Is the theory of evolution against Catholic doctrines?

Question

I noticed that mostly anti-Catholics answered my question. I want to see more sensible answers.

Answer 1

No.

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.

Answer 2

As far as the evolution of animals, plants, and nature (except humans) is concerned the Theory of Evolution doesn't go against Catholic doctrine. The Catholic Church is open to the Theory of Evolution of all life forms except humans. Catholic doctrine teaches that man is created by God and is not a product of evolution.

Answer 3

Quite the contrary,in regards to human evolution even if a "missing link" should be discovered it does not oppose catholic doctrine which merely requires belief in the immediate creation of Adam's soul "in His image" God is a spirit so to is the soul(Gen 1:26).God creates souls out of nothing,hence creation.

As for Adams body "And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth"(Gen 2:7).Which indicates Adam's body was formed by already existing matter;which to God 3 millions years to us is 2 minutes to Him contemplating eternity.

Consider (Ps. 48:21) Man when he was in honor did not understand;he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them?"

Catholic theologians consider from the time of Adam to the time of Christ may have been 10,000 years,100,000 years maybe more as there is no definite answer on the issue in addition the account in the book of Genesis is in logical not chronological order which was written for the understanding of a primitive people.

We must remember the sacred writer was not aiming to teach physics or anthropology,but faith.Science and religion do not and can not contradict eachother as both are of God.

Sometimes there is an apparent conflict between faith and science,but that is only apparent and never real !True science is the handmaid of religion,scientific methods are a means of arriving at the truth and religion is truth.As fundamentalism is the enemy of religion so are the shallow dabblers of science by false interpretation pretend there is conflict !!!

As I stated time to God is inexpensive He could have created things over the course of a million years;6 days of creation;day in hebrew could mean 1, or 100, or 1000 or any indefinite amount of time.

Everything that is made today is a development or a combination of already existing matter over the course of time evidently.

A human being is composed of body and soul,just for the record.

God bless,

JMJ

Answer 4

Yes, once the European Catholic Church makes a decision, such as saying that Galileo is a bad astronomer, that's it.

That's their infallible answer never to be amended.

That's what infallibility means in the non-profit European Catholic Church.

Recently the Pope of Europe said that all USA Protestants go to hell (along with Buddhists, Hindus, those who worship the Gods of Egypt, and so on).

Most (51%) persons believe many Catholic doctrines are fibs.

Answer 5

No.

Most Catholics have no problem with evolutionary theory, although the Vatican has been circumspect in its recent pronouncements on the foundational theory of biology.

The reason for this is that there is a minority of fundamentalists amongst the Catholics. The Church is reluctant to promote schism by explicitly alienating this group.

Answer 6

Catholics base their beliefs on scripture & tradition: there is no history of Catholicism taking the bible "literally" (that's a Protestant invention), so there is nothing in Catholic doctrine that precludes acceptance of basic scientific facts.

Answer 7

No,
When more is learned about evolution, it will finally read like a well thought out plan that, in the big picture, does agree with old doctrine. Look at the question from a creative author's point of view. Good luck

Answer 8

Once, when I was in school, I had problems with my biology homework, about an aspect regarding evolution, and my religion teacher, who was friends with my mother, helped me through it.
Catholicism adapts its doctrine with facts, it´s like a mix between religion and science (of course its much more reluctant to change them than science).

Answer 9

Catholic theologians teach Christian Evolution. They don't dismiss the scientific studies showing the evolution of man.
What they strongly believe and teach is that at some point during the evolutionary process, God placed a soul into the being. this separated the man from beast.

Answer 10

Not necessarily. Basically, they believe that the Bible says that God created the world, but that science explains how the world works. Catholics don't believe that the Bible is a scientific textbook, but a work that teaches how to live life and honor God.