The evidence…is being used to push an atheistic worldview. Ed
Thats like an atheists rejecting Catholicism on the basis of certain abuses that came about as a result of the Inquisition.
Atheists are promoting an Atheist image of evolution, knowing that the public are largely ignorant of church history and its relationship with science and how the church has handle bible interpretations historically. They are taking advantage of the bible fundamentalists who rely purely on solo scripture, and they have taken advantage of peoples assumption that genesis is authoritive as a historical text ( Naturalists themselves push a literal interpretation of scripture in order to make you think that your faith is false).
It is true that there is alot of intelectual pressure to believe in evolution or be called a fool; and advise no one to believe on that account. Writings from early Church Fathers and Saints, proves that we do not have to take genesis as a literal historical event, but the Church also allows for a belief in a historical interpretation of genesis; this is because they know that a lot of people have based there whole faith on a literal interpretation of the bible. The Church has to worry about peoples souls (of course evolution could be false, but that seems very unlikly to me as i learn more about the mechanisms involved). There are a lot of “all or nothing” ideas out there. It seems to me, that people have more faith in there own authority to interpret the bible, then the words of our Pope, and that’s judging from peoples reaction to John Paul’s remark on the evolution theory; the way people were despairing, anyone would have thought that poor John was saying that God does not exist!!! Can you see the deception now? The church is slowly trying to “ween” people of past mistakes. Catholicism is not an ad-hoc faith (like atheism); rather, a mixture of Naturalism and modern fundamentalism, blindly plays its part to falsely make it appear so.
In my mind, the scientific revolution came about by the hand of God as a punishment. Christians should have been open about the findings of science and evolution, but because of our arrogance, are enemies are now using it against us, and in my opinion, fundamentalists are taking away the glory of God.
It’s all propaganda, which was started by those who “politically” wanted freedom from Church rule. This seems, to me, to be the root of the problem; corruption in the Church. Science was used as a political front against the Church, and they used it in such a way as to make the masses feel like they were being liberated into a free world where there was no evil Church to control them and no God to make demands on them; evolution was the real truth. The campaign was powerful, partly because science was actually (coincidently) revealing natural mechanisms that didn’t need a “direct” interference of God to explain nature; partly because people are sinners, and evolution seemed like a good excuse to not believe in God and face up to the strict moral responsibilities of spiritual life, and partly because the Church (in my opinion) was ruling through fear and blind-faith- submission.
It seems to me (in my opinion) that because the Church was afraid of losing control, when they should have been adapting and being open to the masses, (I’m sure some had good intentions) they used genesis and the Bible along with emotional blackmail (fear of disrespecting God) in order to keep society under Catholic rule, and to suppress what science was revealing (bad move). I think the Church at that time where more ruling through fear and forceful authority rather then spiritual enlightenment and love; this would explain why there was such a severe mental backlash against the Church when naturalists used science as a weapon. The devil is wicked and deceptive; he gains power over humanity through human ignorance and pride. Its tactics such as these, that has left the playing feild open to Carl Marx and other Naturalist philosophys that have tried to replace God.
When people see that scripture is in contradiction to what we find in reality, a seed of doubt is planted in us which makes us either Christian Fundamentalists (Becoming rejecters of the truths of evolution altogether; seeing it as a threat) or militant atheists; rejecting theism all together. This is because we have become blind sheep in despair, making arrogant claims instead of humbly looking at the facts and learning. Don’t look at evolution as the threat, for if it is the truth, then you must accept it, for it is Gods truth. The truth is, the church is still learning about the world and what is really in the Bible; our ideas are evolving and Church is actually becoming stronger as we learn more about the reality we live in; more secrets are being revealed to us the more humbly we receive the word.
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