J
Jersey_Jeepster
Guest
With regard to doctrine and the meaning of certain scriptural passages, I have some questions about what Catholics are to believe or not to believe or, more importantly, seemingly can choose to believe. I ask these questions in all humbleness with a need for education in these matters and not with harsh criticism.
Is it true that, with regard to:
Evolution: Catholics should believe that God used evolution to create eventual human life, or can Catholics believe that evolution did not happen and that God created Adam and Eve and they were the first humans on Earth and did not evolve from any other form of life (in other words evolution did not happen), or that both evolution and the instant creation of Adam and Eve occurred?
Noah and the Flood, Jonah and the Whale, people living for hundreds of years, etc.: These stories are allegorical and did not actually happen or they literally did happen?
The age of Earth: Earth really is billions of years old or the Earth is only about 6000-years old?
Personally, I have no problem believing that Jonah did live inside a whale for three days and that people did live for hundreds of years, etc., because I don’t put human limitations on what God can do. So, if the Catholic Church does not have a firm position on these issues, and others like them, and the laity can choose what they believe about these issues, doesn’t that serve to confuse Catholics and weaken the defense of the Faith when defending Catholicism against Her detractors?
The fact that the Church does not take a firm position on these issues and questions does leave me confused on what to believe, and/or if what I believe is valid and true.
Is it true that, with regard to:
Evolution: Catholics should believe that God used evolution to create eventual human life, or can Catholics believe that evolution did not happen and that God created Adam and Eve and they were the first humans on Earth and did not evolve from any other form of life (in other words evolution did not happen), or that both evolution and the instant creation of Adam and Eve occurred?
Noah and the Flood, Jonah and the Whale, people living for hundreds of years, etc.: These stories are allegorical and did not actually happen or they literally did happen?
The age of Earth: Earth really is billions of years old or the Earth is only about 6000-years old?
Personally, I have no problem believing that Jonah did live inside a whale for three days and that people did live for hundreds of years, etc., because I don’t put human limitations on what God can do. So, if the Catholic Church does not have a firm position on these issues, and others like them, and the laity can choose what they believe about these issues, doesn’t that serve to confuse Catholics and weaken the defense of the Faith when defending Catholicism against Her detractors?
The fact that the Church does not take a firm position on these issues and questions does leave me confused on what to believe, and/or if what I believe is valid and true.