jdnation << G. Richard Bozarth, ‘The Meaning of Evolution’, American Atheist, p. 30. 20 September 1979. >>
Yep, there is a big difference between me and you. I always quote
the modern Popes, you quote atheists and AnswersInGenesis. That makes sense only if you aren’t Catholic but are Fundy Prot or Fundy atheist. Now which is it?
Even atheists like
Michael Ruse recognizes evolution does not necessarily conflict with Christian faith. And here is something on
Adam/Eve and the hominids. No,
Ken Miller,
Keith Miller,
Denis Lamoureux,
Darrel Falk, the
Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI are not out to destroy Christianity. Sorry, but I beg to differ with your
Ken Ham logic. BTW, there’s nothing vague about this:
“According to the widely accepted scientific account, the universe erupted 15 billion years ago in an explosion called the ‘Big Bang’ and has been expanding and cooling ever since. Later there gradually emerged the conditions necessary for the formation of atoms, still later the condensation of galaxies and stars, and about 10 billion years later the formation of planets. In our own solar system and on earth (formed about 4.5 billion years ago), the conditions have been favorable to the emergence of life. While there is little consensus among scientists about how the origin of this first microscopic life is to be explained, there is general agreement among them that the first organism dwelt on this planet about 3.5 - 4 billion years ago. Since it has been demonstrated that all living organisms on earth are genetically related, it is virtually certain that all living organisms have descended from this first organism. Converging evidence from many studies in the physical and biological sciences furnishes mounting support for some theory of evolution to account for the development and diversification of life on earth, while controversy continues over the pace and mechanisms of evolution. While the story of human origins is complex and subject to revision, physical anthropology and molecular biology combine to make a convincing case for the origin of the human species in Africa about 150,000 years ago in a humanoid population of common genetic lineage. However it is to be explained, the decisive factor in human origins was a continually increasing brain size, culminating in that of homo sapiens. With the development of the human brain, the nature and rate of evolution were permanently altered: with the introduction of the uniquely human factors of consciousness, intentionality, freedom and creativity, biological evolution was recast as social and cultural evolution.” (From the International Theological Commission, headed by then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVI, statement
"Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God," plenary sessions held in Rome 2000-2002, published July 2004)
Phil P
I don’t see how quoting the modern Popes has anything to usefully say. One can quote many modern bishops priests etc on views contrary to Catholic teachings dogmas and morality. It doesn’t make it true. Since there is no infalliable pronouncement on the 6 day creation, we are still going to be arguing about it. But instead of simply brushing off ‘fundys’ or even for that matter atheists… why don’t you try and answer their questions? Or maybe even Jesus Christ for that matter who defended marriage by saying that at the very beginning God made them male and female, talked about Adam and Noah as real people and why God HImself would command the Israelites to follow the 7 day week saying that that was how he created the world. After all, you quote people like Stephen Jay Gould on your website and don’t have any problem… even with a theory popularized by Darwin, a self professed agnostic. Furthermore I now believe evolution to simply be a bad theory and find the Creationist one much more scientifically sound, of course with the prior assumption that the Bible is the Word of God and inerrant and all that…
