Faith and Science Unit 4 Quiz Review: Key Concepts and Definitions

Inspiration

The belief that the biblical authors and editors received guidance from the Holy Spirit to produce books and a Book which convey spiritual truths regarding faith and morality.

Inerrant

The belief that the bible contains all that is needed for our salvation and is without error regarding matters of faith and morals. This does not extend to matters of science or history.

Holistic Approach to Biblical Interpretation

The traditional Christian and Catholic approach that sees the Bible as both divinely inspired and thoroughly human. God worked through human beings as truly autonomous beings to convey truths about faith and morals.

Priestly Creation Account

The biblical story of creation in six days, plus a day of rest found in Gen 1:1 - 2:4a. This is a more sophisticated account of creation.

Elohist Creation Account

The more primitive biblical account of creation focused on the creation of humans and the Garden of Eden. It is found in Gen 2:4b ff.

Babylonian Exile

The remnant of the Jewish people who were taken from their homeland to live in a foreign land. Their faith in God was severely challenged by this event and it gave rise to Judaism as a strictly monotheistic religion.

Enuma Elis

The Babylonian creation myth which is characterized by violent and vengeful gods and supportive of a despotic authoritarian form of government. Humans are the slaves of the gods.

God as Transcendent

Genesis 1 presents God as one, all powerful, all knowing, and perfectly good.

God as Immanent

Genesis 2 presents God as intimately involved in human life and the life of creation even to the point of dwelling within us.

Image and Likeness

A phrase in Gen 1 describing the relationship of humans to God which emphasizes our uniqueness and special role while maintaining divine transcendence.

Ruach

Hebrew for wind, spirit, breath. In Gen 1, the wind blew over the water or the spirit (of God) hovered over the water. In Gen 2, God blew the breath (of life) into the human, Adam. This indicates a close, immanent and intimate relationship between humans and God.

Our relation to God

The biblical view is that we are the closest thing to God in all creation. We are God's representatives and God's living presence in the world.

Our relation to the World

The biblical view that humans have a special role and special responsibility to care for all creation. This is derived from our unique relationship with God as rational and spiritual beings.

Our relation to each other

The biblical view that we are meant to live in community, solidarity and love. "It is not good for the human to be alone."

Cosmogony

An account of the beginning and development of the universe.

Symbolic Cosmogony

An account of the beginning and development of the universe which uses poetic, figurative, non-literal language to represent the meaning and purpose of the universe and our role in it.

Scientific Cosmogony

An account of the beginning and development of the universe focussed on time-space, and matter-energy. The current theory is the Big Bang.

Babylonian Mythological Cosmogony

An account of the beginning and development of the universe which contrasts with the biblical view and is anti-humanistic, anti-monotheistic, anti-rational, anti-moral, anti-agape, anti-democratic , pro-despotic /dictatorial /authoritarian.

Symmetry

Presenting the process of creation in a highly organized fashion showing its intelligibility, rationality and goodness. This literary structure represents the profound orderliness of the universe.

Concordism

A misguided attempt to harmonize a scientific account of the origin and development of the universe and of life on earth with the biblical stories of creation.

Assumptions of Modern Empirical Science

1) The universe is orderly, intelligible, rational; 2) Understanding the universe requires empirical investigation; 3) Scientific knowledge should be freely shared for the good of humanity.

Logos

Greek term for word, mind, reason, wisdom. It came to be used for the second person in the Trinity who was incarnate in Jesus.