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Creation story isn't science but reveals God's love, pope says
US Catholic ^ | February 6, 2013 | Carol Glatz

Posted on 02/07/2013 6:26:00 AM PST by Alex Murphy

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To: FatherofFive

Before, on the third day, while man was created on the sixth day.


61 posted on 02/07/2013 12:46:29 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman
". . . which means the rest of your claims about me are built on sand."

ROTFLMAO

I've heard that based on the totality of their depravity, those who are fascinated by and in love with fairies also love sand.

Now I know that at least in some cases, it's true.

62 posted on 02/07/2013 12:56:41 PM PST by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory.)
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To: Rashputin

Well, I can see by your response that you’re not serious about discussing the topic and just want to badmouth people. Good day to you then.


63 posted on 02/07/2013 1:19:05 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: D-fendr
“Again, to force the false choice of reason vs. religion or science vs. religion is both incorrect and harmful to both”

It's not a false choice at all. The scientific explanation for the existence of humans is that random events occurred that started life, no need to invoke any higher powers.
And further random events will/can end that life.

Yet the Bible teaches just the opposite, that humans are the direct creation of God and that the present condition of man physically and morally is not upward evolving but deterioration.

Some absolute truths can be known by reason as Paul said God's invisible qualities can be perceived by examining what He has created. Rom. 1:20.

“In addition, the supernatural is outside science capacity.”

Agreed. But this hasn't stopped leaders like the pope from surrendering questions of the supernatural to atheistic science, questions like the origin and formation of life on earth, its purpose and fate.

The attempts to reconcile what is falsely called knowledge with religion has resulted in faith being equated with credulity, belief despite truth and fact.

64 posted on 02/07/2013 1:51:27 PM PST by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough)
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To: Boogieman

It is clear that your intention was to post a reply not meant for discussion, but rather argument.

You make a statement that is inconsistent with what was reported, attempting to pass it off as truth.

You continue to demonstrate that you either haven’t read the article or read it thoroughly.

Your interpretation and comments regarding John 6:56 also demonstrate, like those listening to Jesus, you find it hard to hear and believe. And clearly, the Bible does back my view, as it comes straight from the mouth of Our Lord.

I will pray that your zeal for the Truth leads you to the fullest possible relationship with Our Lord.

May God’s peace fill your heart and days!


65 posted on 02/07/2013 2:04:10 PM PST by SpirituTuo
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To: Alex Murphy
God created the Heavens.

Was this a one time thing, or is the creation ongoing?

Are the stars forming right now through gravity and nuclear fusion any less created by God than our own?

Adam was created “from dust”. The Bible says that I was also created “from dust” and “to dust” I will return. I was also created via natural processes involving DNA.

Was my creation “from dust” less literal than the creation of Adam “from dust”?

66 posted on 02/07/2013 2:07:16 PM PST by allmendream (Tea Party did not send GOP to D.C. to negotiate the terms of our surrender to socialism)
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To: count-your-change
I'll have to stop you at an early point:

The scientific explanation for the existence of humans is that random events occurred that started life, no need to invoke any higher powers.

Some scientist's perhaps, but they are incorrect regarding "Science." Science by itself cannot speak to anything not detectable by the senses and their extensions. It can't address the 'why' only the 'how.' And, since it models what it calls hypotheses, theories and laws, randomness does not answer a scientific question - you can't model true absolute randomness.

The view you are describing is held in the philosophy called Scientism ("That which cannot be known by science does not exist.") Scientism was debunked - it falls in performance error - shortly after it was proposed. It is a fallacy.

If we do not get what science is correctly, we make category errors. And discussing religion and science cannot have the true and necessary foundation.

Thanks for your reply.

67 posted on 02/07/2013 2:32:06 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: SpirituTuo

“You continue to demonstrate that you either haven’t read the article or read it thoroughly.”

No, I’ve read the article and understood it perfectly well. You haven’t bothered to really ask me anything concerning the article, or what in the article led me to my statements, though. I guess that’s because you prefer to falsely ascribe my statement to a single sentence in the article, so you could set up a straw man for yourself to joust against.


68 posted on 02/07/2013 2:54:44 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: allmendream

Excellent point. Creation is ongoing in every instant.


69 posted on 02/07/2013 3:20:31 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: D-fendr
Yes indeed. Those that think knowledge of physical mechanisms is somehow anti-God or removes God have a rather shallow view of God IMHO.

I was created by God.

I was created via cellular mechanisms involving DNA.

Knowledge of the latter does NOT obviate the former.

70 posted on 02/07/2013 3:24:50 PM PST by allmendream (Tea Party did not send GOP to D.C. to negotiate the terms of our surrender to socialism)
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To: D-fendr

“the dice are cast into the lap, but every result is from the Lord”

Who is so foolish as to think that God’s power stops at the casino door? That to say something is “random” is to say that it is beyond the power of God?


71 posted on 02/07/2013 3:26:44 PM PST by allmendream (Tea Party did not send GOP to D.C. to negotiate the terms of our surrender to socialism)
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To: D-fendr

” And, since it models what it calls hypotheses, theories and laws, randomness does not answer a scientific question -you can’t model true absolute randomness.”

And one doesn’t have to. Simply put the term “random” is used by scientists to mean unpredictable or unguided like the meteor that supposedly ended the dinosauer age and gave mouse like mammals the chance to evolve into humans. There is another thread running on this very subject.

“The view you are describing is held in the philosophy called Scientism (”That which cannot be known by science does not exist.”)”

That is not what I am describing at all. That which falls outside the realm of science is unscientific and therefore either myth, folklore, or credulity.

“....randomness does not answer a scientific question...”

Oh but it does! It answers the Why? by saying there is no why, no why of a meteor hit or that life should begin at all. It just did, no why, no purpose, random.


72 posted on 02/07/2013 3:28:16 PM PST by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough)
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To: Boogieman
because the allegories are not written in a way that they could be taken literally by a reasonable person

What does "reasonable" mean? This is the starting point every man should consider in "debates" such as this.

Only until (and unless) at least a group of people, if not all humanity can and does agree about such a definition, then "debates" such as this are little more than exercises in futility.

The proof of this is right here. I believe it is reasonable to view the account in Genesis is "allegorical", you, apparently believe it's reasonable to call it "literal".

This obviously begs the question, "What does it mean to be reasonable?"

Please note I'm asking more an open ended question here. I don't expect an immediate answer or any answer at all really. It's a question intended to inspire serious self reflection and thought, not only for you but anyone reading this really.

Not one to start/continue a debate, or one to "prove" Creationism or Evolution, per se. Because that is never going to be solved on the Internet.

73 posted on 02/07/2013 3:50:41 PM PST by FourtySeven (47)
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To: FourtySeven

“What does “reasonable” mean?”

Well, willing and able to properly apply sound reasoning, I would say. I guess that you could argue about what constitutes sound reasoning, but I don’t subscribe to the idea that it is something that is up for debate, because I am not a relativist.

“The proof of this is right here. I believe it is reasonable to view the account in Genesis is “allegorical”, you, apparently believe it’s reasonable to call it “literal”.”

Just because we can both believe that our position is reasonable does not mean we are both correct. If our positions are mutually exclusive, then either only one of us can be right, or we could both be wrong, but we can’t both be right. The way to determine which is correct is to apply the principles of reasoning, which are pretty well established at this point in history.


74 posted on 02/07/2013 4:04:12 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman
Before, on the third day, while man was created on the sixth day.

Genesis 1:11-12, 26-27

11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Trees created before man.

Genesis 2:4-9 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Trees created after he created man. Not too good as a scientific document.

75 posted on 02/07/2013 4:08:26 PM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: Boogieman
because of the original practice of using the word “is” for metaphorical as well as literal comparisons.

Let’s look at the Greek

Estin- is 3rd person singular active indicative

Mat 3:17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
Mat 3:17 kai idou fwnh ek twn ouranwn legousa outov estin o uiov mou o agaphtov en w eudokhsa

So, is Jesus the Son of God, or does he represent the son of God?

Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"
Mat 17:5 eti autou lalountov idou nefelh fwteinh epeskiasen autouv kai idou fwnh ek thv nefelhv legousa outov estin o uiov mou o agaphtov en w eudokhsa tsbautou akouete aautou

Again, is Jesus the Son of God, or does he represent the son of God?

Mat 26:26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
Mat 26:26 esqiontwn de autwn labwn o ihsouv ton arton kai euxaristhsav euloghsav eklasen kai douv edidou toiv maqhtaiv tsbkai eipen labete fagete touto estin to swma mou

This is the same estin.

Mat 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Mat 26:28 touto gar estin to aima mou to thv kainhv diaqhkhv to peri pollwn ekxunnomenon ekxunomenon eiv afesin amartiwn

This is the same estin.

Mar 14:22 And while they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it; and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is My body."
Mar 14:22 kai esqiontwn autwn labwn o ihsouv arton euloghsav eklasen kai edwken autoiv kai eipen labete fagete touto estin to swma mou

This is the same estin.

Mar 14:24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Mar 14:24 kai eipen autoiv touto estin to aima mou tsbto thv kainhv diaqhkhv to ekxunnomenon uper peri pollwn ekxunomenon

This is the same estin.

So by what scientific logic do you change the estin here to mean ‘represents’? Is means is.

76 posted on 02/07/2013 4:26:18 PM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: count-your-change
Simply put the term “random” is used by scientists to mean unpredictable or unguided like the meteor that supposedly ended the dinosauer age and gave mouse like mammals the chance to evolve into humans.

It would be unscientific to call a meteor unpredictable if you are given the correct variables. It is no more unpredictable than Apollo 11.

And, again, science can not speak to why, purpose in this sense.

A scientist who speaks to this is outside science, a person who claims this is science is in error. Knowing the uses and limits of tools is critical to both scientists and religionists who wish to discuss this.

That is not what I am describing at all. That which falls outside the realm of science is unscientific and therefore either myth, folklore, or credulity.

Again, this is an incorrect view of science. That which falls outside the realm of science is that which is incapable of knowing by the senses and their extensions. This is a great deal of what we can know that in not myth, folklore nor unscientific.

It answers the Why? by saying there is no why, no why of a meteor hit or that life should begin at all. It just did, no why, no purpose, random.

You can have that view but it is not capable of scientific examination nor proof. Science can model mass, velocity, momentum. Why these exist transcends science.

If we wish science and scientists to be mindful of their limitations, we must be clear on them ourselves. Only then is a fruitful and true discussion possible.

77 posted on 02/07/2013 4:26:29 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: FatherofFive

Well, as usual, there is no contradiction in the Bible, only a misunderstanding in your interpretation of the verses. You see, the account in Genesis 1 is a single, self-contained narrative. Chapter 2 is not a continuation of the narrative in Chapter 1, but a different narrative that retells some of the same events, but focuses on different aspects what was summarized in Chapter 1. Now, the verse you cite is specifically talking about the trees in one location on the planet, the Garden of Eden, which he had just created especially for the man to dwell in.

Once you understand that, there is no contradiction in the chronology at all. Here is how it goes:

Day 3 - Fruit-bearing trees created.
Day 6 - Man created.
- Garden of Eden created for man.
- Fruit-bearing trees (which already existed in the rest of the planet) made to grow in the Garden which had just been created for man.

So, where is the contradiction?


78 posted on 02/07/2013 4:29:37 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: FatherofFive

“So by what scientific logic do you change the estin here to mean ‘represents’? Is means is.”

Scientific logic doesn’t come into play at all, since we’re not doing a science experiment. The things that are applicable are grammar, syntax, context, and semantics. I’m sure that you understand these concepts of human language, since you are using them. So, since you must understand that context and the like matter when interpreting statements like “x is y”, you must have some other motive for bringing up these irrelevant arguments. What is it that you are really meaning to get at?


79 posted on 02/07/2013 4:35:18 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: count-your-change
It answers the Why? by saying there is no why,

If this answer is reasoned: "No 'why' can be known or proved by science, therefore it does not exist," this is again the error of Scientism. "Only that which can be known by science exists." This is an demonstrable fallacy and the claim should be exposed as such.

A major obstacle for religion in our culture today is the philosophy of Scientism both among scientists and the public. It's important that we know how to spot it and how to refute it.

At the least we should avoid claiming Scientism is Science and therefore we must choose between Science and Religion. A false choice based on a false premise.

80 posted on 02/07/2013 4:39:09 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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