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Year 11
AQA

The value of the world and stewardship

I can explain views on the value of the world, including Christian and non-religious perspectives on dominion, stewardship, and intrinsic value.

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Year 11
AQA

The value of the world and stewardship

I can explain views on the value of the world, including Christian and non-religious perspectives on dominion, stewardship, and intrinsic value.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Most Christians, including Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant, see Genesis 1:28 as supporting stewardship.
  2. A minority interpret Genesis 1:28 as dominion, allowing humans to use the Earth as they wish.
  3. Christians believe creation has intrinsic value because it was made by God and declared good.
  4. Humanists believe in caring for the Earth based on reason and science, not divine command.

Keywords

  • Creation - the act of bringing everything in the world into existence

  • Dominion - the belief that humans have been given control/charge of the world

  • Extrinsic (value) - something is valuable based on what it provides or how it benefits us

  • Intrinsic (value) - something is valuable just because it exists, regardless of its usefulness

  • Stewardship - the duty given by God to humankind to look after the created world, and all life within it

Common misconception

Dominion is the opposite of stewardship.

Dominion is seen as authority or power, but, in common with stewardship, it is usually seen as including a duty to be responsible.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: The value of the world and stewardship, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Try an activity where students represent different perspectives on the value of the world.
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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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best describes how fundamentalist Christians view the Genesis creation story?
It is symbolic and open to interpretation.
It is a metaphor explaining God's power.
Correct answer: It is a literal account of how the universe was created.
It was influenced by scientific discoveries.
Q2.
Why do some Christians accept the Big Bang theory as part of their faith?
they believe the Bible is outdated
they see scientific discoveries as irrelevant
Correct answer: they believe God used the Big Bang as a method of creation
they reject the idea that God created the universe
Q3.
What is the key difference between fundamentalist and liberal Christian views on creation?
fundamentalists believe the universe is eternal
Correct answer: liberals accept metaphorical interpretations of Genesis
fundamentalists believe only in science
liberals reject the existence of God
Q4.
According to Genesis, God created humans in His ...
Correct Answer: image, Image
Q5.
The scientist who developed the idea of an expanding universe, leading to the Big Bang theory, was ...
Correct Answer: Lemaître, Lemaitre, lemaitre, lemaître, Georges Lemaitre
Q6.
The belief that God is all-powerful can be described as ...
Correct Answer: omnipotence, Omnipotence

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the Christian concept of stewardship mean?
The belief that humans have absolute control over the Earth.
Correct answer: The duty to care for the Earth on behalf of God.
The idea that the Earth has no real value.
The belief that humans should exploit natural resources.
Q2.
What is the key difference between intrinsic and extrinsic views of the Earth's value?
intrinsic value means the Earth is useful only for human needs
extrinsic value suggests the Earth is valuable simply because it exists
Correct answer: intrinsic value means the Earth has worth regardless of its usefulness
extrinsic value means the Earth has no value at all
Q3.
Which of the following Christian denominations teaches that stewardship is a sacred responsibility?
Pentecostal Christianity
Correct answer: Orthodox Christianity
Atheism
Buddhist traditions
Q4.
The belief that humans have control over the Earth is known as ...
Correct Answer: dominion, Dominion
Q5.
Many Christians believe that the world has value because God created it and declared it good.
Correct Answer: intrinsic, Intrinsic
Q6.
According to Genesis 1:28, humans are given the responsibility to the Earth.
Correct Answer: steward, Steward