VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has waded into the controversial debate over the origins of human life, saying the big bang theory did not contradict the role of a divine creator, but even required it.http://www.usatoday.com/news/
I believe Richard Dawkins said, "We have an absolute impasse between creationism and evolution; they are incompatible". I agree with Dawkins....they are not comparable whatsoever!
There are many (not here) who respectfully disagree with you and Dawkins, unless of course you limit the concept of evolution to absolute naturalism, then I too would be in agreement with your objection.
I was "concerned" more with the pontiffs comment of "god not being a magician".
God could most certainly be a "magician" if it suited Him.
Well, I am no fan of the Pope either.
But I do agree with him on the Big Bang, and I think it highly likely that evolution is the method used by God to create humanity.
First of all, the Catholic Church has long noted the compatibility of Christianity with creationism and evolution. Francis I has not said anything new or anything controversial as far as the RCC dogma is concerned.
About 50 years ago, Pius XII published a papal encyclical named Humani Generis that outline their position on this issue. Francis is simple affirming what has already been accepted by the denomination.
Likewise, I support the Big Bang theory (slightly modified) as a basis for cosmology along with accepting aspects of evolution as necessary for the sustaining of human life.
The earth and creation are not 8,000 years old. They simply do not appear to be that young. That said, you can be a thorough-going Christian and accept many aspects of claims around the issue of evolution. It is not contrary to the Christian faith. Now, full blown humanistic (materialistic) evolution has massive disagreement with Christianity. But that isn't what Francis I is saying here.
The inability of the contemporary journalist corps to understand and articulate Catholic theology is disconcerting.
And there is nothing in scripture about the earth being round, about
polar ice caps, about bananas, about driving a car, about democracy, about fracking for oil, the list goes on and on and on ... and yet you do not protest any of these things. Nothing in scripture negates the Big Bang Theory or evolution. Scripture does not negate evolution. Personal interpretation for or against evolution is what drives both parties.
The weight of evidence supports theistic evolution. God can do as he wills. God created as he willed and is not bound by our interpretations, understanding or desires.
No, ann makes a good point. If evolution is true, then when does evolution account for death entering the world? After all, evolution is the genetic change of a species over multiple generations. Unless you think the earth was completely teeming with pre-current-human forms of life and it was all wiped out in the Flood...or is the Flood another case of a "commonly, long held interpretation [being] incorrect?"
Not to mention that when God created, He called it "good".
Did God mess up when He had that put in the Bible or did He choose to not put in all the "bad"?
So the day really went "Umm - no, not yet.
Nope, that was wrong.
Ooops!!
My bad!
THERE!!
I got it now!!
Whew!
Now THAT is good."????