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 ...
> "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."
Well, the TOE would actually say such an event would be impossible.
God Bless
Nonsense, of course, as books do not reproduce.
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.
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.
There is no such thing as fact in science, only theories with varying levels of evidence.
Why is this such a suprise? The Catholic church has long accepted the Theory of Evolution as the most likely cause of speciation.
No it doesn't advocate that.
Most welcome, Trebb. And a belated welcome to Mississippi! NY to MS probably caused some degree of culture shock, eh? :-)
MM
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.
AMEN!
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