Does the Catholic Church really support the 'Theory of Evolution'?
2007-10-28 09:20:10 · 10 answers · asked by Buffy 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Kind of.
The Church allows Catholics to believe or not believe in the theory of evolution.
Most Christians do 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 theories of the big bang or evolution or both or neither.
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 theories of the big bang and evolution are the most logical scientific explanations. However tomorrow someone may come up with better ideas.
As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and responsible modern science can live in harmony.
With love in Christ.
2007-10-28 15:05:21 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deciding which scientific theory is correct and which is not, is not and has never been a question for the Catholic Authorities to decide - that's a question for the scientists. However, because of the vociferous discussions on the issue, the Church (including several of he popes) has made two things clear: the theory of evolution per se doesn't contradict the Christian Teachings, but the position that the soul comes from material evolution (which doesn't follow logically from the theory of evolution), and not from the Creation of God, is of course not acceptable.
Read more about Evolution and official Catholic responses here, in an article by theoretical particle physicist Stephen M. Barr: http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=238
2007-10-28 10:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by juexue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Darwin’s atheistic theory is now accepted as ‘gospel truth’ by many of the clergy of Christendom. The Archbishop of York, second-ranking prelate in the Church of England, considers the theory of biological evolution to be so well established that it is “the only conceivable basis for modern biology.” Recently, at a Vatican meeting, 12 scholars representing the highest scientific body of the Catholic Church stated: “We are convinced that masses of evidence render the application of the concept of evolution to man and other primates beyond serious dispute.” And to this the New Catholic Encyclopedia adds: “General evolution, even of the body of man, seems the most probable scientific account of origins.” John 14:6; 16:13; 17:17.
2007-10-28 09:29:09 · answer #3 · answered by Everlasting Life 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Today, the Church's unofficial position is an example of theistic evolution, also known as evolutionary creation,[2] stating that faith and scientific findings regarding human evolution are not in conflict, though humans are regarded as a special creation, and that the existence of God is required to explain both monogenism and the spiritual component of human origins. Moreover, the Church teaches that the process of evolution is a planned and purpose-driven natural process, actively guided by God.[3][4][5]
2016-05-25 22:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the catholic church has always supported the spirit of scientific enquiry, with the proviso that such scientific enquiry must never trespass into the area of questioning either god's benevolence or existence.
the famous bust-up with galileo was mainly the church' fault, but certainly wasn't helped by galileo's own attitude (galileo had been looking for a fight with vatican for years). the sorry story of a pig-headed church taking on a pig-headed scientist is told in arthur koestler's 'the sleep walkers'.
charles darwin was himself an atheist, but he made clear from the start that his atheism had nothing to do with his theory. the catholic church began by being sceptical about evolution, but later came round to accepting that it was the best available scientific explanation.
the catholic church currently teaches that evolution probably happened, but if it did this was part of God's plan.
2007-10-28 09:31:50 · answer #5 · answered by synopsis 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sort of. Many accept evolution but deny that it would be possible without god. They especially deny that the human soul could have evolved. What they really support is possibility that theistic evolution might be true.
2007-10-28 09:35:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anticontrame 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your viewpoint,the Catholic church does not accept evolution which negates the Creator God,but it suggests that lower lifeforms may well experience evolutionary growth as God planned it, however it does not agree that human beings or animals are part of any evolution process as such.
2007-10-28 09:26:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Traditionally no.
But at a Q&A session i went to when i was younger, a priest from the usa, when faced with the dinosaur or eden question, said that adam and eve were the bible writers way of answering questions about how humans came to be. and it could not be considered fact, but a story they came up with because they did not know any better at the time.
2007-10-28 09:28:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They acknowledge that it is a verified theory.
2007-10-28 09:26:12 · answer #9 · answered by 雅威的烤面包机 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No......ABSOLUTELY NOT!
2007-10-28 09:24:35 · answer #10 · answered by The Cub 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋