The verse “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) is one of the oldest explanations for the origin of the universe, dating back to around the 6th century BCE. For centuries, people relied on this belief to explain where life came from and their role in the universe. However, with the development of scientific theories such as the Big Bang and evolution, this old belief started to be challenged.

The knowledge claim is that scientific ideas, like the Big Bang theory, have challenged the way people interpret creation in Genesis. This shows how new knowledge can make us question beliefs that have been around for a long time. While beliefs usually come from faith and tradition, knowledge is based on evidence and reasoning. When they conflict, people have to make a choice about what to believe or how to reinterpret their faith. Some believers stick to a literal reading of Genesis and reject science, whereas others see the story as symbolic and allow science and religion to work together.

Genesis 1:1 connects to the knowledge claim because it shows a belief that has been challenged by scientific discoveries. In real life, this conflict comes up in debates about teaching evolution in schools. The verse is a strong object because it has influenced people’s beliefs for thousands of years. We can see evidence of change in many religious groups today that accept evolution while still practicing their faith.

This shows that new knowledge doesn’t always get rid of old beliefs, but can actually change the way people understand them. Scientific discoveries might reshape how someone interprets their faith, proving that even deeply held beliefs can evolve over time.

Object 2: Declaration of Independence (1776)

The Declaration of Independence marks a major shift in political beliefs during the Enlightenment. At that time, many people accepted the divine right of kings, thinking that rulers were chosen by God and had absolute authority. This belief influenced political thinking for hundreds of years. But during the Enlightenment, thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau introduced the idea that people are born with natural rights, and that governments exist to protect those rights rather than control them. This new political knowledge directly challenged long-standing beliefs about authority.

This shift is clearly shown in the Declaration’s statement that all people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” The Declaration no longer uses religion to defend the king. Instead, it takes biblical ideas and uses them to argue that everyone should have equal rights and freedom, shifting power to the people. This shows that new knowledge can change values without completely replacing them.

The Declaration links to the knowledge claim because it is a physical example of how Enlightenment ideas changed beliefs about power. The handwriting and signatures show that people agreed to it together, using reasoning instead of just following tradition.Its ideas didn’t just stay in America. They went on to inspire the French Revolution and later human rights movements around the world. The rise of democratic governments shows that people’s beliefs about authority and equality changed because of this new political knowledge.

Overall, the Declaration demonstrates that when new knowledge offers a clearer and fairer explanation, it can challenge long-held beliefs and change the way people think.

The BLM poster is a clear example of how new ideas in society can challenge the way people think about fairness, equality, and authority. The knowledge claim here is that new societal knowledge can make people rethink values that come from religious and political traditions. The BLM movement pushed society to question whether values like equality, promised in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, were actually being upheld.

The murder of George Floyd introduced new knowledge through video evidence of police violence. While many communities had been raising concerns about police brutality for years, this footage made the problem visible to a much larger audience. Social media helped this knowledge spread quickly, making it difficult to ignore. As a result, many people began questioning their assumptions about policing and fairness. Surveys conducted after the protests showed a big increase in public awareness of systemic racism, along with stronger support for police accountability.

The poster connects to the knowledge claim because it visually shows protest and calls for change, using bold phrases like “No Justice, No Peace.” It demonstrates how society responded to new knowledge by taking action and making their demands visible. It’s a good example because it captures a moment when old beliefs, like trusting the police or thinking society is fair, were questioned. Evidence of change can be seen in policy discussions, attempts to reform the police, and the way people are talking more openly about racial inequality.

This object shows that knowledge gained through shared experience can force societies to rethink their values, proving that even deeply rooted beliefs are not fixed.