Looking Anew at Our

Beginnings
mirjam nilsson
Opening Prayer
 INTRODUCTION
3

Chapter 1 Title
4

agenda OPening
5

Si Malakas at Maganda
6

Discussions
7-27
 introduction
We are challenge of Called to
Discover Our Christian Roots
as with the course title, you
are called (invited, so it is a
privilege) to discover your
Christian Roots.

“ By the Lord’s Word the heavens were made”

PSALM 33:6

20XX Christian Living 8 4

The Beginning:
God’s Creation
Around us
 Opening
Everything has a beginning:

What is the latest discovery and invention that you

have heard or read about?

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 6

 Si Malakas at Si Maganda

The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us

20XX 7
 RELIGIOUS FAITH ON CREATION

The Bible Reveals a much deeper truth

about our origin. The Bible ‘s message is
primarily about God’s work in the world.
It helps us grapple with question like . “
where did all the things that surround me
come from? Why is there a world in the
first place and what is its purpose? Why
do I exist and what is the purpose of my
life?
20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 8
 These are the questions that significant and only
religious faith can guide us in order to answer
them

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 9

 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Science makes a major contributions to minor

needs. Religion however , small its success, is at
least at work on the things that matters most”

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 10

 RELIGIOUS FAITH ON CREATION

"Science makes major contributions to minor needs":

This part suggests that science tends to excel in addressing and
improving smaller or less significant issues and requirements.
Science has a proven track record of making significant
advancements in various fields, such as technology, medicine,
and engineering, which have led to numerous innovations and
improvements in our daily lives. However, these advancements
may not always be directly related to the most critical or
profound aspects of human existence.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 11

 RELIGIOUS FAITH ON CREATION

"Religion, however small its success, is at least at work on

the things that matter most":
This part implies that religion, regardless of its level of
success or impact, is primarily focused on addressing the
most important aspects of human life. Religion often deals
with questions of purpose, morality, ethics, spirituality, and
the meaning of existence. It seeks to provide guidance and
answers to fundamental questions about life and the
universe. Even if religion's achievements may not be as
tangible or scientifically measurable as those of science, it is
directed at the core values and ultimate concerns of human
beings.
20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 12
 RELIGIOUS FAITH ON CREATION

In essence, the statement highlights that

science tends to excel in solving practical and
tangible problems, while religion addresses
the deeper philosophical and existential
questions that are considered of utmost
significance to many individuals and
communities. It is essential to recognize that
both science and religion have their distinct
roles and strengths and can coexist in society,
each contributing to different aspects of
human life and knowledge.
20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 13
 THE BOOK OF GENESIS PRESENTS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE
ULTIMATE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD AND THE HUMAN
RACE. GOD CREATED THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD THAT
SCIENTIST LIKE GALILEO, ISAAC NEWTON AND ALBERT
EINSTEIN STUDIED SCIENCE HOWEVER, DOES NOT
EXPLAIN THE WORLD’S ABSOLUTE ORIGIN THAT EXPLAINS
HOW SOMETHING CAME FROM NOTHING. SCIENCE
ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO TO EXPLAIN HOW THINGS
CAME TO BE. IT MAY BE INDERSTOOD THAT SCIENCE IS
THE HUMAN WAY OF SEEKING AND UNDERSTANDING THE
TRUTH THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING.
20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 14
 Genesis , the Book of
Beginnings in the Old
Testament, is not a science or
History book. The lessons in
the Creation stories are not
scientific but religious.
Therefore there is no conflict
between the book of Genesis
and science

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 15

Why are the Genesis Creation
Narratives not Scientific ?
The Genesis Creation Narratives, found in the first
two chapters of the Book of Genesis in the Bible,
are not considered scientific for several reasons:

Allegorical and theological nature: The Genesis

Creation Narratives are primarily seen as religious
texts containing theological and allegorical elements
rather than scientific explanations of the origins of
the universe. These narratives serve to convey
spiritual truths, moral lessons, and the relationship
between humanity and God.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 16

 Figurative language: The language used in the
Genesis Creation Narratives employs figurative
and symbolic language. For example, the
description of God creating the world in six
days is not meant to be taken as a literal
account of a 24-hour day but rather a literary
framework to convey the order and purpose of
God's creation.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 17

 Lack of empirical evidence:
Scientific theories are based on empirical
evidence, experimentation, and
observations. The Genesis Creation
Narratives, on the other hand, are based on
faith and religious beliefs, which are not
subject to the same empirical scrutiny as
scientific claims.
20XX presentation title 18
 Incompatibility with scientific evidence: The
Genesis Creation Narratives conflict with
scientific understanding of the origins of the
universe, Earth, and life. For instance, the
narratives propose a young Earth with a recent
creation event, whereas scientific evidence from
fields such as astronomy, geology, and biology
indicates that the Earth is approximately 4.5
billion years old, and life has evolved over
millions of years.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 19

 Limited scope: The Genesis Creation Narratives
focus on the creation of the Earth and humanity,
primarily from a human-centered perspective.
In contrast, scientific explanations of the
universe's origins encompass a much broader
scope, including the formation of galaxies, stars,
planets, and the processes that led to the
development of life on Earth.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 20

 It is crucial to recognize that the Genesis Creation Narratives and
scientific explanations serve different purposes and address different
questions. Science deals with natural phenomena and seeks to
understand the natural world through empirical observation and
evidence-based theories, while religious narratives, like those found in
Genesis, are concerned with spiritual and philosophical matters,
addressing questions of ultimate meaning, purpose, and human
relationships with the divine. Many religious believers and scientists
see no conflict between science and faith, as they are often
concerned with different aspects of human understanding and
experience.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 21

 Seeing God in the First Creation
Story
Gen. 1:1-2
In the Beginning……

CFC 341- that the world and everything in it

comes from the loving power of God who is its
ultimate Origin, Ruler and Goal.

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 God Created All Things
We believe that God created the world according
to his wisdom. It is not the product of any
necessity whatever, nor of blind fate or chance.
We believe that it proceeds from God's free will;
he wanted to make his creatures share in his
being, wisdom and goodness: "For you created all
things, and by your will they existed and were
created." Therefore the Psalmist exclaims: "O
LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom
you have made them all"; and "The LORD is good
to all, and his compassion is over all that he has
made.“ CCC 295

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 23

 God's Wisdom: The passage
emphasizes that the world
was created by God's
wisdom. In Christian studies,
God's wisdom refers to His
perfect understanding and
knowledge, which guided
the creation of everything.

The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us

20XX 24
 No Necessity or Blind Fate: It
states that God's act of creation
was not driven by any necessity
or blind fate. This means that
God didn't create the world
because He had to or because
of some external force; rather, it
was a deliberate and purposeful
act.

The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us

20XX 25
 •God's Free Will: The passage
highlights that the creation of
the world was an expression
of God's free will. He chose to
create it out of His own
accord, without being
compelled by anything
external to Himself.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 26

 • God's Desire to Share:
According to the passage, God's
purpose in creating the world
was to allow His creatures to
share in His being, wisdom, and
goodness. This indicates a loving
and benevolent aspect of God's
nature.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 27

 Overall, this passage presents a
foundational belief in the Christian faith
regarding the creation of the world and
God's role as the intentional and wise
creator, who desires to share His
goodness with His creations.

20XX The Beginning: God’s Creation Around us 28

thank you
Freddie M. Gonzales Jr.
gonzalesfreddie6@gmail.com
fgonzalesjr@sgacal.edu.ph
09063093263