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Fox News article

Vatican Official Defends Evolution Against 'Useless' Creationism
Friday , September 19, 2008

A professor at a Vatican-sponsored university expressed dismay Tuesday that some Christian groups reject the theory of evolution — implicitly criticizing the literal interpretation of the Bible.

Further emphasizing the official Catholic stance, a Vatican official restated the Church position that evolution is not incompatible with faith.

Both men spoke at a press conference ahead of a March event aimed at fostering dialogue between religion and science, and appraising evolution 150 years after Charles Darwin's landmark "On the Origin of Species."

The forum is being organized by Rome's prestigious Gregorian Pontifical University, which is highly influential in Vatican circles, and by the University of Notre Dame in the U.S. state of Indiana.

Popes going back to the mid-20th century have "recognized the scientific value of the theory of biological evolution," Gennaro Auletta, who teaches philosophy of science at the Gregorian, told reporters. "Greater understanding and assimilation of such subject matter by clergy and faithful has been hoped for."

"I would like to point out that unfortunately one cannot say that about the faithful of all Christian confessions, as media reports indicate," Auletta said.

Auletta appeared to be referring to stories about fundamentalist churches that maintain a literal interpretation of the Bible, including the belief that the world was created in six days.

Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi told reporters that: "One thing is sure. Evolution is not incompatible with faith."

"Creationism from a strictly theological view makes sense, but when it is used in scientific fields it becomes useless," Ravasi said.

Quoting the late Pope John Paul II, Ravasi said that "evolution can no longer be considered a hypothesis."

Pope Benedict XVI warned last week against fundamentalists' literal interpretations of the Bible.

The pontiff told a gathering of intellectuals and academics in Paris that the structure of the Bible "excludes by its nature everything that today is known as fundamentalism. In effect, the word of God can never simply be equated with the letter of the text," Benedict said.

Benedict, in a book published last year, praised scientific progress, but cautioned that evolution raises philosophical questions that science alone cannot answer. In the book, he stopped short of endorsing what is known as "intelligent design."

Intelligent design proponents believe that living organisms are so complex they must have been created by a higher force, rather than evolving from more primitive forms.

Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, an influential cardinal considered close to Benedict, has condemned a U.S. federal court decision that barred a Pennsylvania school district from teaching intelligent design in biology class.

Schoenborn has said he wants to correct what he says is a widespread misconception that the Catholic Church has given blanket endorsement to Darwin's theories.
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quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
Okay, class, pull out your Thomas Acquinas, the Catholics have held this position for centuries. Reasonable people, lately, the Catholics.

Hi Crusty,

So, what is new? Knowledgeable folks have long known that Thomas Acquinas was the father of Liberal Theology.

And, the Anglican Church (Church of England) is hosting a web site in support of Darwinian Evolution. Is that Liberal -- or what?

All this tells me is that they teach a very Liberal Theology. Nothing new. Anytime you have Light; you will find Darkness trying to suppress it. Yet, we all know that one small Light overcomes Darkness.

To my fellow Christian believers -- we each are to be that one small Light shining and overcoming Darkness.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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You appear to be correct, Bill. Anytime there is light, such as setting the earth in motion, the literalists do everything they can to cover it up, because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous. Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century. Heck, just get to the Middle Ages. God gave you a choice, Bill, and you chose the tree of knowledge. Try it.

Have a blissed day.
quote:
And, the Anglican Church (Church of England) is hosting a web site in support of Darwinian Evolution. Is that Liberal -- or what?

Bill, you insufferable IDiot,

It's not "Liberal"... it's reality. And that is what you hate about it. You are completely detached from reality, and despise those of us who are not.

I think, deep down, in the heart of your black heart, you resent us for admitting what you know is the truth. The Earth is not 6000 years old, we are right, and you are positing a lie (as usual) to make religio/political points with your picnic friends.

I'm no friend of the Catholic church, but they got this one right, and for that deserve due credit.

DF
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
You appear to be correct, Bill. Anytime there is light, such as setting the earth in motion, the literalists do everything they can to cover it up, because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous. Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century. Heck, just get to the Middle Ages. God gave you a choice, Bill, and you chose the tree of knowledge. Try it.

Hi Crusty,

Quite frankly, I have no idea what you are saying. Do you?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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quote:
Originally posted by DeepFat:
quote:
And, the Anglican Church (Church of England) is hosting a web site in support of Darwinian Evolution. Is that Liberal -- or what?

Bill, you insufferable IDiot,

It's not "Liberal"... it's reality. And that is what you hate about it. You are completely detached from reality, and despise those of us who are not.

I think, deep down, in the heart of your black heart, you resent us for admitting what you know is the truth. The Earth is not 6000 years old, we are right, and you are positing a lie (as usual) to make religio/political points with your picnic friends.

I'm no friend of the Catholic church, but they got this one right, and for that deserve due credit. DF

Hi Deep,

Thank you for being consistent. As usual, when you have nothing substantial to say -- you revert back to your Atheist's Cutesy and Insulting Manual.

You really need to get a more up to date manual; Fish has already warn out the Insulting ones -- and you have used up more than your share of the Cutesy ones.

You guys need to get a new coach. Your team is losing -- badly.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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Hi Deep,

You are okay; just keep repeating your Atheist Mantra -- and one day you might actually believe it.

Don't forget: the more you repeat a statement, the more likely someone will believe you -- and, as I said -- you might even come to believe it yourself. Then, you could do like all the other mercernary Atheists, i.e., Dawkins, Hitchens, et al -- write a book and laugh all the way to the bank.

Of course, you will need to bring more unwitting souls into your vacuous belief -- or you will not have anyone to buy your books. They will be too busy buying Dawkins' and Hitchens' books.

So, keep up your good work in recruiting; but, I do hope you do not mind that I tell folks of your empty rhetoric.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
You appear to be correct, Bill. Anytime there is light, such as setting the earth in motion, the literalists do everything they can to cover it up, because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous. Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century. Heck, just get to the Middle Ages. God gave you a choice, Bill, and you chose the tree of knowledge. Try it.

Hi Crusty,

Quite frankly, I have no idea what you are saying. Do you?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill


Yes, Bill, I know exactly what I'm saying. And I'm not surprised you don't. Anyone that tries to disprove science with a religious text would never understand reason.
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
You appear to be correct, Bill. Anytime there is light, such as setting the earth in motion, the literalists do everything they can to cover it up, because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous. Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century. Heck, just get to the Middle Ages. God gave you a choice, Bill, and you chose the tree of knowledge. Try it.

Hi Crusty,

Quite frankly, I have no idea what you are saying. Do you?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill


Yes, Bill, I know exactly what I'm saying. And I'm not surprised you don't. Anyone that tries to disprove science with a religious text would never understand reason.

Hi Crusty,

That makes me feel better to know that you understand what you are saying. Now, maybe you can explain it to me. Please forgive me for being such an ignorant, illiterate old misplaced Alabama boy -- but, maybe in your great intelligence, you can speak at my level so that I will understand and be able to respond.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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I'm going to give you more credence than you do me, Bill. I'm going to answer your question. Translation is below.



quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
You appear to be correct, Bill.

I'm agreeing with you, partially.
Anytime there is light,

You use "light" to mean "God's word". I use light to mean any truthful knowledge.

such as setting the earth in motion,

This refers to Copernicus and Galileo and others theorizing, proving, and teaching that the earth is NOT the center of the universe. New factual knowledge at that time that "set the earth in motion"; a borrowed phrase.

the literalists do everything they can to cover it up,

Like the Inquisition at the time torturing, killing and excommunicating people for speaking truth that disproves the idea that the Bible can be taken literally.

because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Science regularly disproves literal interpretation of the Bible in scientific matters. If you base your belief on a literal interpretation of the Bible you are building a house of cards, and science will collapse that house of cards over and over.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous.

I can't make that statement any clearer than it is. If you believe the Bible is a science text, then you are a blithering idiot.

Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century.

The earth is millions of years old, and evolution is not only the best theory for the origin of woman, but is daily reinforced (and revised) by new discoveries in all areas of biology.


Heck, just get to the Middle Ages.

The earth is round and it revolves around the sun, the universe wasn't created in 6 days

God gave you a choice, Bill,

A literary trick, I'm allowing you to be Adam and represent all mankind.

and you chose the tree of knowledge.

You don't live in the Garden of Eden

Try it.

Stop being an idiot.
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
I'm going to give you more credence than you do me, Bill. I'm going to answer your question. Translation is below.

quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
You appear to be correct, Bill.

I'm agreeing with you, partially.
Anytime there is light,

You use "light" to mean "God's word". I use light to mean any truthful knowledge.

such as setting the earth in motion,

This refers to Copernicus and Galileo and others theorizing, proving, and teaching that the earth is NOT the center of the universe. New factual knowledge at that time that "set the earth in motion"; a borrowed phrase.

the literalists do everything they can to cover it up,

Like the Inquisition at the time torturing, killing and excommunicating people for speaking truth that disproves the idea that the Bible can be taken literally.

because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Science regularly disproves literal interpretation of the Bible in scientific matters. If you base your belief on a literal interpretation of the Bible you are building a house of cards, and science will collapse that house of cards over and over.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous.

I can't make that statement any clearer than it is. If you believe the Bible is a science text, then you are a blithering idiot.

Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century.

The earth is millions of years old, and evolution is not only the best theory for the origin of woman, but is daily reinforced (and revised) by new discoveries in all areas of biology.


Heck, just get to the Middle Ages.

The earth is round and it revolves around the sun, the universe wasn't created in 6 days

God gave you a choice, Bill,

A literary trick, I'm allowing you to be Adam and represent all mankind.

and you chose the tree of knowledge.

You don't live in the Garden of Eden

Try it.

Stop being an idiot.

Hi Crusty,

You really do need to stop hanging out with Deep and Fish -- you are beginning to talk to yourself.

In this post, you took your own post -- answered yourself -- and try to pass it off as coming from me? Do you also talk with trees and rocks?

Sorry, my Friend, no cigar!

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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Bill, your senility is showing. You made the comment that you didn't understand what I was saying, I said that I did and wasn't surprised that you didn't. You said "translate". I translated.

Use the little slider thingy on the right of the screen, scroll back and read.

As to talking to rocks, Hell Yes, I've been talking to you haven't I?

But if you want to play the goofus from Alabama here is the post I was referring to.

quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:

quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:

quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
You appear to be correct, Bill. Anytime there is light, such as setting the earth in motion, the literalists do everything they can to cover it up, because their house of cards collapses if they don't.

Using the Bible to formulate scientific theory is ridiculous. Really, Bill, join us in the 21st century. Heck, just get to the Middle Ages. God gave you a choice, Bill, and you chose the tree of knowledge. Try it.


Hi Crusty,

Quite frankly, I have no idea what you are saying. Do you?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill



Yes, Bill, I know exactly what I'm saying. And I'm not surprised you don't. Anyone that tries to disprove science with a religious text would never understand reason.


Hi Crusty,

That makes me feel better to know that you understand what you are saying. Now, maybe you can explain it to me. Please forgive me for being such an ignorant, illiterate old misplaced Alabama boy -- but, maybe in your great intelligence, you can speak at my level so that I will understand and be able to respond.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill




Posts: 2195 | Location: Southern California (Born Tuscumbia/Grew up in Sheffield) | Registered: 28 January 2007 Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
Hi Crusty,

It truly is a pleasure dialoguing with you. Just curious, have you been taking lessons from Neal lately? You know, like in "How To Win Friends And Influence People."

Y'all come back now, ya heah?

Bill

No, Bill, from you.

Hi Crusty,

That is wonderful. I am happy to see my Christian influence is starting to rub off on you.

Now, you let me know when you are ready to make a commitment to Jesus Christ. I would sincerely love to have you as a Christian brother.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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