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Church needs better evolution education, says bishops' official
Catholic News Service ^ | 2-1-2005

Posted on 02/07/2005 7:30:07 AM PST by mike182d

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Catholic educators need better teaching programs about evolution "to correct the anti-evolution biases that Catholics pick up" from the general society, according to a U.S. bishops' official involved in dialogue with scientists for 20 years.

Without a church view of human creation that is consistent with currently accepted scientific knowledge, "Catholicism may begin to seem less and less 'realistic' to more and more thoughtful people," said David Byers, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Science and Human Values from 1984 to 2003.

"That dynamic is a far greater obstacle to religious assent than evolution," he said in a bylined article in the Feb. 7 issue of America, a weekly magazine published in New York by the Jesuits. The article discussed the value of the dialogues with scientists organized by the bishops' committee.

"Denying that humans evolved seems by this point a waste of time," he said without mentioning specific controversies in the United States.

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: bishops; catholic; church; creation; evolution; god; schools; science
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To: nmh

> "Incorrect. What physical mechanisms did God use? Lay out the specifics in detail."

> I've got volumes of books on different theories ...

None of which are contained in Genesis. Face it: Genesis is vague.

> believe in evolution even though it defies the very laws of science

That's the common Creationist lie, yes. But it remains a lie, no matter how many times repeated.

> Admit you don't believe what God has stated.

I don't believe much of what the Bible says as being literal fact. Whether God "said" what's in the Bible is another discussion entirely.

> You are not a "heretic".

That's because I'm not a Christian and do not claim to be. hwoever, in your dark little world, anyone who claims to be both an evolutionist and a Christian is a heretic.

> We are talking about Genesis, not the Good Samaritan or parables.

And the difference is? Was God's stenographer disallowed from lying in Genesis, but it was OK for Jesus to do so? Why are parables OK in the NT but not the OT?

> six literal twenty four hour days

A great many CHristians disagree with you on the literalness of those 6 days. Since that is manifestly refuted by the natural record, it can be written off as either parable, misunderstanding, or a different definition of what a day is.

> you don't believe what the Bible states very clearly about Creation.

The Bible states very little clearly about the creation of the universe, Earth and life. It says little more than "God did it." that is not helpful in any fashion. Imagine trying to learn how to drive a car, build a car, maintain a car with no more instruction than "Henry Ford did it."


161 posted on 02/07/2005 9:50:58 AM PST by orionblamblam
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To: John_Wheatley
Well in the Bible it advocates cannibalism and slavery. Is this ok for you?

May I suggest you take a course in Biblical exegesis prior to talking about that which you are obviously ignorant.
162 posted on 02/07/2005 9:51:29 AM PST by GarySpFc (Sneakypete, De Oppresso Liber)
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To: mike182d
When we have evidence of species naturally giving birth to a species other than its own, I will acknolwedge your rebutal.

Well, the TOE would actually say such an event would be impossible.

163 posted on 02/07/2005 9:52:25 AM PST by Modernman (What is moral is what you feel good after. - Ernest Hemingway)
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To: MississippiMan
Thanks for the bracing response. I'm a New York transplant to Mississippi - came with the military and it became home...

God Bless

164 posted on 02/07/2005 9:53:57 AM PST by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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Comment #165 Removed by Moderator

To: mike182d
The evolutionist would say "Ah, given millions and millions of years, this information could have been compiled naturally." and not have a clue as to how to explain this.

Nonsense, of course, as books do not reproduce.

166 posted on 02/07/2005 9:55:07 AM PST by Modernman (What is moral is what you feel good after. - Ernest Hemingway)
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To: John_Wheatley

Again, John, when did I say the Bible at any point was not True? I said it was not always, and never has been considered by the church, to be 100% literal. Pay attention.


167 posted on 02/07/2005 10:00:06 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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Comment #168 Removed by Moderator

To: mike182d
"Betrayal" is the only word I can think of right now...

I would also feel betrayed if this were anything more than one man's opinion. As the former committee chairman of a national bishop's organization, his views mean no more than anyone else's. I expect more of these meaningless outbursts as the left attempts to take advantage of their increasing perception of the Pope's weakness.

169 posted on 02/07/2005 10:04:10 AM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: Lunatic Fringe
Evolution and natural selection is an undeniable fact.

There is no such thing as fact in science, only theories with varying levels of evidence.

170 posted on 02/07/2005 10:05:09 AM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: mike182d

Why is this such a suprise? The Catholic church has long accepted the Theory of Evolution as the most likely cause of speciation.


171 posted on 02/07/2005 10:06:18 AM PST by Zeroisanumber
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To: John_Wheatley

No it doesn't advocate that.


172 posted on 02/07/2005 10:10:01 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: trebb

Most welcome, Trebb. And a belated welcome to Mississippi! NY to MS probably caused some degree of culture shock, eh? :-)

MM


173 posted on 02/07/2005 10:11:49 AM PST by MississippiMan (Americans should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.)
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To: John_Wheatley

Is there any doubt that God created everything absolutely not? Is it true that he created a paradise for humanity, but through our failings we have been unable to enjoy it? Certainly.

Is evolution in conflict with Christian theology? Absolutely not, even the church has said so.. evolution, by its very existence in all things is proof of God's existence. Only fundamentalists who believe nearly, if not, every word is literal see conflict between evolution and faith.

God has revealed the truth to us through the Bible, we can answer the HOW through scientific exploration... we cannot answer the Why. I highly doubt that God sat down and revealed Quarks and Gravitons to the ancient Israelites.. as they no more could comprehend that then they could Intergalactic space or even the "theory of evolution"... While Human beings understanging of their Universe has grown since the time of the Bible, it no more means the Bible is not True.

The Bible is the truth revealed to man, does that mean that every syllable is literal? Of course not, and the oldest Christian Church on the planet has NEVER accepted or even advocated that it was 100% literal. Those lines of thinking are products of offshoots that broke away from the Church long ago.. they were never the core principals of believes of Catholic theology.


174 posted on 02/07/2005 10:12:29 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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Comment #175 Removed by Moderator

To: orionblamblam
"That's because I'm not a Christian and do not claim to be. hwoever, in your dark little world, anyone who claims to be both an evolutionist and a Christian is a heretic."

I see what you root problem is.

To the contrary, my world is not dark. I have peace and contentment and much to look forward to.

If you ever want to have that - e-mail me privately and I can elaborate.

As for "Christians" believing in evolution, that is an oxymoron. You cannot believe in both. Two opposing views cannot be true at the same time - the law of non contradiction steps in ... .
176 posted on 02/07/2005 10:14:02 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: nmh
Notice how you elevate a mere fallible mortal above what is written in the Bible to validate what you PREFER to believe.

No, no, no, and again no.

What I did is take an early father of the Church (he was actually around before the Bible, I would note), and use him to demonstrate that the idea that the 7 days of creation (in which I do believe) were of 24 hours is utterly barmy. Do you respond to his point or not?

A day is the time it takes for the earth to revolve once on its axis (though of course given your views you may well be a flat-earther); how can we make any suggestion at how long a 'day' is before the earth is there to revolve?

This is not about putting anybody above the Bible, but rather it is realising that what the Bible says is true and that in many parts it is allegorical in what it is saying.

So sad.

What is sad is that some people, having rejected the Divinely instituted authority of the Church, are grabbing at bits all over the place to support what are patently false hypotheses.
177 posted on 02/07/2005 10:17:18 AM PST by tjwmason (For he himself has said, and it's greatly to his credit, he remains an Englishman.)
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To: Lunatic Fringe

AMEN!


178 posted on 02/07/2005 10:17:20 AM PST by Clemenza (Are you going to bark all day, little doggie, or are you going to bite?)
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To: John_Wheatley
John what you have posted is truth. The Israelites killed women and children and even sawed people in half, and God even advocated it.

I dont see the point you are trying to make. The Bible is literal in places and figurative in places. The Psalms and Song of Soloman are very poetic and figurative in nature, but they also contain Truth undeniable. The book of Chronicles is very historic and literal as it chronicles the history of Israel.

JM
179 posted on 02/07/2005 10:19:17 AM PST by JohnnyM
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To: tjwmason
"how can we make any suggestion at how long a 'day' is before the earth is there to revolve?"

You are not reading your Bible. The earth was there at Day 1.

JM
180 posted on 02/07/2005 10:21:35 AM PST by JohnnyM
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