Religion and the environment- year 8 Key l words: Environment, pollution, recycle, damage, responsibility, litter, global warming, air pollution, deforestation, species, animals, Sikhism and creation. Sikhism is based on the idea of the ‘Oneness of Creation’. Sikhs believe the universe was made by God who created the earth and all forms of life on it. Before the creation there was no earth, no sky, no sun and no life. Only God existed until he decided to create the world. Then God created everything by a single word. Creationist/ literalist: the world began word for word as it is told in the Bible. Non- literalist: open to ideas from science concerning the beginning of the world. dominion The idea in Christianity that God created humans last to show their importance and that they are in charge of his creation. stewardship The responsibility given to Christians to care for the world as it is on loan from God. evolution The scientific theory that explains how animals and plants have appeared and adapted on Earth. the Big Bang theory The theory of how the world began with a cosmic explosion that caused universes to form.

What is belief?- year 7 AGNOSTIC; Someone who cannot decide whether a God exists. ATHEIST; Someone who does not believe there is a God. THEIST; Someone who does believe in a God. BELIEF: is a statement you think is true but you cannot prove. “I believe there is life on Mars” FACT: something you can prove to be true. “I know Paris is the capital of France” FAITH: Trust or confidence in something or someone. CREED: a set of beliefs or aims which guide someone's actions. In my life there have been many occasions when circumstances have changed for good as a result of prayer. Some people call it coincidence; I call it God. An example of a THEIST response. I cannot be certain that God exists, but I’m not prepared to say God definitely does not exist. I think religious questions are really important but impossible to answer! What do you mean, anyway, when you use the word ‘God’? An example of an AGNOSTIC response. The idea of God makes no sense. I have never felt that a God exists. There is just this life here and now and it’s up to us to make the most of our opportunities while we are alive. An example of an ATHEIST response. Religious Stories: The Hindu story of Ganesha: Ganesha is the son of SHIVA and PARVATI. His mother, Parvati made him using some of her own skin and some perfumed oils before he was brought to life at a sacred river. One day, in a unfortunate incident, Ganesha lost his head. When his father, Shiva, realised what had happened and how upset Parvati was, he went immediately to find a replacement - the first thing he found was an elephant’s head.