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Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow - NSC Religion Studies - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 2
Question 3
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow. Darwin’s theory of evolution gave an alternative explanation for the origin of man. While evolution doe... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow - NSC Religion Studies - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 2
Step 1
Explain the theory of evolution.
Answer
Darwin's theory of evolution primarily asserts that:
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Species Variation: All species contain a variety of minor differences, which contribute to the overall diversity within the species.
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Adaptation Over Time: The world and species can evolve over time, favoring better adaptations that enhance survival.
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Survival of the Fittest: Organisms with traits better suited for survival are more likely to thrive and reproduce, leading to gradual changes in the species.
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Common Ancestry: All life forms are interconnected and trace back to a common ancestor, illustrating a shared lineage.
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Continuum of Life: The different types of life forms exist on a continuum, suggesting that evolutionary development occurs gradually rather than through sudden changes.
Step 2
Discuss the response of any ONE religion to Darwin’s theory.
Answer
Taking Buddhism as an example, many Buddhists view Darwin's theory of evolution as non-contradictory to their beliefs:
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Compatibility with Evolution: Buddhists argue that the theory of evolution aligns well with Buddhist principles and does not conflict with their beliefs about life's transformation.
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Absence of Creation Narrative: Buddhism lacks a creation narrative akin to those found in other religions, which allows for a harmonious acceptance of evolutionary science.
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Emphasis on Change: Central to Buddhist belief is the concept that all life involves transformation and that nothing is permanent, mirroring the evolutionary process.
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Understanding of the Universe: Buddhists tend to approach scientific perspectives on the universe and its origins without the same dogmatic resistance seen in some other religious traditions.
Step 3
Give a brief explanation of the Big Bang Theory.
Answer
The Big Bang Theory is currently regarded as the predominant scientific explanation for the origin of the universe:
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Initial Singularity: It posits that the universe began from an infinitely small, hot, and dense singularity approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
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Rapid Expansion: Following this singular moment, the universe rapidly expanded, resulting in cooling and leading to the formation of particles and eventually atoms.
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Evolution of the Universe: Over billions of years, matter coalesced to form stars, galaxies, and other cosmic structures.
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Current Understanding: Observations such as the cosmic microwave background radiation provide evidence supporting the Big Bang framework, reinforcing our understanding of the universe's evolution and structure.
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Earth's Context: The Earth is a part of this solar system, which itself originated from the remnants of stellar activities influenced by the Big Bang.