Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are right and God isn't 'a magician with a wand'
MSN News ^ | 10/30/2014 | Adam Withnall

Posted on 10/30/2014 4:22:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

The theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real and God is not “a magician with a magic wand”, Pope Francis has declared.

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope made comments which experts said put an end to the “pseudo theories” of creationism and intelligent design that some argue were encouraged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

Francis explained that both scientific theories were not incompatible with the existence of a creator – arguing instead that they “require it”.

“When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” Francis said.

He added: “He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfilment.

“The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it.

“Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Science; Theology
KEYWORDS: bigbang; creation; evolution; popefrancis
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-128 next last
To: GeronL

Amen. Limiting God is not a good idea... And Genesis is fairly clear God formed man with His own hands, not made a bacteria or two and waited around to see what would happen.


41 posted on 10/30/2014 5:04:57 PM PDT by Mom MD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Less than 200 years ago the things that we regard as everyday technology were considered “magic”. Multi-ton vehicles flying high up in the air, people communicating with each other from thousands of miles away, etc. And two hundred years from now, the things that we consider “magic” will be regarded as everyday technology by our descendants.
“God understands. God has His plans. That information is unavailable to the mortal man.”
That’s a line from a sad old song from a long time ago.


42 posted on 10/30/2014 5:06:53 PM PDT by jespasinthru (Proud member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

Yep. The idea that any Christian leader would ever say there are things God cannot do, is insane


43 posted on 10/30/2014 5:10:33 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Exactly. It’s stunning, really.


44 posted on 10/30/2014 5:12:26 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: CatherineofAragon

to me it is


45 posted on 10/30/2014 5:15:09 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: allendale; Zionist Conspirator

ping to post 28


46 posted on 10/30/2014 5:16:07 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: gitmo

RE: I’m guessing parody.

Unfortunately, it isn’t.


47 posted on 10/30/2014 5:16:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Varda
"Hopefully he will see that science backs up scripture on the moral issues of our day."

Problem is, evolution teaches eons of suffering and death before man, a recent arrival, ever showed up. The Bible says there was no death until man brought it about, and man was created at the beginning (confirmed twice by Jesus in the NT).

Neither backs up the other; in fact, they are completely contradictory.

48 posted on 10/30/2014 5:17:42 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BurningOak

Evolution was, and is, celebrated as a way to explain our existence without bringing God into it. Evolution and creation are contradictory of one another.


49 posted on 10/30/2014 5:20:29 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Sounds like Pieter the Roman to me, if these remarks do not change their meaning in context.


50 posted on 10/30/2014 5:20:52 PM PDT by Ingtar (Is this the Ebola and rumors of Ebola mentioned in the Bible?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CatherineofAragon

There is nothing in the bible that I read that claims nothing ever died prior to the Fall. What are you reading?


51 posted on 10/30/2014 5:21:51 PM PDT by Benito Cereno
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Chode

Einstein: “God does not play dice..”

Bohr: “Einstein, stop telling God what to do.”


52 posted on 10/30/2014 5:22:57 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: allendale

RE: Pretty harsh if you take this literally. Imagine that there was an older apolitical poor Egyptian shoemaker and his wife who was thought to be barren after twenty years of marriage. Now suppose this poor honest family experienced a minor miracle and his wife at age forty gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Is it rational to believe that a just and loving God would send an angel to rip the infant from the breast of its bewildered mother and mercilessly kill it?

____________________________________

I don’t think it is hard at all if one will accede to the following :

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

GOD IS THE GIVER AND TAKER OF LIFE

GOD ALWAYS WORK THINGS OUT FOR THE GOOD.

GOD KNOWS THE BEGINNING FROM THE END

PHYSICAL DEATH IS NOT THE MOST TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENS TO ANYONE, SPIRITUAL DEATH IS.

GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING

In other words if you view things from God’s eternal perspective, then the problem of innocent children dying becomes less insoluble.

So, regarding the death of infants:

Why would God order the death of innocent children?

Some possible answers...

* God knows that these children would have likely grown up as adherents to the evil religions and practices of their parents.

* By ending their lives as children, God enabled them to have entrance into Heaven.

There is Biblical evidence that tells us that children who die are accepted into Heaven by the grace and mercy of God (2 Samuel 12:22-23; Mark 10:14-15; Matthew 18:2-4).

Again, this answer does not completely deal with all the issues. Our focus should be on trusting God even when we do not understand His ways. We also have to remember that God looks at things from an eternal perspective, and that His ways are higher than our ways. God is just, righteous, holy, loving, merciful, and gracious. How His attributes work together can be a mystery to us – but that does not mean that He is not who the Bible proclaims Him to be.


53 posted on 10/30/2014 5:27:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Sherman Logan

RE: Einstein: “God does not play dice..”

Bohr: “Einstein, stop telling God what to do.”

____________________

Well, if Bohr believes that God does play dice, then isn’t he telling God what to do as well?


54 posted on 10/30/2014 5:29:13 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: the OlLine Rebel

Just because we can’t comprehend there not being anything before the ‘beginning’ does not mean that wasn’t the case.


55 posted on 10/30/2014 5:29:36 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: allendale

“That is just one example why Catholics do not take the Bible literally.”

Speak for yourself. I’m Catholic, and I wouldn’t dream of concocting a hypothetical story about “apolitical Egyptian parents” and their “miracle baby” in order to dismiss Exodus as allegory. God’s ways are not our ways, even what might seem to us to be terribly unjust from the limited view of our temporal perspective probably isn’t from the perspective of an all-knowing and all-powerful God.


56 posted on 10/30/2014 5:30:01 PM PDT by Bill93
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Benito Cereno
Seriously?

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

And verse 17:

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:21

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

57 posted on 10/30/2014 5:31:00 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: CatherineofAragon

It depends on what you mean by death. This is the way my scripture professor explained it; the meaning of death is separation from God not cessation of biological functions. That’s why Adam and Eve died when they ate from the tree even though they weren’t physically dead. That’s why those who believe in Christ never die no matter how their earthly existance ends.


58 posted on 10/30/2014 5:31:46 PM PDT by Varda (God is the creator, evolution is the unfolding of creation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Varda

I knew that was coming...”there was physical death, just not spiritual death.”

The Corinthians verse is clearly referring to physical death.


59 posted on 10/30/2014 5:37:07 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Varda
The Church doesn't have a problem with men evolving from apes? Really?

Does this mean God did NOT create man from the dust of the ground? God is able and, in fact, His Word states it. Why does the Catholic Church teach something different?

60 posted on 10/30/2014 5:46:08 PM PDT by what's up
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-128 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson