Pope Francis made a big bang in the news this week by conceding that evolution most certainly did happen, but at God’s impetus…
The Pope told the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Sciences that the “Big Bang” – which today we hold to be the origin of the universe – doesn’t contradict the intervention of the divine creator.
“Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve,” Francis says.
Genesis paints God as a wizard with a magic wand, “But it is not so,” Francis says. “He created life and let each creature develop according to the natural laws which he had given each one.”
Disclaimer: Your well-coiffed scribe was raised a far right wing, fundamental, Biblical literalist. Eventually I found a 12 Step program and – thank God – I ‘m healed from all that today.
Following my divorce, I attended synagogue for some time and loved my Rabbi almost to the point of converting to Judaism.
Then while at the lake with friends a few years back, I attended a Palm Sunday Mass and sat through the service with tears running down my face the entire time. In summary, I tend to consume religion as a fairly well balanced diet, but identify largely as a Christian.
Of course, Western Kansas has made a laughing stock of itself in the national media over the Creationism vs Intelligent Design debate. This pulls in the old vs. young earth crowd, possibly even the Moonies and the Fred Phelps clan, because after all, everyone needs a special interest group to tell them they’re going to hell no matter what they believe!
Intelligent Design adherents believe the complexities of the natural world could not have occurred by chance. They concede that some intelligent entity must have created the complexity – and thats a huge concession – but literalists still set their hair on fire and run from the church screaming if the ID crowd won’t say “GOD” did it.
The Creation crowd argues the earth is 4,000 to 6,000 years old while those Intelligent Design heathens claim it’s a billion years old, plus or minus for scientific error. The Creationists proof sites conjure up catchy phrases like, “the Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it!”
The only pesky problem is, the Bible doesn’t say any of that.
The Jews started the calendar with the advent of Adam, not the creation of the world. And, they did it long before the Mayan’s carved their own version, predicting the end of the world as we know it. I attempted to interview a Mayan for this story, but they’re all dead! Guess they didn’t predict that one or did they? – their world definitely ended.
Here’s the real issue:
Be you Catholic, Christian, Jewish or a devout member of The Church of Paul, why does it matter? What are we fighting over? If you believe God created the heavens and earth, why overlook the good and decent tenants of all faiths? Why not just live out those tenants rather than debate an issue that simply doesn’t matter in the end?
Why if you believe God created the heavens and earth, do you in your divine wisdom limit his power about how or why he did it? One look at the earliest photographs show that we most certainly have evolved. A look at early cave drawings make it even more clear.
Why does it matter?
As Christians we waste too much time on the white noise.
We bicker over differences in our “denominations.”
Today, it’s hard to differentiate between the people of faith and the nonbelievers. And who’s to blame? We Christians own it, lock stock and barrell.
We’re supposed to be the light of the world; the beacon on the hill. But we can’t be that because we’re too busy fighting over who’s hill we’re going to stand on.
“I’m not standing on his hill; he claims to be a Christian but I saw him at Habanero’s having a margarita and smoking a cigar!”
Do you know what Jesus said when someone asked him how to get into heaven?
“You have to be a Jew, how many times have to read in my Good Book, they are my chosen people, you idiots!”
Uh, no.
“You have to be a Baptist?”
No.
“You have to be a Catholic because that IS, after all, the Holy Mother Church?”
No.
Jesus boiled it down to, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
And now Pope Francis is rocking the papal boat.
And I say, “Pope on, good and decent man, you’ve added another Christian to your posse.”
Non-believer here, PW. Not because I think I’m smarting than all the believers and “know” the real answers. More of an observation of all things regarding religion and opinion that there are for more things to the contrary of there actually being a “God”. Despite the first 20 years of my life in a Baptist church and my mother’s tireless efforts to bring me back into the fold, I just don’t go there intellectually anymore.
I am 100% behind anyone’s desire and right to worship whatever and whomever they choose. I only get a little irritated when someone tries to convince me there can be no morality with religion. Aside from that, pray at will.
Nice article, Paul. The main-man Catholic has sure cracked open some doors that all previous white-hatters dare not open.
Thank you, aka. Always appreciate your comments and totally respect your point of view. In the words of my pastor, Adam Hamilton, the more I KNOW, the less I think I know…
shoe dog….get back the jewel thiefs/sports/hiding under dashboards/being
wrong again….this religious bores the fuk out of me.
expecially when its the royals 7th game!
It’s hard to say if this is apart of the Vatican’s marketing machine to bring in more liberal followers or if the media just loves this guy and jumps on anything he says that is even remotely progressive. I think some in the news media are pushing the idea that this is contrary to Pope Benedict XVI’s view on evolution which isn’t exactly correct either. Benedict seemed to believe that the idea that evolution and creationism were compatible ideas. Pope Francis isn’t saying anything revolutionary here though I will admit that his crack about God not being a wizard was pretty funny.
Since 1950 the church has held the belief that there is no conflict between believing in evolution and believing in God (provided you believe that the individual soul was created by God). Also, Catholics love pointing out that the first person on record to propose the idea of the Big Bang was not Hubble but actually a Catholic priest. The church does have a history of being anti-science they also have a pretty strong wing of priests that are dedicated to science (specifically astronomy). I have even heard that the Jesuits in particular are hopeful that there is intelligent life somewhere in the universe that we will make contact with. What stronger argument for the existence of God in general and Jesus Christ in particular is there than alien life forms that wish to spread the word of Jesus Christ?
Whaaaaaa, Jimmy? You think the Catholic Church needs a PR campaign? (I’ll now remove my tongue from my cheek)
Most “churches” are anti science as God’s magic wand is easier to accept.
I appreciate and value my spiritual life but quite thankful I moved beyond how I was raised. Otherwise, I’d live in fear, looking over my shoulder in case Jonah’s whale needed an appetizer .
Oh, I’m right there with you as I was raised Southern Baptist. A lot of stupid people asking questions like, “If evolution is real then why do we still have monkeys, huh?” The Catholic church still has very conservative doctrine (I don’t think the stance on contraception, divorce, and gay marriage are going to change any time soon) but it is the more evangelical protestants who are the ones that tend to have very wacky beliefs about science. Though I will admit that transubstantiation does not exactly follow the scientific method.
Paul, you and I were both raised in the same denomination. I, too, took many years of searching to finally come to terms with things I can believe in. I wish we could all just get along. Who really cares who believes what as long as no one is getting physically or emotionally hurt. And who, besides scientists, really gives a rat’s ass how the world or humanity was created. Then there’s that pesky homosexuality thing I got going on. Keep up the good work!
Once again, one of two favorite females from Phoenix chimes in with a great take! Thanks for reading…
What’s new? So the Pope doesn’t believe the Bible. The papacy decreed centuries ago that their word was above what the Bible said.
The Pope’s message couldn’t come at a better time — this is the week of the Reformation, where the Pope was asked to comment on 95 issues that a lowly monk in Germany nailed to a Church door.
The Pope is just like you and me — no better. He’s a sinner/saint.
The less I know, the more I believe.
I wake up every day, and pray for stupidity.
The papacy is showmanship; Oz behind the curtain distracting the rubes while the wicked witch of Catholicism continues to fling forth flying monkeys to terrorize and harm their innocent faithful. This hot-house ‘debate’ over the nature of evolution conducted within the strangled confines of religion is a perfect example of that.
Truth be told most religions are much the same, they only vary by degree of liberties taken.
Fortunately we live in the 21st century and (at least in America) belief in any religion is an option, not a mandate: there is not an inherent or societal advantage to believing in fairy tales. Consequently h. monastic has been deselecting in this country, as well as in a few of the other western democracies.
If we’re lucky within a couple of generations organized religion in America will be a thing of the past, something for “the olds.”
Constantine the Great, in 325 AD, touched his sword and power to the shoulders of the Christian (Most of which, still at that time considered themselves Jewish.) sect, in an effort to consolidate his far flung empire, civically, militarily and religiously. There the New Testament was given Constantine’s imprimatur, much to the chagrin of many of the Bishops, summoned from all over the world. Jack is right, the Pope, like Constantine and every Pope before hand, is first and foremost a politcal animal concerned with power and influence.Politics.
Constantine may have seen a cross in the sky before the Battle of Milvian Bridge and converted after the victory, but, like any good politician, he hedged his bets on his death bed.
The Pope is just another politician, ask the Borgias. Politics is the tour de force behind the history of the Catholic Church and it’s many spin offs.
I just read a book Orphan would love. “Zealot” The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazereth.
It’s always politics, because politics never fails to follow the money.
nice comments Dianne. I have two favorite females in
phoenix. If you keep comments up like that you might
take the #3 spot.
Oh…and shoe dog…while you’re romping for candy on
Halloween…come by the house. We’ve got kit kat bars
for everyone. I’ll know who you are by the shiny “new”
1956 pf flyers you’re wearing. (okay my hit for the day hearne)_
Oh and I haven’t forgotten about chuck. For chuck for Halloween we’ll have
the “all white” chocolate Hershey bars.
We won’t have trouble picking him out among the kids on Halloween…
he’ll be the guy wearing the white robe and pointed hat.
Don’t scare the kids too bad chuckles!!
“I attempted to interview a Mayan for this story, but they’re all dead!”
Actually they’re still around. Get away from the resorts around Cancun and most of the locals are Mayans. They even continue to speak regional Mayan dialects and maintain many old customs, though human sacrifice isn’t too common unless you’re involved in the drug trade.
Good piece, Paul. Sorry I waited until it sits at the bottom of the menu before commenting. Pope Francis is an extremely intriguing individual and is sure to generate some serious introspection, both in his flock and outside it.