So, does a beautiful world mean there is a wonderful God?

Some people say:• It is a beautiful world.

I think someone must have made it. I think that was God.

• Surely the world could not be an accident. It is full of love. I thank God for this lovely planet.

But other people say:• The world is lovely,

but I think it does not prove god is real.

• I think the world came to be through long gradual changes.

What do you think?

In a Y3 / 4 class, the pupils made lego models to show one day of the story from Genesis 1.

This is day 3: the dry land and the trees.

This is day 2: separating the waters from the land.

Artistic Guesswork

• You have seen Kate Neal’s first five canvases, showing her vision of the first five days of creation.

• Kate has not been thinking about science and religions, or creation and evolution. Her pictures respond to the text of the bible story for itself.

• How do you think she will paint the 6th day, when animals and humans were created? Or the seventh day, when God rested?

Being creative with the creation story

• We run an art competition for school RE called ‘Art in Heaven’

• Pupils use Biblical story – and other faith stories – to show an insight artistically

• The sacred text sets the imagination loose

Subscribe to RE Today and NATRE: £46 per year. 6 items + web access

Kate Neal’s pix, on disc and card, with teaching book: £24 from RE Today

www.retoday.org.uk

Spirited Arts web gallery: www.natre.org.uk/spiritedarts

Here’s another child’s version of day 2 – painted in the style of Kate Neal, from the Biblical text.

Day 6: the creation of humans and animals

Subscribe to RE Today and NATRE: £46 per year. 6 items + web access

Kate Neal’s pix, on disc and card, with teaching book: £24 from RE Today

www.retoday.org.uk

Spirited Arts web gallery: www.natre.org.uk/spiritedarts

So, does a beautiful world mean there is a wonderful God?

Some people say:• It is a beautiful world.

I think someone must have made it. I think that was God.

• Surely the world could not be an accident. It is full of love. I thank God for this lovely planet.

But other people say:• The world is lovely,

but I think it does not prove god is real.

• I think the world came to be through long gradual changes.

What do you think?

• Special thanks to Wilby Church of England Primary School’s Creaton Week and Tricia Outram, Headteacher at Bakewell CE Infant School in Derbyshire, described her school’s creativity day for RE Today.

• Kate Neal’s ‘Picturing Creation’ on disc and cards, with teaching book: £24 from RE Today, is an asset to this work.

• www.retoday.org.uk• Spirited Arts web gallery: www.natre.org.uk/spiritedarts • i