The document discusses different religious and scientific views on the origin and nature of the universe, including: - The Big Bang theory which proposes the universe began around 14 billion years ago from a huge explosion. - Steady State theory which suggests the universe has no beginning or end with a constant cycle of matter creation. This challenges religious creation accounts. - Hindu and Christian creation beliefs, with Hinduism viewing the universe as part of an endless cycle of creation and destruction, and Christianity generally interpreting Genesis as the literal 6-day creation story.

1. Religion and Science How did the world begin?

2. What you need to know Religious understandings of .creation. and their relationship to the following scientific views of the origin and nature of the universe: Big Bang, Steady State (including Continuous Creation).

3. 1 Read the passage and answer questions (a) - (d) which follow. “ There is no need for science to oppose religion on the subject of the creation of the universe. The Steady State theory may challenge religious views, but when the Big Bang theory was proposed it was welcomed by many believers as confirmation of what they already believed.” (a) Outline the scientific view of the origin of the universe known as the Big Bang theory. (10 marks) (b) Explain the main points of one religious understanding of creation. (10 marks) (c) Outline the Steady State theory, and explain why it may challenge some religious understandings of creation. (10 marks) (d) Assess the view that the Big Bang theory is a confirmation of religious understandings of creation. (10 marks) 3 (a) Explain one religious and one scientific account of the origin of the universe. (20 marks) (b) “Modern scientific theories have made religious accounts of the origins of the universe meaningless.” Explain what this claim means and discuss how far it is true. (20 marks)

4. Science vs. religion How would you define the word ‘ religion ’? How would you define the word ‘ science ’? A set of beliefs about God(s) and the practises associated with these beliefs A way of looking at the world based on testing and experimenting

5. Even when suggesting definitions for words, people can find themselves in disagreement. Much of what we believe now, and therefore how we think and act, is dependent on prior beliefs and experiences. How did you reach a decision? Did the group agree? Remember: Beliefs are often subjective and affected by what we have previously experienced. Belief systems Consider the following question: Which is the best month of the year?

6. What are the possible answers? Do you think this is a question for science or religion? Can it be answered by both? Scientism is the belief that science alone can offer the truth about the universe. Those who hold this view believe that only testable and therefore provable facts have any merit. Now consider this question: Where did the universe come from?

7. The Scientific Method: challenges and evaluates all truth claims trusts in evidence and experimentation as a means of acquiring truth Follows a process - make a hypothesis - perform experiments to test hypothesis - repeat tests - verification No absolute truth, only the best interpretation of data. Always open to correction. SCIENTISM

8. The Religious Method: Natural Theology Uses scientific methods to make religious conclusions Starts with hypothesis and “finds” evidence Revealed Theology Truth is revealed by God in scripture (such as…) or holy people (such as…). Depends on trust and commitment. Personal Experience an experience that leads to new beliefs about God and the world. Not based on reason, but may support beliefs based on Natural and Revealed theology

9. The Relationship between Religion and Science Summary: Right up until the Enlightenment religion ruled. The unknown was explain through religion Science evolved as people began to question the world around them. It did not aim to disprove religion By 18 th Century, it was widely believed that religion should be reasonable . Science aimed to strip religion of superstition. However, there was an increasing number who believed science would disprove and replace religion Today Religion is as strong as ever . The relationship between the two ranges from: - both equally valid and in harmony with each other - both equally valid but cannot be harmonised - one excludes the other

10. Copernicus In around 1512, the Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus hypothesized that the sun, and not the earth, was at the centre of the universe and that all planets revolved around it. This theory of planetary motion is known as the Copernican system .

11. Galileo In the early 1600s, the Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo supported the Copernican system by understanding and explaining the structure of the Milky Way. He was brought before the Inquisition in Rome and was made to renounce all his scientific discoveries which suggested that the earth was not the centre of the universe. Before this time, people followed in the Ptolemaic system which placed the earth motionless at the centre of the universe. Why do you think the Church were afraid of Galileo’s findings? Is religion as afraid of science as it was when Copernicus and Galileo were making their discoveries?

12. Christian Creation Theory God made light Sea and Sky Earth, oceans, plants Sun, moon, stars Fish, birds Animals, Adam and Eve God took a rest!

13. Judaeo- Christian Beliefs about God… Sole Creator . Genesis 1 – only God, creating entire universe ex nihilo. The Universe depends on God . He is constantly active within the world. Without him the universe could not function, would cease to exist . Not Gnostic (bad god, good god) A personal God . Genesis – relationship with Adam, shared likeness, God’s representatives The Universe is ordered by God . Not Chaotic. Order demonstrates God’s existence. Creates time (day, night), seasons, matter

14. How should Genesis be viewed? Gen 1&2 – literal, scientific, historic . Chronology and mechanism accurate. Fundamentalist, Creationist, Church pre-18 th century - Earth is 6000 yrs old - Evidence planted by the devil to deceive Gen 1&2 – symbolic record Gen and Big Bang correlate. Gerald Schroeder says they are, “identical realities described in vastly different terms” “Let there be light” = “Breath of God” = Gen 1&2 – mythological . ONIONS. What do they teach us about the world, God and humans?

15. Brahma the creator Shiva the destroyer Vishnu the preserver

16. Hinduism In a Hindu creation story we are told that this is only one universe of many: What is the Hindu view of time? How do you imagine Hindus have responded to the scientific theory that the world is billions of years old? At first there is nothing but Lord Brahman who creates water. Out of the water comes Lord Vishnu who contains all the elements of creation, including the creator god, Brahma . Once Brahma emerges he creates the world from his own body. But then Lord Shiva gets annoyed and angry with this imperfect world and destroys it so that there is nothing again but Brahman who creates water…

17. Hindu cycle of creation Hindus believe that the universe is an endless cycle of creation and destruction. At first there was nothing but Lord Brahman Out of the water comes Lord Vishnu who contains all the elements of creation Vishnu also brings forth the creator god, Brahma Brahma creates the world from his own body Lord Shiva gets annoyed and angry with this imperfect world Shiva destroys it so that there is nothing again but Brahman

18. Big Bang Theory Andrew McKellar 1941 Arno Penzias, Robert Wilson 1960’s 1990’s Satellite obs – radiation echoes Hubble’s Constant - unfolding

19. 14 billion years ago Within 3 Seconds 300 million years ago 5 Billion years ago 3.8 Million Years ago 600,000 Years ago TODAY

20. Big Bang Theory About 14 Billion years ago there was a huge explosion Within 3 seconds all the basic elements had formed Our sun was formed around 5 billion years ago By around 300 million years ago all stars and planets formed Earliest life forms evolved around 3.8 million years ago Humans evolved around 600,000 years ago Today, the echoes of this Big Bang can still be heard Hubble Telescope watches universe continue to expand

21. Evolution Darwin “ Natural Selection” Remember: this is origin of man not origin of the world

22. Steady State Theory Bondi, Gold, Hoyle (1915-2001) No single large explosion – series of smaller ‘bangs’ There was no beginning to the universe There will be no end Constant cycle of matter being created and destroyed – a steady state… CHALLENGES Genesis big time! Now no-longer widely accepted in the scientific community

23. Questions worth asking… Can modern science DISPROVE the events of Genesis? If we take a SCIENTISM view, then why is there anything at all? Liebniz “Why”? If Big Bangs occur, why have there been no others in 16 billion years?

24. The Scientism view: Our existence can be explained fully without God Richard Dawkins says God is… “A phenomenon in the history of human evolution” Steady State theory

25. Creationism view: 1. Christian Fundamentalsim 2. Literal interpretation of Genesis 3. Evidence such as fossils planted by the devil to deceive

26. Creation Science: 1996 Catholic church accepted the Big Bang as HOW the world was made Telihard De Chardin. “Evolution is HOW God made life Leibniz: “Even if we know how we’re still left with the question why?

27. Your views Are Science and Religion in Conflict? In his Philosophical Investigations (1953), Ludwig Wittgenstein claimed that it is very difficult for science and religion to converse because the meanings of the words they use are so different. Before you can play a game you need to understand the rules and language. Science and religion think they know and understand each other but do not. Albert Einstein claimed that science, as well as religion, uses faith as a source of knowledge. ‘Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind’. Galileo believed that science can provide information about our universe’s workings but that only religion can give us with meaning.