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Catholic Church Has Responded to the Challenges Raised by Environmental Issues by Stressing the Need for Every Individual and Every Nation to Play Their Part

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Catholic Church Has Responded to the Challenges Raised by Environmental Issues by Stressing the Need for Every Individual and Every Nation to Play Their Part Life and Death Creation of the world According to Christian belief, God created the universe. There are two stories of how God created it which are found at the beginning of the book of Genesis in the Bible. Some Christians regard Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 as two totally separate stories that have a similar meaning. Others see the two chapters as part of one continuous story. Summary of Genesis 1: in the beginning - God started creation the first day - light was created the second day - the sky was created the third day - dry land, seas, plants and trees were created the fourth day - the Sun, Moon and stars were created the fifth day - creatures that live in the sea and creatures that fly were created the sixth day - animals that live on the land and finally humans, made in the image of God were created by day seven, God finished his work of creation and rested, making the seventh day a special holy day In Genesis 2, some people think that the story goes on to give more detail about the creation of humans, seen as two individuals, Adam and Eve. Adam was made from 'the dust of the ground' when God breathed life into him. Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs to provide company and help for Adam. They lived in a special place called the Garden of Eden. Both of them were given the task and responsibility to look after the place that God had created for them. Many Christians do not believe this story to be true in every detail. They believe that God was responsible for the beginning of the universe – that he set things in motion and oversaw the process. They can also learn lessons from the story about the importance of humankind and the responsibility humankind has over the rest of creation. Most Christians would accept that the central message of both Genesis 1 and 2, whether seen as one or two stories, is: God made everything God made everything good God made humanity as the highpoint of creation Fundamentalist Christians believe that as the Bible comes directly from God, everything in it must be the exact truth. Anything that contradicts the Bible is wrong. Therefore, for fundamentalist Christians, the Big Bang theory is not correct. Life and Death The world Christians have different opinions when it comes to interpretations about the origins of the universe. They believe that the Earth belongs to God and that humans are stewards in charge of its care. Christian interpretations of the creation There are many interpretations of the biblical accounts of creation among Christians today. Most believe that God brought the universe into being from nothing. This is sometimes referred to as ex nihilo. Some believe that it was created from matter that already existed. This is sometimes referred to as ex materia. Some Christians take the biblical accounts of creation literally, believing that they describe exactly how the universe and human beings were created. Other Christians regard these accounts as more like parables or symbolic accounts that tell, in story form, the profound truth that God brought the universe and all that is in it into being, and sustains his creation. These Christians might look to science to help them understand how God did this. The word ‘day’ actually meant ‘period of time’ when the Bible was written. This fact allows some Christians to confirm their beliefs that God caused evolution, as it happened over a very long time. Christianity and science For many Christians there isn't a conflict between the religious ideas about creation expressed in Genesis and the findings of science. Genesis is not there to give short, technical answers about how the universe began. It gives us the big answer that things exist because of God's will. One can perfectly well believe in the Big Bang, but believe in it as the will of God the creator.Professor John Polkinghorne, scientist and Anglican priest Cosmology Cosmology is the study of the universe, and humanity's place in it. One of the theories put forward by cosmologists is the Big Bang theory. This suggests that about 15 billion years ago there was a massive explosion. This was the point at which all matter in the universe began. Space and time began then too. Over time, the universe that we know, and human and animal life, emerged. This theory is generally accepted by scientists as being the best theory they have to explain the origins of the universe. If the Big Bang theory is true, then it could mean that the universe 'just happened' and that it did not emerge as a result of the activity of a creator God. Life and Death Many Christians have no problem in accepting the Big Bang theory. They see the cosmologists helping them to understand how God brought the world into being - the Big Bang could have been the mechanism God used. And there is nothing in the theory itself which proves that there is no such being as God. Evolutionary biology The idea that life might have evolved was first mentioned as early as the 4th century CE by St Augustine, who wrote that God probably only created very simple life forms and that these developed over time. Today we associate evolutionary science with scientists such as Charles Darwin who wrote On the Origin of Species in 1859. He argued that life began with very simple cells and later developed into what we see today. He said that natural selection was one of the major mechanisms driving evolution. Darwin upset many people with his views and even some respected scientists, such as Philip Gosse, argued that the fossils, which were discovered in the ground, had been placed there by God deliberately to fool people. Some Christians found Darwin's theory a threat to their faith because it appeared to challenge the authority of the Bible. If the Bible was wrong on this matter, might it be wrong on other things too? These Christians preferred to maintain a 'literalist' or 'creationist' understanding of Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Other Christians don't see any problem with their understanding of Genesis and the scientific theories, such as evolution. This goes for scientists who are also Christians, as well as Christians who are not scientists. If science and religion are asking different questions, then they see no contradiction. 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 see it all as part of God's plan, and that humans have specials rights and responsibilities as a result. This view is perhaps currently the view of the majority of Christians in Wales. Christian teachings on the environment Most Christians believe that God gave human beings a special responsibility within creation to cultivate it, guard it and use it wisely. This is called stewardship. Humans have to work within creation and to look after it: God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.Genesis 2:15 Humans are given everything for their needs, implying that they can use whatever they want from creation for their survival: Life and Death Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.Genesis 9:3 However, as the Earth belongs to God, humans must respect it and hand it back to God unspoiled: The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.Psalm 24:1 These passages from the Bible show the dominant message is that God is the one who provides for humans and humans should show they are thankful by taking care of what God has given them. The Christian Declaration on Nature drawn up at Assisi in 1986 makes the following points very clearly: All creation, both with and without humans, has a close interdependence which was made in this way by God. This harmony of creation is to the glory of God. Humans have the role of protecting all created things, not abusing or destroying them. All types of exploitation of the world and its resources and all creatures are rejected. Humans must not do anything that risks damage to the world, including nuclear warfare. Dominion The term dominion means to rule over nature. This is the idea that humans are in charge of the world on behalf of God. Some Christians who have a literal interpretation of the Bible believe that this gives humans the right to use the world's natural resources for their own benefit. In Genesis 1:26-31, God creates humans and gives them the Earth to care for. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground'.Genesis 1.28 By giving humans dominion over the land and animals, God is giving humanity the right to control and have power over all other living beings. Stewardship The term stewardship means to look after the world for God. God has created a world in which humans have a special role as stewards of creation. This means they should look after the interests of the planet and all life on it. This belief is more about living in harmony with nature.
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