Title: Creation

Aims

i. To introduce students to the concept of myth in religious narrative

ii. To introduce students to a number of creation myths from the world’s cultures

iii. To introduce students to the philosophical issues of creation ‘ex nihilo’ and design (order; purpose)
iv. To introduce students to the creation debate between science and religion

Skills

i. Reading, analyzing and summarizing text

ii. Understanding and use of quotation

iii. Using diagram to represent ideas

iv. Analyzing symbolism in myth

v. Speaking and listening

Available Resources (including teacher copies)

i. Class sets of “Looking for God”

ii. Class sets of Bibles

iii. Various photocopied myths (some laminated)

iv. Video (animation; 12 minutes)

v. Question sheet on Native American and African tribal creation myths

vi. Teacher summary sheet on important themes

Suggested timescale One Term = c.12 weeks x 2 lessons @ 30 minutes each

Suggested approaches

1. Introductory discussion on primitive humans looking at the wonders of creation, speculating and telling stories. Which wonders? Why might they think that nature was designed and controlled by a powerful, intelligent being?

Read, discuss and answer questions p27 “Looking for God”

2. Introduce idea of myth – stories with meaning and symbolism

Read and discuss Genesis ch 1 – ch 2 v 4

Highlight themes of: a) logical order (progressive, like evolution)

and b) perfection of creation (“And God saw that it was good”)

Exercise: draw diagram (like a strip cartoon) of the 6 days of creation, with labels/titles? N.B. Priestly; post-exilic

Introduce theme of pre-creation chaos NOT ex nihilo


3. Read and discuss Genesis ch 2 vv 4 – 25 (garden in an arid desert) N.B. Yahwistic; beginning of monarchy.

Exercise: written list of various parts of creation in own words, verses in margin. Pick four most important details in

each student’s judgement and draw four pictures (page divided into 4) with titles for each.

Discuss differences between the two myths in Genesis. Why 2 accounts? Priorities in the minds of the originators of

the myths? Is one more true than the other? How should a modern religious believer respond to myths in scripture?


4. Summarize myths and draw primitive world view diagram (end of Deuteronomy in our RSV edition)


5. Show video. Discuss comparisons with two Genesis accounts. Stress BEAUTY


6. Argument from Design. Read, discuss and answer questions “Looking for God” pp28-29


7. Argument against design: problem of evil AND solution. Read and discuss “Looking for God” pp30-35. Questions p32 (and possibly p35?)


8. God v Science as an explanation for creation. Big Bang. Read and discuss “Looking for God” pp17 – 22


9. Mini-Cosmological Argument i.e. infinity or beginning? Something from nothing? Read, discuss and explain “Looking for God” pp23-24; questions pp25-6. Use Hindu account from Rig Veda “In the beginning…”


10. Selection of other myths. Read, discuss and answer questions on e.g. Aboriginal, Chinese, Native American, African creation myths