A Modern Creation StoryA Modern Creation Story

The BIG Bang!The BIG Bang!

A Modern Creation Story!A Modern Creation Story!

• There are many different ideas about how There are many different ideas about how the world began. Scientists try to create a the world began. Scientists try to create a picture of the processes which brought the picture of the processes which brought the universe into existence. This process is universe into existence. This process is still taking place today – we live on an still taking place today – we live on an ever changing planet!ever changing planet!

• Remember that science tries to answer Remember that science tries to answer how the earth was made – it does not say how the earth was made – it does not say why it was made!why it was made!

• Many scientists Many scientists believe that believe that between 6,000 and between 6,000 and 15,000 million 15,000 million years ago the years ago the universe was full of universe was full of matter and energy.matter and energy.

• A massive nuclear A massive nuclear explosion caused explosion caused particles to be particles to be thrown outwards into thrown outwards into the empty universe.the empty universe.

• As these particles As these particles settled down they settled down they formed stars, planets formed stars, planets and black holes.and black holes.

• In the beginning In the beginning Earth was a hot Earth was a hot mass of molten mass of molten rock. rock.

• As the surface As the surface cooled over cooled over millions of years, a millions of years, a crust formed the crust formed the continents of land.continents of land.

• Steam fell back to Steam fell back to Earth as rain, Earth as rain, which filled the which filled the seas. seas.

• The Sun gave The Sun gave enough heat and enough heat and light to allow life to light to allow life to begin.begin.

Life on Earth!Life on Earth!

• Life on Earth began in Life on Earth began in the water. Plant life the water. Plant life was the first, followed was the first, followed by simple one cell by simple one cell creatures.creatures.

• Over millions of years Over millions of years these developed and these developed and grew into many grew into many different creatures. different creatures.

• Some adapted well to Some adapted well to their environment and their environment and survived, others like survived, others like the dinosaurs died out.the dinosaurs died out.

Why did the dinosaurs die Why did the dinosaurs die out?out?

• Some scientists say a Some scientists say a large meteor from large meteor from space or a disease space or a disease wiped them out.wiped them out.

• Others say climate Others say climate change affected them – change affected them – it became too hot or it became too hot or cold for them to survive.cold for them to survive.

• This has caused several This has caused several major extinctions during major extinctions during the last 400 million the last 400 million years – one of the years – one of the hazards of living on a hazards of living on a dynamic Earth!dynamic Earth!

• Some would say the Big Bang was the Some would say the Big Bang was the biggest explosion ever and was the biggest explosion ever and was the event that created everything we know event that created everything we know and was the moment when everything and was the moment when everything was brought into existence. was brought into existence.

• Some say even time began for us at Some say even time began for us at the moment of the Big Bang because the moment of the Big Bang because there was nothing before it. there was nothing before it.

Things to do!Things to do!

• Write down all the stages involved in the Big Write down all the stages involved in the Big Bang creation process, numbering them as Bang creation process, numbering them as you go.you go.

• Can you spot any similarities or differences Can you spot any similarities or differences with any other creation stories you have with any other creation stories you have looked at?looked at?

• Do you think this theory is more believable Do you think this theory is more believable than other creation stories, explain your than other creation stories, explain your answer.answer.

• Do you think that the Big Bang and other Do you think that the Big Bang and other religious stories can be believed together?religious stories can be believed together?