RCIA classes

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I am going to go to rcia classes but before I start I have some questions to ask. If I believe in God and also believe in the theory of evolution, will the church still accept me as a member? Is there any reason why they would reject someone?
 
Yes they will. I help teach RCIA and I had the same question too. I asked my priest and he said it was fine as long as you believe in evolution through God. The first month or so is basically a learning period. You will decide if you want to be a member of the C.C. If you continue, they will ask you later on if you are being told to join. Now if you cannot or will not accept the teachings of the Church they will not accept you (they may want you to stay for another year) If you do become accepted and then say join the masons or some other group that goes against the Church and Her Teachings, you will be kicked out.
 
truthquester said:
I am going to go to rcia classes but before I start I have some questions to ask. If I believe in God and also believe in the theory of evolution, will the church still accept me as a member? Is there any reason why they would reject someone?
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Evolution is fine, but the belief in God might be bit tricky:p

Just kidding - just be yourself - RCIA is a journey not a test.
 
Evolution is something that the Church was at first extremely negative about in the 1800s, then became neutral around 1950s, but now is relatively open in its interpretation as to allow Roman Catholics to believe in evolution, so long as you look at it in it’s proper place as a tool God used to create man. You do, however, have to believe that Adam and Eve were real people.

I personally do not believe in evolution, because scientifically it requires more faith than creationism, and has been a justification for genocide and murder for the last hundred years, as well as leading millions into atheism. From this it seems to be more of a tool of Satan than a tool of God. That’s not to say that my opinion will never change, but at this moment I heavily lean towards Creationism because it is most consistent with Catholic teaching.

Whatever you believe, make sure you believe it because you think it’s right and have an earnest desire for finding out the truth about our world under God, and if you believe it that will not bar you from Heaven.

This is generally only true for matters of science. Matters of faith must be fully accepted to be Catholic because when the Church says something dogmatically, they do not speak as men, but as representatives of Christ and nothing they say if declared dogmatically can be in error.

The Catholic Church does not try and dogmatically declare scientific truths because that’s not it’s area of expertise. Our understanding of science changes. I heard a quote once that went along the lines of “the business of the Church is to teach us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go”.

For a beautiful read on exactly this topic, read Pope Pius XII’s 1950 encyclical Humani Generis.

Here’s the link:

vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html
 
There is no inherent conflict between evolution and Christianity. Can the Church refuse a convert? Certainly, if he does not accept Christianity. The basics of the faith are in the Nicene Creed, recited at the Mass:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
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We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
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  by the power of the Holy Spirit
  he was born of the Virgin Mary,
  and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
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We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
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Excellent post above: The Nicene Creed. My mom would recite it to me slowly when I was 19 and deep in doubt. She would stop at every line and ask: “Do you have any questions?” and I might say “yes” and then she would explain it to me so rationally and clear with great love for me and for Jesus.

At some point you might read John Paul II’s writings on faith, science, and evolution. My opinion is that in the past of Genesis, who knew what a day was when the ocean was separated from the land, or when the animals appeared? It is possible that a day went on for eons as evolution tries to illustrate. And in evolutionary theory, who knows yet what the timeline and details are? I believe we haven’t “arrived” at the conclusive truth yet and the details may not even conflict at some point.

Enjoy RCIA. I go back regularly for 25,000 mile check-ups. There’s always something good to learn.
 
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