example: GUNUNG LEUSER:
Working to identify issues in the
environment
Placed cameras in forests to provide
knowledge and training
“Operation Khalifah”
Works on TV teachings others about bad
effects on the environment
Positive Example: CHICO MENDES:
Working against deforestation
Organised non-violent resistance
Concerned for livelihoods of those
depending on forests
Protected reserve set up
Creation
Science:
Big Bang started the world
Evolution has shown that life gradually evolved over thousands of years
CHRISTIANITY Islam
How it happened:
God created the world and “it was good”
(Genesis)
There is a purpose to existence –
dominion/stewardship
Human beings have a special relationship to
God and to the world
How it happened:
Allah made the world and everything in it
Humans were given the role of khalifahs
and have a binding responsibility to look
after the world and treat it with respect
On the day of judgement Muslims will be
called into account for how they have
looked after Allahs creation