S1 Ultimate Questions

Ultimate questions To understand what is meant by ultimate questions To find out how myths can be used to answer ultimate questions

Ultimate Questions Ultimate question: A question which is very difficult or impossible to answer. With your neighbour try to think of five examples. (Don’t include questions which have been answered by science like Why is grass green?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aboZctrHfK8

Did you think of any of the following examples? What's the meaning of life? Is there a God? How was the world created? What happens when we die? How should I live my life?

Answers from religion. For thousands of years religions have tried to answer ultimate questions. But since these questions are so difficult to answer there are many possible answers. Religion uses faith to answer ultimate questions. This means people may believe something without having scientific proof. Faith: Belief that is not based on proof.

Creation Myths Myth: A story which tries to explain something which is difficult to understand. Often has a meaning or a message. Many cultures and religions have different stories to answer the question: How did the world begin? http://www.bigmyth.com/

Myth Has a meaning or explains something Myth Has a meaning or explains something. May or may not be a true story. Legend Does not have a meaning or explain something. May or may not be a true story. Fable Is not a true story. Can you think of an example for each?

Creation Myths Around the World To find out about creation myths around the world To compare and contrast ideas and themes in different creation myths

You are going to listen to some creation stories from around the world. Which creation stories contain the following themes? Order and chaos Water Sounds or words Powerful beings Trees or plants Animals Human weaknesses Suffering or death

You are going to listen to some creation stories with your teacher You are going to listen to some creation stories with your teacher. Tick the boxes to show which themes are included in the stories. Story 1: Story 2: Story 3: Story 4: Story 5: Story 6: Story 7: Story 8: Order & Chaos Water Sounds or words Powerful beings Trees or plants Animals or creatures Human weakness Suffering or death

Creation Stories Group Task In your groups you are going to present one of the creation stories to your class. You will have about two periods to prepare this. Decide how you will present the story: Play Puppet show Poem Song Poster

Person 4 Person 1 Person 3 Person 2

Roles for Groupwork Person 4 Social Skills Monitor Make sure everyone treats each other with respect Make sure everyone uses group voices Person 1 Group Organiser Make sure everyone in the group has a job to do Make sure the task is completed correctly Person 3 Timekeeper Keep track of the time Make sure the task is completed on time Person 2 Materials Manager Collect any materials needed Make sure all materials are returned at the end

Creation in Christianity, Judaism and Islam To find out about the Christian/Jewish and Muslim creation stories To consider the similarities and differences between the stories To compare symbolic and literal views of creation in the Christian religion

There are many similarities between the Christian/Jewish creation story and the Muslim creation story. You are going to watch the two stories with your teacher. Complete the Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences.

There are many similarities between the Christian/Jewish creation story and the Muslim creation story. You are going to watch the two stories with your teacher. Complete the diagram to show the similarities and differences. Christian Creation Story Takes place in the garden of Eden God creates the world in 6 days Humans have a special relationship with God Humans expected to take care of the world Adam and Eve are tempted by a snake Muslim Creation Story Takes place in Paradise Allah creates the world in 6 days Adam and Eve are tempted by Iblis Both Stories World created by God in 7 days The first people lived in a perfect world Humans had to leave the garden when they disobeyed God

Some Questions on the Christian/Jewish Creation Story The Bible states that the world was created in seven days. Put the events in the order they take place in the story. God creates the sky God creates creatures God takes a day of rest God creates land, water and plants God creates light and darkness God creates people God creates the sun, moon and the stars What important messages does the story have about: The importance of following rules? Taking care of the earth?

Genesis Day at a time Day 1 – God creates light and darkness Day 2 – God creates the sky Day 3 – God creates land, water and plants Day 4 – God creates the sun, moon and stars Day 5 – God creates creatures Day 6 – God creates people Day 7 – God takes a day of rest

Some Views on the Genesis Creation Story Some people think that the genesis story is literally correct. They think that science is wrong and creation happened exactly as it says in the Bible? Some people think the Genesis story is a symbolic story. They think that the meaning of the story is more important than the details. Some people disagree with the Genesis story. They think the world was not created by God. Which view do you agree with? Give reasons for your answer.

A Perfect World? The Judeo-Christian and Muslim creation stories describe a perfect place to live, the Garden of Eden or paradise. What rule did Adam and Eve break that meant they had to leave paradise? List three things which humans take or use from the natural world today which harm the planet. Suggest some rules humans could try to follow today in order to make our world more like the paradise described in the Genesis creation story.

A Scientific View of Creation To find out about the big bang theory of creation To learn about the theory of evolution To compare religious and scientific views of creation

The Scientific Creation Story 1. Write a paragraph to explain each of the following theories: The big bang theory The theory of evolution 2. Write down three ways in which humans are unique on our planet. 3. In what ways can humans harm the planet? 4. What can people do to help protect the earth?

The Big Bang Theory The big bang theory is a _____theory about how the _____ began. The big bang was a nuclear _____ which took place around 15 billion years ago. Scientists think the big bang created ____, ____, ____ and ____. The first _______ included the Higgs Boson or “God particle”. Many _____ people accept the big bang theory but believe that _____ was behind it. matter scientific God time universe religious energy explosion space particles

The Big Bang Theory The big bang theory is a scientific theory about how the universe began. The big bang was a nuclear explosion which took place around 15 billion years ago. Scientists think the big bang created space, time, energy and matter. The first particles included the Higgs Boson or “God particle”. Many religious people accept the big bang theory but believe that God was behind it.

Evolution Most scientists think that different _____ of _____ and _____ came about through a process called evolution. The first living things were _____, single-celled organisms like _____. Over millions of years a series of tiny changes led to more _____ living things. The process of _____ _____ means that the living things which are best adapted to their _____ are the most likely to survive and _____. Some religious people accept the _____ of evolution but think God played a part in the process. simple plants environments bacteria reproduce animals complex theory natural selection species

Evolution Most scientists think that different species of plants and animals came about through a process called evolution. The first living things were simple, single-celled organisms like bacteria. Over millions of years a series of tiny changes led to more complex living things. The process of natural selection means that the living things which are best adapted to their environments are the most likely to survive and reproduce. Some religious people accept the theory of evolution but think God played a part in the process.

Evolution Life started in the water with single celled creatures Over millions of years these early life forms grew into different creatures. Some lived in the sea. Some grew legs and lived on both land and sea Gradually, some developed fur instead of scales...even 30 million years ago there were many mammals Others grew wings to find more food The ape-like creatures began to walk on their hind legs, leaving their hands free to do things like make tools. This was the beginning of human kind. Finally, over 1 million years ago, ape-like creatures developed.

Creation: The Bible and Science Aim: To investigate how different people explain Creation. The Bible: 6 Days. How God Created Personal Explanation The Big Bang A scientific theory

Creation: The Bible and Science Aim: To investigate how different people explain Creation. The Bible: 6 Days. How God Created Personal Explanation The Big Bang A scientific theory 1. Let there be light. Day and Night 2. Separated water in the sky and on the land 3. Land appears, splits land and sea 4. Sun, moon and stars. Days, years and seasons 5. Living creatures in the sea and the air 6. Animals and Mankind (Adam and Eve) 7. God rested, he saw it was good.

Creation: The Bible and Science Aim: To investigate how different people explain Creation. The Bible: 6 Days. How God Created Personal Explanation The Big Bang A scientific theory 1. Let there be light. Day and Night Atoms existing 2. Separated water in the sky and on the land 17,500,000,000,000 years ago: 3. Land appears, splits land and sea Sun, Planets, Gravity. Solar System, Galaxy, Universe 4. Sun, moon and stars. Days, years and seasons The Earth, a planet with an atmosphere. 5. Living creatures in the sea and the air Single cell life (amoeba). Existing in a primordial slime. 6. Animals and Mankind (Adam and Eve) Multi-Cell organisms, what we now call ‘life’ 7. God rested, he saw it was good. 14,500,000 years of life on Earth, (evolution) leads to mankind.

A Perfect World To consider some of the reasons we should care for the planet To share ideas about what humans can do to protect the planet To imagine what the planet might be like if we took better care of it

What can we learn from the Scientific Creation Story? Copy and complete Planet earth is a unique planet because it can support life. Three things that allow life to survive on earth are … Humans are unique on our planet. Two ways in which humans are different from other animals are ... The future of the planet depends on how humans treat it. We can harm the planet by …. Or we can protect the planet by …

A Perfect World? Environmental problems caused by human actions In the scientific creation story as well as the traditional creation myths we learn that humans make a big difference to the world we live in. Complete the table below to show some of the ways in which humans have damaged the planet and some of the solutions to these problems. Environmental problems caused by human actions Possible Solutions to environmental problems

Environmental problems caused by human actions Possible solutions to environmental problems

Environmental problems caused by human actions Possible solutions to environmental problems Pollution: Air pollution damages atmosphere Land pollution damages wildlife Sea pollution damages sea life Using too many resources Use of fossil fuels (coal/oil/gas) Cutting down the rainforest Using too many animal products Recycle more Use less electricity Use energy saving light bulbs and appliances Use solar/wind/wave power Dispose of waste correctly Walk/cycle/use public transport Limit flying Plant more trees Eat less animal products

Perfect World Project You are going to create a piece of work to show your ideas about what a perfect world would be like. This could be: A piece of artwork A poem A story Try to include some practical ideas for taking care of the planet.

Your Carbon Footprint Most scientists now think that carbon emissions are a cause of climate change. Your lifestyle makes a difference to the amount of carbon you produce in your lifetime. This is called your carbon footprint and is influenced by: What types of transport you use The home you live in The food you eat The products you buy You can calculate your own carbon footprint online at: http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/