What proof would you give to an atheist that Catholics can believe in Evolution/the big bang?

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I’d point them to the Catechism, and the fact that the Big Bang was first developed by a Catholic Priest…
 
The Big Bang Theory was created by a Catholic priest. His name was Georges Lemaitre.

For issues of science such as evolution, I recommend reading “Particles of Faith” by Stacy Trasancos.
 
Why would an atheist need proof of such things? They are commonly accepted by people of all faiths and none.
 
Thank you both. I shared previously with this person in the online discussion about this Father.

Regardless (and hopefully they read it) they said “well if you believe in evolution thats very anti-God especially the Abrahamic God…”
 
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“After Lemaître detailed his theory, Einstein stood up, applauded, and is supposed to have said, “This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened.””

 
I assume if the person is in america and even not they might of only encountered protestants or non catholic christians who are sola scripture and literal genesis creation story. So when someone says otherwise it might appear like saying I don’t believe Jesus literally was born of a Virgin or using science to explain the miracles. 🤔
 
Because Big Bang helps to prove God’s existence, since it tends to prove universe had a beginning and hence there was a “first cause”. I’d have them accept inherent truths, such as that they were caused by their parents, that their parents were caused by their grandparents and so on backwards to a “first cause” which e.g. caused the big bang, but then further point out as Aquinas did that the “first cause” cannot be a physical/finite entity, since if that were true, then it needs a prior cause which determined it to have physical characteristics X instead of say, physical characteristics Y, and hence the true “first cause” (e.g. cause of big bang) cannot be a physical or finite entity
 
How about quoting the catechism?

283 The question about the origins of the world and of man has been the object of many scientific studies which have splendidly enriched our knowledge of the age and dimensions of the cosmos, the development of life-forms and the appearance of man.
 
Guest1 said:
Thank you both. I shared previously with this person in the online discussion about this Father.

Regardless (and hopefully they read it) they said “well if you believe in evolution thats very anti-God especially the Abrahamic God…”
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This sort of ignorance is sad, but not uncommon. They have only seen the caricature of fundamentalist Christians, and have never been exposed to the wide breadth of Catholic understanding.

Pray for them, and continue in friendly dialog. If they’re open, you may still be able to reach them, or at least plant the seeds which God can nurture.
 
Ok, I get it, you are arguing with one who believes these scientific theories are evidence against the existence of God. It’s not uncommon thinking among athiests. Since they believe evolution disproves God, they cannot understand that one can believe in both without being in contradiction.
 
We could look at an acorn, a little sapling, and a full grown oak. They look very different from each other yet they are following the genetic code in their dna. They look different because of the passage of time.
God of course put the code there in the first place.

If I took a watch apart, put all the pieces in a paper bag, and shook shook shook it, the pieces would never put themselves back together as a watch, with the correct time. And this is with the pieces already designed to fit together. Never mind that men mined the minerals from down in the earth and a factory made the metal to be used in a watch. There is a watch maker and a design in place. That is evident by looking at the complexity of this world, from the planet and it’s ecosystems down to the molecules. Order, harmony, all working like a well designed watch.

God bless you as you continue these discussions.
 
I responded and possibly ended the conversation with -
“Thats very anti-God.” I kindly disagree. 🙂 example being Father Georges and Catholicism. I’ll leave you be. Thanks for taking the time to dialogue. 🙂🙂🙂🙂
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I would ask why is this important to them and then proceed; no need to be a rug or on the defensive. Find out why they believe what they believe and how this is helping them. If not…than you can dialogue.
 
Guest , your online atheist friend is baiting you. Just repeat we are free to believe in evolution or creation or both. and that religion does not exist to explain science and science does not exist to explain religion,

Religion explains faith.
Science explains laws of nature.
 
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