In keeping with post 50, at least I will try. While I may not give an exact answer to the vegetarian question, in my personal opinion, the material requirements of the human anatomy need to be considered in relationship to the whole of human nature. Adam and Eve, though dependent on their diets, are far more than the “you are what you eat” idea.
There are two principles often referred to as “worlds” or “domains” which contribute to Adam and Eve’s existence. Adam’s nature is an unique unification of
both the material world
and the spiritual world. So, yes, it was very important that Adam eat correctly so that his body would be nourished. And it was also important that Adam spend time in a strong friendship relationship with God so that his spiritual life would grow in God’s loving presence.
My apology. I see that I was a tad frivolous in post 51.
When looking at the whole picture of human nature in the 21st century, what we eat is important just as it was for our first parents Adam and Eve. This is because through natural science we have learned what is good for our particular anatomy and, fortunately, through medical science we have learned how to heal our body.
With the emphasis on new and improved technology in our century, there is the tendency to take our spiritual nature for granted. Catholicism, when it comes to the physical/material world surrounding us, does not take our spiritual soul or our body for granted. The spiritual and material need to be kept in balance as a single nature.
Natural science, a gift from God, needs to be practiced properly in order to seek the truth of our created material/physical universe. The proper domain of natural science is the material world. Without going into individual banned topics, the overall study of living organisms normally belongs in the material world.
But, and this is an important but, Adam’s nature is
both rational spiritual soul *and *material body. The domain of the spiritual soul directly created by God is beyond the domain of natural science and thus it is supernatural.
When the Catholic Church looks at Adam and his descendents, it deeply understands the eternal importance of the spiritual. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Chapter 14, Gospel of John) the Catholic Church has defined basic doctrines concerning the origin of humankind and the existence of Adam who committed the real original sin. These particular doctrines have the purpose of leading us to happiness forever with our Creator.
Here is where common sense is useful. When natural science research is involved with rocks, weather, plants, insects, and the thousands of different animals, birds, and fish, all of which belong in the material domain, all kinds of theories can be explored. The decomposing material anatomy of humans can be included in the material domain. The key is that interpreters of [material/physical] research cannot make declarations outside the natural science domain.
Because of its spiritual principle, human nature is correctly considered outside the domain of science even though its anatomy benefits from scientific and medical research. It is our supernatural spiritual soul which enables us to be in a real relationship with our supernatural God.
In everyday terminology, natural science can only go so far in its study of humans. Normally, the scientific material/physical domain, with its various theories about the physical/material aspects of creation, is not a problem for Catholicism. It is when some interpreters of science research deny individual Catholic doctrines, that the Catholic Church steps in. Now, there is a dramatic intersection of
both the material
and spiritual domains. At the point of intersection, Divine Revelation trumps.
Please note:
The basic principle of natural science is that the evidence has to warrant the conclusion. A scientific conclusion is limited to the results obtained from the “methods and materials” within the specific research paper. In actual research, it is possible to include assumptions and estimates when hard data is not available.
What some interpreters of research have done is to extrapolate or extend a particular valid conclusion beyond the inherent limitations of its evidence.
In the case of two, sole parents of the human species, some interpreters will assume an universal exclusion which cannot be substantiated by the evidence in the individual research project. Interpreters might say such and such is probable, but that cannot rule out the possibility of the biblical Adam and Eve. Vegetarian or not.
