2007-04-10 08:44:47 · 9 answers · asked by terrrry s 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Catholic Church teaches about God and love, not science.
The Catholic Church does not take the stories of creation in the Bible literally. Catholics believe the book of Genesis tells religious truth and not necessarily historical fact.
One of the religious truths is that God created everything and declared all was good.
Catholics can believe in the theory of evolution. Or not. The Church does not require belief in evolution.
On August 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Humani generis:
The Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.
Here is the complete encyclical: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html
The Church supports science in the discovery of God's creation. At this time, the theory of evolution is the most logical scientific explanation. However tomorrow someone may come up with a better idea.
As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and modern science can live in harmony.
With love in Christ.
2007-04-10 18:21:50 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Catholic Church leaves the age of the Earth to the scientists.
The Church supports the truth and inerrancy of scripture, but recall that the first people to hear the Creation story were completely scientifuically unsophisticated. The story was presented to teach that God is the Creator, and that He made the universe in a logical order- an order that is generally supported by the theory of evolution, if you really look at it.
Evolution and Creationism are NOT mutually exclusive.
2007-04-10 15:37:24 · answer #2 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic church says the earth is as old as the scientists say...billions of years...but I don't think there is any scripture evidence for this.
We just don't believe that the earth is only 6000 years old. Human beings, created in the image of God are 6000 years old. But the earth is quite bit older then that.
2007-04-10 08:59:45 · answer #3 · answered by Misty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the 1990's, the Pope issued a formal declaration apologizing for the way Galileo had been treated and that scientific discoveries were acceptable.
So the Catholic church finally took a reasonable position.
It is the fundies in the USA that keep insisting that the earth is 6000 years old etc...
2007-04-10 09:04:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church doesn't claim to know how old is the earth.
2007-04-10 08:56:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, the Church has made no declaration of the earth's age. One does not need to know the exact age of the earth in order to be saved. The Chruch deals in only that which needs to be known for the purpose of salvation.
2007-04-11 02:45:12 · answer #6 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't believe anything the Catholic church says. Remember, these are the same people who tortured people for presenting proof the earth was round and constantly make the news for molesting little kids. Let alone the fact that they believe in the BIBLE of all things.
2007-04-10 08:49:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
To my knowledge there is no Church teaching about that. Science and religion are two different subjects
2007-04-10 08:48:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They don't. And it really doesn't matter. Faith and reason need not be at odds.
2007-04-10 08:59:36 · answer #9 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋