Barbarian observes
No. But it’s quite possible that real people, like Adam can coexist in scripture with parables about other people who do not really exist. If you thought about it, you could see this, I think.
This line of thought sounds interesting but it is unclear. Can you explain please?
Jesus, for example, is in various books of the Bible, in which He gives parables. The Good Samaritan was very unlikely to be historically true, but Jesus and His apostles are.
Barbarian (regarding the number of Fathers who thought the creation week was literal)
Almost as many who thought the Earth was stationary and the sun orbited around it. Not surprising.
The difference is that whether or not the earth rotates does not directly affect any doctrine that I could think of.
Neither does evolution. The difference is that it doesn’t scare people that the Earth goes around the sun. But then they’ve had a few hundred years to get used to that one. Evolution is going to take perhaps the same time.
Evolution, on the other hand, creates the absurd scenario that at some point a pseudo-human without an immortal soul, destined to become a mere pile of ashes, gave birth to a human with an immortal soul, destined to exist eternally in heaven or hell.
No. Such a thing can’t be part of a scientific theory. But since the Church teaches that we are each given an immortal soul immediately by God, any of us who did not receive that gift would indeed be a pseudo-human, destined to become a mere pile of ashes. God is not constrained by our sense of what is proper for Him to do.
It also affects original sin as evolutionary theory excludes the possibility that we have all descended from Adam and Eve.
If so, it’s very peculiar that the Pope (who has written that evolution is the way humans were created) hasn’t noticed that.
Barbarian obsaerves:
Augustine had a cautionary word for trying to make that sort of thing into God’s word:
You’re not the first theistic evolutinist that has brought this quote up with me.
Not surprising. Then, as now, people did considerable damage to Christianity by adding their own beliefs to the faith.
Keep in mind that St. Augustine also said that the authority of Scripture outweighs any human reasoning.
Which merely adds gravity to his warning. You should heed it; it harms the Church when you don’t.
Speaking about the waters above the firmament alluded to in Genesis, St. Augustine proposes various possibilities about what this water may be, which was not observed by science, and to conclude his discussion he says (I am paraphrasing): whatever the “waters of the firmament” may be we must accept that they exist, for the authority of Scripture is higher than any human reasoning.
Like the Fathers who supposed that the Sun really did orbit the Earth, I guess. But he didn’t have the benefit of our knowledge.
Barbarian observes:
If that were true, I very much doubt the Pope would have accepted evolution, no matter how strong the evidence.
So then logically the Pope’s next step would be to answer the questions I have posted. He has not done so yet.
Misplaced prioirties, um? There’s a conference in the works, and maybe we’ll see something of value come of it.
(Defends assumption that atheists are evolutionists)
Barbarian asks:
Most Christians who deny evolution are Protestants. Should I assume you are a Protestant?
Since my creationist stance has been gleaned…
So it’s not such a good idea applied to you, um? Golden Rule applies?
