Catholicism (Paper 1)

How does Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam painting reflect or not reflect Catholic beliefs

• God and Adam both look powerful & muscular and are also lying in similar positions, reflects that humanity is made “in the image of God” (Genesis)

• God looks much older than Adam showing He is eternal whereas Adam is not

• However, Genesis says that God created Adam by breathing life into his nostrils which is not shown so does not reflect Catholic teaching

How does the meaning/significance of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam contrast with another Christian art

• Both the Creation of Adam and Meiere’s mosaic show God is the creator, powerful and eternal

• Creation of Adam presents God as an old man which could suggest he is ageing (goes against Catholic teaching) whereas Meiere’s mosaic shows only God’s hand so represents God as more infinite

• Creation of Adam focuses more on the relationship of God and man whereas Meiere’s mosaic is more abstract 

What happens in Genesis 1 and how is the nature of God expressed in Genesis 1

• Genesis 1 describes how God created the universe in six days from nothing

• God is creator - God is the only creator who has created everything and He has created humans in His image and likeness, “in the image of God”

• God is omnipotent - God has the power to do anything so can create from nothing and all of his creations are “very good”

• God is transcendent - God only needs his word to create and is beyond human comprehension, “Let there be light”

What happens in Genesis 2 and how is the nature of God expressed in Genesis 2

• Genesis 2 describes the creation of humans

• Humans share the Spirit of God - God created Adam by breathing “into his nostrils the breath of life” so humans share qualities with God

• Humans have free will - God commands Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of knowledge and they use their free will to disobey Him

How do beliefs about the creation stories in Genesis influence Catholics

• Free will - Catholics believe we should use free will to live in a way that pleases God and brings us closer to Him

• Stewardship - God tells Adam and Eve to “till it and keep it [the Garden of Eden]” (Genesis) so we have a duty to look after the environment and life

• Dignity - all humans are equal and have dignity as they are made in the image of God

• Sanctity of life - all creation is holy as it is made by God so Catholics are against euthanasia and abortion

What is the structure and origins of the Bible

• The Bible is the sacred book of Christianity and consists of the Old and New Testaments

• Old Testament - describes how God guided the early Jews before Jesus (consists of Law, History, Wisdom and Prophecy)

• New Testament - deals with the life and teachings of Jesus (consists of the Gospels, the Acts of Apostles, the Epistles and the Book of Revelation)

How is the Bible the word of God according to Catholics

• God guided the writers of the Bible through the Holy Spirit who divinely inspired their writings

• The Bible contains the words of God given to prophets

• The Bible contains the actions and teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles

How do Catholics believe the Bible should be interpreted

• The Bible should be interpreted by Catholics through the Magisterium which is the teaching authority of the Catholic Church from the Pope and bishops

• Catholics believe the Magisterium is continually inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit so can be trusted

• “sacred tradition takes the word of God…and hands it on to their successors” (Dei Verbum)

How do Catholics believe the Genesis accounts should be interpreted and give a contrasting view

• Catholics - believe the creation stories are not meant to be scientific explanations of creation and are instead myths so accept scientific theories, still believe that God created everything and made humans in His image

• Fundamentalist Christians - believe the universe and all life was created literally in six days so reject other plausible scientific theories

• “The Big Bang…does not contradict the divine act of creating but rather requires it” (Pope Francis)

How does belief in natural law influence Catholics

• Natural law is the idea that all humans are born with a basic understanding of right and wrong as all people are made in the image of God

• This influences Catholics to follow natural law as part of God’s will for humans and to protect/preserve life due to the sanctity of life

How did the Second Vatican Council affect Catholic beliefs about science v religion

• The Second Vatican Council stressed the importance of supporting advances in science to understand God’s creations

• Religion and science do not contradict as they answer different questions, science answers how? and religion answers why?

• “methodical investigation…never truly conflicts with faith” (Gaudium et Spes)

Why do Catholics believe we should care for the environment

• All of creation is special and “very good” (Genesis) due to belief in the sanctity of life so should be preserved

• God made humans the stewards of the Earth as shown by telling Adam and Eve to take care of the Garden of Eden

• Jesus taught Christians to “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark) which includes all people on Earth

What are the different ways in which Catholics might carry out the duty of stewardship

• Local level - throwing away less waste/recycling more and walking or taking public transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• National level - putting pressure on politicians to pass environmentally-friendly laws

• Global level - putting pressure on governments in international meetings (e.g. Rio +20) and boycotting certain companies

What are the ways in which CAFOD supports sustainability

• Encouraging people in England and Wales to live more simply and waste less resources

• Supporting or setting up renewable energy projects e.g. solar panels to reduce CO2 emissions

• Teaching sustainable farming methods in lower income countries