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GCSE · Christianity

RS.CB3 Creation and the Role of the Word and the Spirit

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in Christian teaching about creation.

(a)State what Christians mean by 'the Word', in the context of creation.(1)

(b)State what is meant by the role of the Spirit in creation.(1)

(c)Give one word for humans caring responsibly for what God has created.(1)

(d)State what is meant by humans being made 'in the image of God'.(1)

(e)Give one word/phrase for the belief that God created the universe out of nothing.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three things the Genesis 1 creation account teaches about the nature of God.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two Christian teachings about the role of the Word and the Holy Spirit in creation. Refer to scripture in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting Christian views on how to interpret the Genesis creation accounts. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about Christian beliefs concerning creation. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question.

(a)State one word/phrase for the Christian belief that God created the universe out of nothing.(1)

(b)Give two things the Genesis 2 creation account describes.(2)

(c)Explain two Christian teachings about why humans have a special place and responsibility within creation. Refer to scripture in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting Christian views on how humans should exercise their special responsibility over creation. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'The Genesis creation stories should be understood literally.' In your answer you should: refer to Christian teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two ways a belief in creation might affect the life of a Christian believer today.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three sources of authority Christians use to learn about creation.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.CB3 Creation and the Role of the Word and the Spirit

Question 1

(a) B1 a title for Jesus (the Son), present with God and active at creation, oe
(a) Answer: A title for Jesus (the Son), understood as present with God and active at creation.
(b) B1 the Spirit of God was present and active over creation, oe
(b) Answer: The Spirit of God was present and active over creation.
(c) B1 stewardship, oe
(c) Answer: Stewardship.
(d) B1 humans reflect something of God's nature/character and have a special status/relationship with God, oe
(d) Answer: Humans reflect something of God's own nature and have a special status and relationship with God.
(e) B1 creation from nothing / ex nihilo, oe
(e) Answer: Creation from nothing (ex nihilo).

Question 2

B1 God is all-powerful, creating simply by speaking, oe
B1 God is purposeful and good, repeatedly calling what he creates 'good', oe
B1 God is orderly, since creation follows a structured sequence of days ending in a day of rest, oe
Answer: Any three: all-powerful (creates by speech alone); purposeful and good (calls creation 'good'); orderly (structured six days plus rest).

Question 3

B1 point 1: the Word, understood by Christians to be Jesus, the Son, was present and active at creation, oe
B1 development: John 1:1-3 states the Word 'was with God' and 'was God', and that 'through him all things were made', oe
B1 point 2: the Spirit of God was present and active at creation, oe
B1 development: Genesis 1:2 describes 'the Spirit of God' as 'hovering over the waters' before God begins to speak creation into being, oe
Answer: E.g. (1) the Word active in creation (John 1:1-3); (2) the Spirit present and active at creation (Genesis 1:2).

Question 4

B1 view 1: some Christians read Genesis literally, believing the universe was created in six literal days, relatively recently, oe
B1 development: this view treats the day-by-day structure of Genesis 1 as a historical, factual account, and is held mainly by some evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, oe
B1 view 2: other Christians read Genesis non-literally, believing it conveys theological truth about God as Creator without requiring a literal six-day timescale, oe
B1 development: this view is compatible with scientific accounts such as the Big Bang and evolution, and is the officially taught position of the Catholic Church, which stated in 1950 (Pope Pius XII) and has reaffirmed since that evolution is compatible with belief in God as Creator, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: a literal six-day reading vs a non-literal, theological reading compatible with scientific accounts of creation (Catholic Church teaching since 1950).

Question 5

(a) B1 creation from nothing / ex nihilo, oe
(a) Answer: Creation from nothing (ex nihilo).
(b) B1 Adam formed from the dust of the ground and given life by God's breath, oe
(b) B1 Eve created from Adam's rib, oe
(b) Answer: E.g. Adam formed from dust and given life by God's breath, and Eve created from Adam's rib.
(c) B1 point 1: humans are made in the image of God, giving them a unique status among creation, oe
(c) B1 development: Genesis 1:26-27 records God saying, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness', oe
(c) B1 point 2: humans are given a role of responsibility to care for the rest of creation, oe
(c) B1 development: Genesis 2:15 places the first humans in the garden 'to work it and take care of it', oe
(c) Answer: E.g. made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27); given responsibility to care for creation (Genesis 2:15).
(d) B1 view 1: some Christians emphasise 'stewardship', seeing humans as caretakers who are accountable to God for looking after creation responsibly, oe
(d) B1 development: based on Genesis 2:15, humans are placed in the garden 'to work it and take care of it', and many churches today support environmental projects (e.g. Eco Church schemes) on this basis, oe
(d) B1 view 2: other Christians, historically, have emphasised 'dominion', reading Genesis as giving humans greater authority to use the earth's resources for human benefit, oe
(d) B1 development: based on Genesis 1:28, where God tells humans to 'subdue' the earth and 'rule over' the animals; today, most Christian environmental teaching favours the stewardship reading over this dominion reading, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: 'stewardship' (Genesis 2:15) vs 'dominion' (Genesis 1:28) as differing emphases on how human responsibility for creation should be exercised.
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to Christian teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to Christian teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: some Christians believe scripture is the inerrant, literal word of God, so the six-day structure and timeline described in Genesis 1 should be taken as historical fact.
- Agree: supporters argue that taking Genesis literally protects the authority and reliability of the whole Bible - if Genesis is treated as 'only' symbolic, some fear other doctrines might be undermined too.
- Agree: the text of Genesis 1 reads, to some readers, like a historical narrative with a clear sequence of days, rather than an obviously poetic or symbolic form.
- Disagree: many Christians, including the Catholic Church's official teaching and many mainline Protestant and Orthodox theologians, argue Genesis was never intended as a scientific text, but conveys theological truths, that God, not any other power, is the source of everything, and that creation is good and purposeful.
- Disagree: the existence of two differently ordered creation accounts within Genesis itself (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2) is used by many scholars as evidence that the author's purpose was theological rather than a single, literal chronological record.
- Disagree: scientific evidence for the age of the universe (around 13.8 billion years) and for evolution is considered by many Christians to be compatible with a non-literal reading, since they believe God could have worked through such gradual processes.
- A balanced answer might conclude that while a literal reading protects a straightforward view of scriptural authority for some, the majority of contemporary Christian scholarship, and the Catholic Church's own official position since 1950, treats a non-literal, theological reading as both faithful to scripture's purpose and compatible with modern science.

Question 6

B1 point 1: a Christian might treat other people with particular respect and dignity, since they are made in the image of God, oe
B1 development: e.g. this belief can influence a Christian's attitudes towards human rights, equality and how they treat people who are vulnerable or different from themselves, oe
B1 point 2: a Christian might value regular rest and worship, reflecting God's own rest on the seventh day, oe
B1 development: e.g. based on Genesis 2:2-3, a Christian might prioritise attending church and setting aside time for rest and family on Sundays, oe
Answer: E.g. respecting others as made in the image of God; valuing regular rest/worship reflecting Genesis 2:2-3.

Question 7

B1 the Bible (Genesis), oe
B1 Church teaching, e.g. Catholic Church statements on creation and science, oe
B1 science/reason, used by some Christians alongside scripture, oe
Answer: Any three: the Bible (Genesis); Church teaching; science/reason used alongside scripture.

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