Creating Adam from dust from the ground

[Danny69]

I know the Church gives various parameters for belief in the creation narrative and I was wondering whether Catholics are required to believe that God created Adam from the dust of the ground?

Any references would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[COPLAND_3]

I don’t know what the actual limits are on what is acceptable or not. But I have done a commentary on the first 3 chapters of Genesis based upon the Church Fathers and the Catechism of the Catholic Church litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Commentary+on+Genesis+by+John+Litteral

 

[denwiles]

I know the Church gives various parameters for belief in the creation narrative and I was wondering whether Catholics are required to believe that God created Adam from the dust of the ground?

Any references would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Hello and God Bless- The question I have for you is why wouldn’t you or whoever. If God Said it I believe it!!! Besides everything in the ground vitamins and minerals you need in your body to survive. Next time you pick up that big glass of Ice cold water, remember without it you die, So give thanks to God today, for everything. God Bless you

 

[Seraphim25]

Obviously, this questions is in immense scrutiny not by scientists but also, by the church itself. For one to believe in evolution does not hinder ones relationship with God creating humanity, therefore, it appears as though genesis shouldn’t be taken literally. For one, one day in Gods years is BUT a thousand years. This phrases illustrates the timelessness of God when the prophet asked this question. Man can not comprehend infinite and or without time. Man is governed by time. When we read Genesis I believe that the meaning behind it is solely to understand who the creator is. Namely God who created everything from nothing in the manner at which God saw fit.
I subjectively do not take Genesis literally because God is spirit and therefore, we need to understand that man wouldn’t be able to understand how God exactly created everything. Another good example is God created everything in 6 days and on the 7th day God rested from all his work. What was the commandment that the Israelite were to observe? To keep the 7th day (Sabbath’s rest) holy and rest from all mans work. This was to reflect on God’s creation and to wind down and give thanks to God for creating everything.

 

[diggerdomer]

I know the Church gives various parameters for belief in the creation narrative and I was wondering whether Catholics are required to believe that God created Adam from the dust of the ground?

Any references would be appreciated.

Thanks.

As we pray in the Creed, we believe God is Creator. We are creatures. That is what is “required.”

Scripture can be interpreted in many ways (and has been through the ages by the Church)–see Catechism para 115 f. (scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a3.htm#III). Catholics are free to interpret what you ask in a literalistic manner or not regarding whether Adam was created from the dust of the ground. We are also free to interpret the other creation story, where the dust of the ground is not mentioned, in a literalistic fashion or not.

 

[Benadam]

This is too easy to believe. That the flesh of man is made of earthly stuff the author called dust is not easily denied. Even those who believe we are made of stuff from another planet is within the scope of the mythical language used by the authors of the book of Genesis. Earth is a word attached to the concept of matter, earth is sometimes a word attached to the concept of flesh.

It’s the denial that we are created by God that becomes an obstacle. It is hard to deny that we are living matter. This is the gist of the meaning. “God gathered the dust of the earth and formed man.”

 

[diggerdomer]

This is too easy to believe. "

Sorry to not understand, but what exactly are you referring to by “This”?

Thanks!

 

[COPLAND_3]

To be made from the dust of the earth means that Adam’s body was created from the elements of the earth. Even if you believe in evolution then being from the dust of the earth would be in harmony with it. Adam’s soul is the part of him that was not made from the elements of the earth but created from nothing by God.

 

[juliamajor]

Creation imagery in many cultures has a creator forming humans from dirt or clay.Native americans believed that we were formed from clay and then baked. That’s why the human race has different colors. The creator undercooked a bunch- these were white folks, The creator overcooked a bunch - these were black folks.The last bunch the Great Spirit cooked just right-these were the red folks.
Greek mythology man is also earth born.Mesopotamian clay people were made to serve and feed the gods…
I think the archetype points to the human race being earth born.

 

[John7]

Just for information
the NT supports the ancient Genesis account of ‘Adam from the dust of the Ground’

1 Corinthians 15 (NRSV)

45 Thus it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

46 But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual.

47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven.

49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.

 

[Benadam]

Sorry to not understand, but what exactly are you referring to by “This”?

Thanks!

Hi digger. By ’ this’ I mean the author of Gensis’ use of the term ‘dust of the earth’ as commonly translated, in reference to what God made us of.

Once it is understood that the term ’ dust of the earth’ is the author’s way of saying ‘matter of earth’ or ‘stuff of the earth’ , I think it is easy to believe.

I think there are deeper meanings but on the surface it’s easy to believe on that level.