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The relationship between religious and scientific views on the origin of life

I can explain scientific views on the origins of human life and how Christian views interact with them.

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New
New
AQA

The relationship between religious and scientific views on the origin of life

I can explain scientific views on the origins of human life and how Christian views interact with them.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Evolution, proposed by Darwin, explains species' development through natural selection.
  2. Many Christians accept theistic evolution, believing God used evolution to create life.
  3. Creationists follow Genesis literally, rejecting evolution.
  4. Most denominations see evolution as compatible with faith, but some, like the Plymouth Brethren, disagree.
  5. Humanists view evolution as a natural process based on science, without God.

Keywords

  • Creationism - the belief that God created life exactly as described in Genesis

  • Evolution - scientific theory of the development of species which involves a process of natural selection and survival of the fittest

  • Natural selection - the process where the fittest organisms survive and reproduce

  • Theistic evolution - the belief that God works through the process of evolution

Common misconception

Christianity and evolution are completely incompatible.

Many Christian denominations accept evolution as part of God's creative process, including the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

You might want to recap Christian approaches to reading the Bible, both literal and metaphorical.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a key difference between the two creation accounts in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2?
Correct answer: Genesis 1 describes creation over six days; Genesis 2 focuses on human creation.
Genesis 1 describes humans as flawed; Genesis 2 shows them as perfect.
Genesis 1 only describes creation of animals; Genesis 2 only human creation.
Genesis 1 is about God's punishment; Genesis 2 focuses on God’s kindness.
Q2.
How might Christians who accept scientific explanations about the origins of life interpret Genesis?
as a literal and scientific account of how life began
as a myth that has no relevance to modern beliefs
Correct answer: as a symbolic story that reveals truths about God and humanity
as proof that science is completely wrong
Q3.
What does Genesis 1 suggest about the nature of God?
God is distant and uninvolved in creation
Correct answer: God is powerful and creates by speaking things into existence
God struggles to create the world and needs assistance
God only creates humans and leaves the rest of creation to develop on its own
Q4.
The belief that God created humans in His likeness is known as the doctrine of .
Correct Answer: imago Dei, Imago dei, Imago Dei, imago dei
Q5.
The scientific theory that describes how life evolved over time is called .
Correct Answer: evolution, Evolution
Q6.
Christians who believe that science and faith are compatible are often called .
Correct Answer: theistic evolutionists, Theistic evolutionists, theistic Evolutionists, Theistic Evolutionists

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the key idea behind the theory of evolution?
Correct answer: species change gradually over time through natural selection
all species were created in their current form
evolution is not supported by scientific evidence
the strongest species eliminate the weaker ones in every generation
Q2.
How does theistic evolution differ from creationism?
Correct answer: theistic evolution accepts science while believing God guided the process
theistic evolution rejects the idea that God played any role in creation
creationism argues that God used evolution as a tool for creating life
creationism and theistic evolution are identical beliefs
Q3.
Which Christian denomination teaches that Genesis should be read metaphorically rather than literally?
the Plymouth Brethren
Correct answer: The Anglican Church (Church of England)
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church
The Southern Baptist Church
Q4.
The belief that God created life exactly as described in Genesis is called .
Correct Answer: creationism
Q5.
According to the theory of evolution, species change over time through .
Correct Answer: natural selection, Natural selection, Natural Selection
Q6.
Christians who believe that God set evolution in motion follow the belief known as .
Correct Answer: theistic evolution, Theistic evolution, theistic Evolution, Theistic Evolution

Additional material

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Lesson appears in

UnitReligious education / Religion and life

AQAReligious education

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