"Early Hominids" and Catholic Teaching?

[fide]

Because if “God did it” is an acceptable answer, there is no need for science.

Maybe if we knew what “God did”, we could stop wasting precious time looking for bizarre irrational theories to try to explain how it “got done” by mindless probability distributions and uncertain quantum blackouts, and devote our human genius to problems God wants us to solve. Then we could recognize and praise and thank Him for His gifts and blessings, and use those gifts He gave us to make an authentically better world - one more worthy of His creation and His purposes and intentions.

 

[Rau]

Because he is not reachable via the tools at hand.

 

[Rau]

Maybe if we knew what “God did”

Science is examining the how. The what is apparent.

Then we could recognize and praise and thank Him for His gifts and blessings, and use those gifts He gave us to make an authentically better world - one more worthy of His creation and His purposes and intentions.

We can walk and chew gum.

 

[CaptainPrudeman]

When evidence and logic fail us, we turn to God. Otherwise, we would do well to use the tools God has given us. If you believe science is irrational, perhaps it is you who is the problem, and not science.

 

[phil3]

I think the church is silent on this position. I have always been taught that adam and eve were the first “people” that had souls. Their children mated with “people” that didnt have souls but their offspring did.

 

[phil3]

Sorry I was conflating two different things. But I was always taught since there is so much evidence for evolution, then adam and eve can not be the first humans, just the first with souls.

 

[fide]

But I was always taught since there is so much evidence for evolution, then adam and eve can not be the first humans, just the first with souls.

There was sufficient evidence of guilt for many people in prison, who were innocent. Judges and juries can misjudge! Scientists can conclude wrongly.

 

[fide]

fide:

Maybe if we knew what “God did”

Science is examining the how. The what is apparent.

Then we could recognize and praise and thank Him for His gifts and blessings, and use those gifts He gave us to make an authentically better world - one more worthy of His creation and His purposes and intentions.

We can walk and chew gum.

Neither the what nor the how is directly apparent, or measurable, or rationally understandable - not in the age of quantum physics and special/general relativity. We are groping in darkness, and imagining things we then begin to believe in.

We know not where we are walking, nor what we are chewing. But we are keeping busy, and writing and teaching and drawing a salary. And the days pass, one at a time, toward a last day.

 

[fide]

@fide:

There was sufficient evidence of guilt for many people in prison, who were innocent. Judges and juries can misjudge! Scientists can conclude wrongly.

Our faith is grounded in the inerrancy of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus - God the Son - promised to send to His Church to guide her into all the TRUTH.

Jn 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Jn 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Jn 16:15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Church does not rest in the opinions and conclusions of theologians. She rests, and is called to remain, in God who IS truth.

 

[fide]

And the good ones are worth listening to. Anyone who seeks and hungers for Truth, is invited to

1. come and see,
2. listen and learn - from God’s Word, Truth, and
3. walk in the Truth, and live.

 

[fide]

You first. To whom am I speaking?

 

[Montrose]

How do YOU determine who is a “good” one?

Those who do not contradict or doubt the teachings of the Church.

 

[Rau]

We are groping in darkness, and imagining things we then begin to believe in.

We know not where we are walking, nor what we are chewing. But we are keeping busy, and writing and teaching and drawing a salary. And the days pass, one at a time, toward a last day.

Right then. Let’s throw our hands into the air and cease applying our God-given brains.

 

[fide]

Write then. Let’s throw our hands into the air and cease applying our God-given brains.

I’m not suggesting that! There is another option. Yes God gave us a mind, and a heart, and a will, and a memory… and most important, He gave us Himself! And He gave us access to Truth - Truth which is not a product or work of the human mind, but is light which enlightens the human mind, and illuminates the path we are called to walk.

 

[TMC]

Here is what the Church had to say on the topic in 2004. It was written by the International Theological Commission and approved by then-Cardinal Ratzinger: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...th_doc_20040723_communion-stewardship_en.html

Here is a relevant quote:

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.

That is a short quote in a relatively long document, so its worth reading more. It is found in paragraph 63 of the document.

 

[whatistrue]

Why is God not allowed into a study of His creation?

Science has been described as the art of discovering the ways in which God made the world. But science cannot deal with that which it cannot measure or describe. God cannot be measured or completely described by Man, so God cannot be confined by science, nor can He be limited to what science can explain.

 

[fide]

… 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…

Acknowledgment of “a case” for something may be interesting to some, but is a long way from inclusion in the Faith of the Church.

 

[fide]

Science has been described as the art of discovering the ways in which God made the world. But science cannot deal with that which it cannot measure or describe. God cannot be measured or completely described by Man, so God cannot be confined by science, nor can He be limited to what science can explain.

Not only He cannot “be limited to what science can explain”, He also cannot be bound to what science attempts or purports to explain. Science is not only limited in its conclusions, it is also not infallible in its conclusions.

 

[whatistrue]

Science is not only limited in its conclusions, it is also not infallible in its conclusions.

And no one here has claimed otherwise as far as I can tell. To reiterate what has been said before; science cannot speak to God’s actions, but that does not mean that science denies God. Individual scientists may, but science itself is simply silent on the matter of God.

 

[Dovekin]

TMC:

… 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…

Acknowledgment of “a case” for something may be interesting to some, but is a long way from inclusion in the Faith of the Church.

Acknowledgement of “a convincing case” means the Faith of the Church cannot exclude it. If there is a conflict, the case is not convincing or the Faith is not understood well enough. God is never understood well enough.