Posted on 07/25/2007 12:57:22 PM PDT by mngran
It should not be surprising or in any way offensive to learn that the Pope (surprise!) believes that the Catholic church is the one true church. I’m not Catholic, and it is not news even to me.
Mankind is called to be a good steward of the Earth. Dang... Nothing bothersome about that either.
Infallibility and poetic license don’t go hand in glove. And “listening to the earth” sounds paganistic to the most casual observer.
Benedict also said the human race must listen to “the voice of the Earth”
BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA...
_______________________________________________________
He He. Ratzinger the Nature Nugget. Think he’s doing yoga on the sly in the Vatican?
Nothing, obviously. ;)
Why would anyone listen to the Pope?
Either the whole Bible is to be taken literally or none of it is.
___________________________________________________________
I’d restate that to all of the Bible must be taken to be infallible. That’s different than literal. Clearly when God “breathes” it is figurative, not literal. Christ spoke in parables, also figurative, not literal, but regarding something else entirely.
There is no way to reconcile the book of Genesis with evolution:
Bible: God is the creator of all things. (Genesis 1)
Evolution: Natural chance processes can account for the existence of all things.
Bible: World created as is in six literal days. (Genesis 1)
Evolution: World evolved over billions of years.
Bible: Creation is completed. (Genesis 2:3)
Evolution: Creative processes continuing.
Bible: Oceans before land. (Genesis 1:2)
Evolution: Land before oceans.
Bible: First life on land. (Genesis 1:11)
Evolution: Life began in the oceans.
Bible: First life was land plants. (Genesis 1:11)
Evolution: Marine organisms evolved first.
Bible: Earth before sun and stars. (Genesis 1:14-19)
Evolution: Sun and stars before earth.
Bible: Fruit trees before fish. (Genesis 1:11,20,21)
Evolution: Fish before fruit trees.
Bible: All stars made on fourth day. (Genesis 1:16)
Evolution: Stars evolved at various times.
Bible: Birds and fish created on the fifth day. (Genesis 1:20-21)
Evolution: Fish evolved hundreds of millions of years before birds.
Bible: Birds before insects. (Genesis 1:20-31, Leviticus 11)
Evolution: Insects before birds.
Bible: Whales before reptiles. (Genesis 1:20-31)
Evolution: Reptiles before whales.
Bible: Birds before reptiles. (Genesis 1:20-31)
Evolution: Reptiles before birds.
Bible: Light before the sun. (Genesis 1:3-9)
Evolution: Sun before any light.
Bible: Plants before the sun. (Genesis 1:11-19)
Evolution: Sun before any plants.
Bible: Abundance and variety of marine life all at once. (Genesis 1:20)
Evolution: Marine life gradually developed from a primitive organic soup.
Bible: Man’s body from the dust of the earth. (Genesis 2:7)
Evolution: Man and monkey have a common ancestor.
Bible: Man exercised dominion over all organisms. (Genesis 1:28)
Evolution: Many organisms extinct before man evolved.
Bible: Man originally a vegetarian. (Genesis 1:29)
Evolution: Man originally a meat-eater.
Bible: Fixed and distinct kinds of life (Genesis 1:11,12,21,24,25)
Evolution: All life is in a continual state of change.
Bible: Death caused by Eve and Adam eating the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 2:17)
Evolution: Death existed long before the evolution of man.
I certainly don't think the Pope is a dufus but I also don't believe he knows anything more about the the bible than anyone else who has been studying it their entire lives under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Ahh, but you didn't know that in the tradition of the early Christians, belief in evolution was widespread. ;)
Thanks
It seems as though the criticism stems from Benedict’s making a non-literal interpretation of the Bible. So what? I think that very few Christians (of any denomination) do. I suppose that he, as the leader of one of the world’s largest religions, will undergo more intense scrutiny concerning his creed than the average follower will, but for that reason, should he not adopt a more tenable stance than literal interpretation?
As for the “voice of the earth” comments, I imagine that he was talking figuratively (like saying, “the market decides”). Is anyone really suggesting that the is now a closet supporter of Gaia?
“If God did not create, does God exist?”
I believe God created evolution so his creations could thrive and prosper.
He gave us the power of intellectual thought so we could spend our time arguing.
Yeah, the pope is a doofus. What does he know about the Bible?
Nothing, obviously. ;)
Why would anyone listen to the Pope?
*************************
“Anyone” doesn’t have to listen to him. Catholics, if they are Catholic, should, and they might occasionally or even often disagree with him. But the rest of you are free to not belong or not listen at all. Why would you even care to comment on him?
I guess I needed to add another winkie smiley.
Good post.
It must be a great feeling to feel spiritual superiority over your fellow Christians.
I guess I needed to add another winkie smiley.Have one of mine ...
; )
Anyone know what the popes FR handle is? He should be turned in to JR. Someone Hit the abuse button.
It’s also the cornerstone of ancient paganism. Someone invented God/s along the way.
Loving/worshipping the planet we live own isn’t such a bad thing. Using it to push a socialist agenda is.
Thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.