Catholics Embrace Evolution?

[Big Guy]

It has just been reported that Pope Francis has just given a speech in which he encourages Catholics to accept the "Big Bang" theory. He also mentioned that Catholics should look more to science for answers but that these concepts are not opposing Church Doctrine.

Looks like Francis is living in the 21st century.

Sorry no reference. Can't get cut/paste to work. Maybe someone can provide a link.

[Shady]

If you're going to start a topic, you really should provide some kind of link.

[Boges]

The idea of Natural Selection is pretty hard to argue against. The idea that advantageous traits will be passed on to newer generations and ones that hinder an organism cause them to die off is pretty sound science.

When it comes to what actually causes life and consciousness a debate can be had. I think the position the Pope is taking here is saying that "God" is a watchmaker. What causes life to exist is something no one truly understands.

[cybercoma]

If you're going to start a topic, you really should provide some kind of link.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pope+francis+evolution

[Michael Hardner]

Yes, provide a link.

Also - people seem to know very little about religion these days... there's nothing startling about a Pope believing in evolution. Pope JP II did, and I don't remember if the last Paul did or not.

[Michael Hardner]

If you're going to start a topic, you really should provide some kind of link.

Thanks for pointing this out.

Post a link, an excerpt, and maybe get the discussion started. You all know the steps...

[Shady]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pope+francis+evolution

Anyone who starts a topic is suppose to provide a link, not expect everyone else to self search their topic.

[BubberMiley]

Anyone who starts a topic is suppose to provide a link, not expect everyone else to self search their topic.

If someone has nothing to add to a topic, should they go through the forum rulebook and look for transgressions?

[cybercoma]

Thanks for pointing this out.

Post a link, an excerpt, and maybe get the discussion started. You all know the steps...

The Antares rocket just exploded. It has been all over the media. Do I really need to post a link to that? It's the same thing here. Shady's just being a troll. A link is not absolutely required for every post, nor should it be.

[Michael Hardner]

The Antares rocket just exploded. It has been all over the media. Do I really need to post a link to that? It's the same thing here. Shady's just being a troll. A link is not absolutely required for every post, nor should it be.

It's a good idea to post one, it's in the rules that you should post one, and in this case the details are probably quite relevant to any discussion that would happen.

Thanks again to Shady for pitching in...

[guyser]

Thanks again to Shady for pitching in...

Huh??

Big Guy- Sorry no reference. Can't get cut/paste to work. Maybe someone can provide a link.

Oh lord.....

[Topaz]

Here's a link.... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html

[Guest]

Yes, provide a link.

Also - people seem to know very little about religion these days... there's nothing startling about a Pope believing in evolution. Pope JP II did, and I don't remember if the last Paul did or not.

That might be the case, but as an ex-Catholic, I think the current boss is going above and beyond what any of his predecessors might have done in attempts to bring the church in line with modern thinking. If he stays healthy, we might see some real policy changes in the next few years.

[Topaz]

On "The View", Whoopi said she has wrote the Pope to ask when he visits New York next year, would he consider coming on the View? She said, she not holding out hope he will but one never knows. She also said that this Pope is more open minded than others.

[Bonam]

It has just been reported that Pope Francis has just given a speech in which he encourages Catholics to accept the "Big Bang" theory. He also mentioned that Catholics should look more to science for answers but that these concepts are not opposing Church Doctrine.

Any Catholics that "accepts the big bang theory" because the Pope told them so are missing the point, and very deeply. The big bang theory should be used as a working explanation for the origin of the universe because it is best supported by the available facts, not because a person of religious authority endorses it. The big bang theory of today is an explanation based on what we know today, as science progresses, we will fill in more details, maybe even the theory will change in substantive ways as we learn more, much like our understanding of gravity has evolved. And yet if catholics believe the big bang theory because pope told them to, then it's just a newly enshrined set of religious dogma, which will conflict with future scientific understandings.

What the pope should have said is not "accept the big bang theory" or "accept evolution" but "use your own rational mind to look at the evidence and accept that which makes the most sense and is best supported by the facts". Of course, he could not have said that, since anyone that follows that advice and runs with it quickly comes to the realization that there is no reason to believe in god.

[Big Guy]

Can't get the cut/paste function to work after I updated to windows 8.1. How about if I make a suggestion to go to google and key in "pope evolution big bang speech". Then you would find 30 links.

Good grief!

[Michael Hardner]

Any Catholics that "accepts the big bang theory" because the Pope told them so are missing the point.

From the article- popes have believed in evolution for fifty years. The latest pope's opinion is not news, and doesn't represent any change in the religion

[Mighty AC]

This seems like more of a PR move than new ground or new attitudes. Pope's have been accepting evolution, grudgingly, since the 1950's. However, I still think it's a positive anytime a religious leader endorses scientific evidence. Only 26% of US Catholics deny evolution, which is positive considering 33% of all American adults and a staggering 64% of evangelical protestants, think humans existed in the current form since "the beginning".

It's great that the RCC isn't currently burning scientists at the stake, but I'd still like to see them progress in areas like misogyny, marriage equality, abstinence, abortion, etc.

[bush_cheney2004]

.... Only 26% of US Catholics deny evolution, which is positive considering 33% of all American adults and a staggering 64% of evangelical protestants, think humans existed in the current form since "the beginning".

It is unclear to me why this issue is specific to Catholics and/or Protestants in the United States.

[Shady]

It is unclear to me why this issue is specific to Catholics and/or Protestants in the United States.

Great point. I'm not sure why either. I never hear any other persons of faith be asked. Perhaps these same people should be asking the opinions of Muslims as well.

[eyeball]

Can't get the cut/paste function to work after I updated to windows 8.1. How about if I make a suggestion to go to google and key in "pope evolution big bang speech". Then you would find 30 links.

Good grief!

Did you download Chrome yet?

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95346?hl=en

[Topaz]

Yeah, I had trouble too but found a new browser of Chrome called Comodo Dragon, its very good.

[Mighty AC]

Great point. I'm not sure why either. I never hear any other persons of faith be asked. Perhaps these same people should be asking the opinions of Muslims as well.

Perhaps they should be asking Russian Sikhs if they like fried chicken! The "same people" do ask most religious groups, but this thread is about evolution, the big bang and the RCC.

Since, you made that inane comment and are apparently unacquainted with search engines, here is some info for you. Muslims in the US are about evenly split on the subject, yet the number varies greatly around the world. For instance, in Kazakhstan and Lebanon 80% of Muslims believe in evolution, but only about one quarter of Afghani and Iraqi Muslims accept it. I haven't found out if Russian Sikhs frequent KFC yet...I'll keep you posted.

[Mighty AC]

Can't get the cut/paste function to work after I updated to windows 8.1. How about if I make a suggestion to go to google and key in "pope evolution big bang speech". Then you would find 30 links.

Good grief!

Do you use Firefox? If so, you can often fix its frequent problems by resetting the browser. You will lose any added extensions, but can set them up again afterwards.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.

Otherwise, I have had no problems with Chrome on Win 7 or 8.

[The_Squid]

The body of the OP references Big Bang... the linked article from the Independent reference the Big Bang Theory as well as evolution.

The title of the OP references evolution.

I think the Pope is talking about embracing science in general, even if it conflicts with a literal reading of the bible. Clearly burying your head in the sand about scientific facts and believing mythology is a very bad idea. It leads to very bad policies when people and governments ignore science in favour of what they "believe".

This isn't an enlightened point of view.... it simply means that the pope is not an idiot, unlike many religious leaders, past and present, who dispute science for their own irrational beliefs.

Edited October 30, 2014 by The_Squid