Beliefs and Values: Creation, the Universe, and Human Beings

Vocabulary flashcards covering Christian creation accounts, scientific criticisms, scriptural interpretations, human uniqueness, and animal welfare concepts.

Elohim

The Hebrew name used to refer to God by the author of Genesis 1.

Yahweh

The name used to refer to God by the author of Genesis 2.

Imago Dei

A Latin concept meaning 'image of God,' referring to humans being created in God's image on day 6 of creation in Genesis 1.

Form Criticism

An analysis of writing style that argues Genesis was not written by Moses, as traditionally claimed, but has multiple authors.

Big Bang Theory

A scientific theory proposed by 20th-century priest Georges Lemaitre claiming space, time, and matter were created 13.8 billion years ago, giving rise to our solar system 9 billion years ago.

Steady State Theory

A 20th-century cosmological theory associated with Edwin Hubble claiming that the universe has always existed.

Inerrant

The fundamentalist Christian belief that the Bible is completely without mistakes because it is the inspired word of God.

Young Earth Creationism

An application of scripture argued by Henry Morris in 'The Bible & Modern Science' that interprets Genesis 1 literally, claiming the world was created in six human days.

Day Age Creationism

An interpretation advocated by 5th-century St. Augustine in 'On the Literal Meaning of Genesis,' viewing a creation 'day' as an 'aeon' (a long but unspecified time).

Allegorical Interpretation

An interpretation supported by Pope John Paul II in 1981 stating creation stories are morally and spiritually true symbols meant to teach 'how one goes to heaven' rather than factual descriptions of how heaven was made.

Synderesis

A term distinguished by 5th-century St. Jerome as the power of distinguishing good from evil, identified as the 'spark of conscience.'

Conscientia

A term distinguished by 5th-century St. Jerome as the act of judgment about what is good and evil, which was corrupted by the Fall.

Physicalism

Auguste Comte's 18th-century view that humans are physical things acting according to natural laws, reducing psychology to biology, chemistry, and physics.

Stewardship

The role of humans to look after God's creation, environment, animals, and private assets in the way that God intends.

Primary Precepts

Thomas Aquinas's Natural Law deductions identifying that humans are logically intended to preserve life, reproduce, educate children, live in society, and worship God.

Great Commission

The Christian command found in Matthew 28:19 ('Go therefore and make disciples of all nations') establishing the duty to proselytise.

Speciesist

A term used by 20th-century atheist philosopher Peter Singer to describe discriminatory failure to include animal happiness in utilitarian calculations.