Creation Stories & The Big Bang Theory (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note
Exam code: C120
Creation stories
For as long as people have been able to think about their existence, they have asked questions about the origins of life
Different religions and cultures have explained the existence of the earth and all life in different ways
Non-religious people say that life is a result of chance
Most religious believers say that there is a divine mind behind all life
Creation stories in Christianity
Christians believe that God created the world ex nihilo (out of nothing), as revealed in the Book of Genesis in the Bible
The main accounts of creation are found in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2
Genesis 1 — The six days of creation
Genesis 1 describes the order of creation and shows God’s power and purpose in bringing everything into existence
Over six days, God created the heavens, the earth and everything within them. On the seventh day, he rested
Day 1 — light and darkness
Day 2 — skies and oceans
Day 3 — land and plants
Day 4 — sun, moon and stars
Day 5 — birds and fish
Day 6 — animals and humans
Day 7 — God rested
This account teaches Christians that God is the Creator of all things, that his creation is good and that he has authority over it
Genesis 2 — The creation of humans
Genesis 2 focuses on the creation of human beings and their relationship with God
God created Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him
This shows a close and personal relationship with humanity
God then created Eve from Adam’s rib to be his companion and equal partner
God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and commanded them to care for it
They were free to eat from any tree except one
“You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do you will die that same day.” (Genesis 2:17)
Adam and Eve disobeyed this command by eating the forbidden fruit
This act of disobedience is known as The Fall
The consequence of their sin is called original sin: the idea that all humans inherit a tendency to sin
Creation stories in Islam
Muslims have similar beliefs to Christians about the origins of the universe: that Allah is the sole Creator and that everything in existence was made according to his plan
The Qur’an teaches that Allah created the heavens and the earth in six periods or phases
Some English translations use the word “days”, but most Muslims understand this to mean stages of creation, not 24-hour days
The Qur’an does not describe what was created in each phase, but it gives examples of God’s creative power
“We have made the sky as a well secured canopy” (Qur’an 21: 32)
“It is He who created night and day, the sun and moon, each floating in its orbit” (Qur’an 21: 33)
Unlike the Bible’s account in Genesis, the Qur’an does not mention God resting after creation
Instead, it teaches that Allah remains actively involved in his creation and sustains it at all times
“He is with you wherever you are, and Allah sees all that you do” (Qur’an 57: 4)
Muslims believe that God’s creation is continuous
They believe that it did not end once the world was formed but continues through every new life, every plant that grows and every cycle of nature
“Vegetation comes out of good land in abundance, by the will of its Lord” (Qur’an 7: 58)
The Big Bang theory
The Big Bang is the most widely accepted scientific explanation for how the universe began
The study of the origins of the universe is called cosmology
Throughout history, people have argued about whether the universe has always existed or whether it had a beginning
In 1965, scientists found clear evidence that the universe had an origin
This theory became known as the Big Bang theory, which states that time and space began around 15 billion years ago
According to this theory, the universe began from a singularity — an infinitely small, hot and dense point
This singularity suddenly expanded, releasing matter and energy
As it expanded and cooled, atoms, stars and planets formed, creating the universe as we know it today
Scientists believe that the universe is still expanding and that it will continue to do so for billions of years, gradually becoming larger and colder
Evidence for the Big Bang includes the discovery of background radiation, which is thought to be leftover heat from the first moments of the universe
One of the physicists who made major contributions to cosmology was Professor Stephen Hawking
He showed that the universe must have emerged from a singularity and that it is constantly expanding
His work helped to confirm that the universe began with a single event: the Big Bang
Religious views on the Big Bang theory
Religious believers have different views about how the Big Bang theory fits with their understanding of creation
Many liberal Christians and Muslims have no difficulty accepting the Big Bang theory
They see it as a scientific explanation for how the universe began, while religion explains why it began
They believe that God may have chosen to create the universe through the process of the Big Bang
This view allows them to accept scientific evidence while maintaining their faith in God as the ultimate creator
Some religious creationists reject the Big Bang theory because they believe it contradicts their sacred texts, which teach that God created the world directly by his own power
They interpret scripture literally and believe that God made the world exactly as described in holy writings such as Genesis
Many Muslims are creationists because they believe that Allah revealed the Qur’an directly and it is therefore without error
Even if scientists are correct that the universe began with the Big Bang, religious believers argue that science still cannot explain what caused the Big Bang
Many Christians and other theists believe that God must have caused the Big Bang and that the universe’s beginning is further evidence of divine creation
Worked Example
Define what is meant by the Big Bang theory.
[2 marks]
Answer:
The Big Bang theory is the scientific idea that the universe began around 15 billion years ago from a single, tiny point that rapidly expanded to form everything that exists today.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Not all members of a religion interpret their sacred texts in the same way. Some believers are literalists, who think the creation stories describe exactly how the universe began, while others take a more interpretative view, seeing them as symbolic or poetic.
Be careful when explaining scientific and religious explanations for the universe. Avoid saying “all” Christians or Muslims believe something. Use “some” or “many” instead.
For example: Some scientists believe that the universe began with the Big Bang but that God caused it. This shows that scientific and religious explanations can work together rather than being in conflict.
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