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JudiTherese
Guest
Why do Catholic schools teach evolution?
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hildegaard
Guest
Weakness of faith, dominance of scientism as the primary mode of atheistic materialist naturalism of academia, victory of the beast of Apoc. 13. Amongst other things.
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CoG
Guest
Physical evolution is a fact. Genetic makeup can and does change. This is in keeping with the great design of God. The church is required to teach the truth.
It is the extension of evolution that is wrong and the source of much evil. Evolution does not negate the requirement for God, in fact it is a testament to the great creation God has done.
It is the false belief that man, in likeness of God is the result of evolution. There is no link between the intelligence, freewill, and the ability to create and evolution. In fact, there is no evidence of evolution between species either.
Evolution can only be shown for adaptation of a species to the environment.
It is the extension of evolution that is wrong and the source of much evil. Evolution does not negate the requirement for God, in fact it is a testament to the great creation God has done.
It is the false belief that man, in likeness of God is the result of evolution. There is no link between the intelligence, freewill, and the ability to create and evolution. In fact, there is no evidence of evolution between species either.
Evolution can only be shown for adaptation of a species to the environment.
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SeekerJen
Guest
Because the Catholic Church does not believe that evolutionary theory is contradictory to the belief that God created the universe. We believe that God created; how exactly God created remains a mystery. God’s ways are not our ways.
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The_Catholic
Guest
There is plenty of evidence for evolution between species. There is plenty of evidence for evolution: The fossil record, biogeography, comparative anatomy, developmental similarities, compararative biochemistry/physiology. Most don’t take the time to learn because, well frankly they’re probably afraid of what it might do to their faith. But in the 19’th century, things such as 6 day literalism and “a period of time” for Genesis wasn’t so much a big deal or heated issue. Thank Ellen White for starting all that, along with Henery Morris for causing such a mess that now-a-days it’s the most heated topic…
There’s nothing to fear in evolution, it enables us, in a way, to be free creatures, brings respect for other animals (in times past some of the religious thought of animals as emotionless entities, therefore resulting in cruelty) and gives greater wonder to the universe.
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edwest2
Guest
Read what Pope Benedict had to say:
timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1645453.ece
“respect for other animals”? Human beings are not other animals.
God bless,
Ed
timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1645453.ece
“respect for other animals”? Human beings are not other animals.
God bless,
Ed
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The_Catholic
Guest
I should have stated it better, but you know what I mean. Just because animals do not have God’s image, does not mean they should be treated as emotionless entities of man’s do-whatever-to materials, as what many “religious” people have done in the past.
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Cathy
Guest
Yesterday (Friday, August 29, 2008), Jimmy Aken had some interesting answers to this question. You can check them out in the archives of this web site by going to the program for that date.
He addressed both the fact that the Church teaches that each individual human soul is created specially by God, including the souls of the first man and woman, and that the Church does not specify how their bodies came up from the dust, other than to affirm that God was directing the process (this is just my attempt to paraphrase Jimmy, and it may not be very clear).
In a later question on the show, he addressed the question of why we have fossils of creatures that died before the first humans came on the scene. He referred to Thomas Aquinas for that answer, and his explanation that entropy was already present in the cosmos before the first humans. For example, stars cannot shine without entropy. After the fall, humans were no longer supported fully by grace, and so they began to die along with the animals and plants. Again, my apologies to Jimmy for a poor paraphrase. Listen to his answers if you can.
He addressed both the fact that the Church teaches that each individual human soul is created specially by God, including the souls of the first man and woman, and that the Church does not specify how their bodies came up from the dust, other than to affirm that God was directing the process (this is just my attempt to paraphrase Jimmy, and it may not be very clear).
In a later question on the show, he addressed the question of why we have fossils of creatures that died before the first humans came on the scene. He referred to Thomas Aquinas for that answer, and his explanation that entropy was already present in the cosmos before the first humans. For example, stars cannot shine without entropy. After the fall, humans were no longer supported fully by grace, and so they began to die along with the animals and plants. Again, my apologies to Jimmy for a poor paraphrase. Listen to his answers if you can.
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The_Catholic
Guest
i usually avoid speaking this cause i get beat up and dominated in here by my brothers and sisters, and i know i should accept this, but i can’t, and i wonder where this leaves me with the church. it’s hard to take in that human beings were not going to die, as the animals were. we’re not much different than them, sure our brains are so much more complex, but overall we both share much in common with this world.
neither can i accept that God directed every piece of the universe, if so, then there is many problems to that, such as genetic mistakes and all the poorly “created” fetures we all bare, not to mention the “red tooth in claw” of nature, especially instincts of the sadistic cat that slowly tortures a mouse, sometimes never eating it and the Ichneumonidae. Perhaps God began the universe then let go, allowing it to flow it’s own free course, then created our souls, and intervenes with our lives? I don’t know.
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edwest2
Guest
With all due respect, ‘I don’t know’ cannot be the answer. The Church teaches evolution and it also teaches God was intimately involved. Random mutation and natural selection are not enough.
God bless,
Ed
God bless,
Ed
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SeekerJen
Guest
I look at disadvantageous random mutations as being in the same league as evil. God doesn’t cause them but allows them to happen.
This is tough stuff. It’s a perfect example of something that science cannot and should not attempt to answer. We can observe and make theories, and the evolutionary theory is the best attempt to explain what we have observed, but in no way can it even come close to answering the “why” or even all of the “how”.
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MarcoPolo
Guest
Regarding the imputation of the “soul” by God, I would also recommend reading fellow CAF member PhilVaz’s article presenting evidence for evolution and an old earth. Do a search for the word “soul” for the pertinent paragraph. I imagine Jimmy espoused something similar?
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CoG
Guest
The Catholic
It must be understood that evolution is the process of change from to another without direct cause of change. If a chemical, for example, or some other outside influence is introduced that changes the genetic makeup by mutation of the genes, that is not evolution.
It is more likely that the different species are a result of a causative action. It is the non-critical thinking that lumps evolution as the cause of all differences.
Since we do not see and have not seen any changes in recorded history where one species has produced a different species by evolution, the attribution of evolution to the production of different species must not be assumed.
None of this has anything to do with the method God uses. It is however, important not to loose site of critical thinking when looking into His methods. The search for real truth is important.
There is no direct evidence. There are similarities that have been attributed to evolution but there is no direct evidence that the similarities are the result of evolution.
It must be understood that evolution is the process of change from to another without direct cause of change. If a chemical, for example, or some other outside influence is introduced that changes the genetic makeup by mutation of the genes, that is not evolution.
It is more likely that the different species are a result of a causative action. It is the non-critical thinking that lumps evolution as the cause of all differences.
Since we do not see and have not seen any changes in recorded history where one species has produced a different species by evolution, the attribution of evolution to the production of different species must not be assumed.
None of this has anything to do with the method God uses. It is however, important not to loose site of critical thinking when looking into His methods. The search for real truth is important.
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Chancellor
Guest
Catholic schools teach evolution because it is true. Catholic schools teach Catholic theology because it is true. Our Pope Benedict XVI is an extraordinarily fine example of one who truly knows that good science is never at odds with the Catholic faith.
Creationism is the notion that bad science is good theology.
By teaching the truths of evolution, Catholic schools can also do battle against those who that evolution leads to atheism. God alone created the heavens and the earth, good science is about learning something about how He did it.
The tragedy of creationism is that some people foolishly believe that the must reject science if they are going to bekieve in God. The world is full of ex-fundamentalists who lost their faith when they found science that they could not refute.
Probably the best support of evolution is genetics, a science invented by Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian Catholic Priest.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God and the earth reveals His splendor. And good science sharpens our eye so that we can see the works of God more clearly.
Please don’t be fooled into thinking that creationism does God a favor.
Thank you for a good honest question, and God bless you.
Creationism is the notion that bad science is good theology.
By teaching the truths of evolution, Catholic schools can also do battle against those who that evolution leads to atheism. God alone created the heavens and the earth, good science is about learning something about how He did it.
The tragedy of creationism is that some people foolishly believe that the must reject science if they are going to bekieve in God. The world is full of ex-fundamentalists who lost their faith when they found science that they could not refute.
Probably the best support of evolution is genetics, a science invented by Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian Catholic Priest.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God and the earth reveals His splendor. And good science sharpens our eye so that we can see the works of God more clearly.
Please don’t be fooled into thinking that creationism does God a favor.
Thank you for a good honest question, and God bless you.
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Chancellor
Guest
To The Catholic:
Thank You. Every human being has died. Every human being has suffered. Some seem to suffer more who deserve it less.
When I read your post I was reminded that there is a place not far away where all of our theology and all of our science can no longer help.
You are very honest when you say that you don’t know. We all don’t know. These days so many Catholics forget that our faith is based on the Mysteries. Sometimes I think that Catholics should stop pretending to be fundamentalist protestants with a simplistic answer for everything. No one ever got to know God very well that way.
The Chancellor
Thank You. Every human being has died. Every human being has suffered. Some seem to suffer more who deserve it less.
When I read your post I was reminded that there is a place not far away where all of our theology and all of our science can no longer help.
You are very honest when you say that you don’t know. We all don’t know. These days so many Catholics forget that our faith is based on the Mysteries. Sometimes I think that Catholics should stop pretending to be fundamentalist protestants with a simplistic answer for everything. No one ever got to know God very well that way.
The Chancellor
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The_Catholic
Guest
Again, there is plenty of evidence, if you’re willing to look at it, especially the five features I listed. The fossils do record one species evolving into another, there are no more, in general, “missing links” from fish to amphibian, amphibian to reptile, reptile to mammal, ape-like creature to human.
experiments, genetics and biology all attribute to evolution as well. I’m not going to get started on another typical evolution debate, it grows tireing, like trying to tell a Protestant that Catholics don’t worship the Pope, and the Protestant still can never get it. Not that I’m implying that you’ll never “get it,” just that I’m not going to argue which will probably turn into a 1000 post thread.
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The_Catholic
Guest
"I don’t know," edwest2, was MY answer. I know what the Church says.
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The_Catholic
Guest
Thank you and God bless you. It’s rare for me in these forums that I get friendly conversations
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The_Catholic
Guest
You said it PERFECT!! Creationists are the exact reasons many non-believers look at theists as ignorant illogical fools. And many do abandon their faith when science refutes a 6 day creation. Though there should not be any need to!
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CoG
Guest
The Catholic
There appears to have been animal man before Adam and Eve, about 40000 years BC. At some point about 6000 to 10000 years BC God gave to two people of the species animal man an eternal soul.
The reason this seems to be correct is that the physical man is not much different before or after the time of the start of rational man.
Not taking the Bible story literally in every respect but just noting events we see it stated that the people after Adam lived very long lives.
It is also noted that Kane took a wife from the land of Nod. This wife would not have been of the likeness of God. In the years that followed many men intermixed with people not of the line of Adam. Over the years, the life span of Man of Adam went from about 700 years to less then 40 years.
In the Bible, it says that death was a result of the sin of Adam and Eve. Considering that God would have given Adam and Eve perfect genes that could have allowed them to live forever. It would answer the story in the Old Testament.
If man of God started with perfect genes there would also be no concern of intermarriage. All through to Old Testament God is trying to keep the Jews from marrying out side of their people. This may have not only been for religious reason but for the genetic reasons.
Is this story correct? It has as much rational argument as any in evolution.
My intent is not a debate. I thought you were able to discuss the different possible causes of genetic changes. I see the subject is not of interest to you or that you make no distinctions. I find the different ways that God works most interesting. For example:
There appears to have been animal man before Adam and Eve, about 40000 years BC. At some point about 6000 to 10000 years BC God gave to two people of the species animal man an eternal soul.
The reason this seems to be correct is that the physical man is not much different before or after the time of the start of rational man.
Not taking the Bible story literally in every respect but just noting events we see it stated that the people after Adam lived very long lives.
It is also noted that Kane took a wife from the land of Nod. This wife would not have been of the likeness of God. In the years that followed many men intermixed with people not of the line of Adam. Over the years, the life span of Man of Adam went from about 700 years to less then 40 years.
In the Bible, it says that death was a result of the sin of Adam and Eve. Considering that God would have given Adam and Eve perfect genes that could have allowed them to live forever. It would answer the story in the Old Testament.
If man of God started with perfect genes there would also be no concern of intermarriage. All through to Old Testament God is trying to keep the Jews from marrying out side of their people. This may have not only been for religious reason but for the genetic reasons.
Is this story correct? It has as much rational argument as any in evolution.
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