Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Religions
  5. / Religions A - Z

by Gaighy on November 17th, 2003

Gaighy

Question

Help answer this question below.

Do the Catholic teachings recognise Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution? Does the Catholic Faith recognise that dinosaurs existed?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by Jan Szafranski on May 18th, 2004

    Jan Szafranski

    I concur with Travis Simpson's answer herein, but would like to point out that the question is really a non-question, such as " do you believe in UFOs" (to which the answer must always be "yes"... in other words 'do you believe that people see things they don't recognise?'). In this example, people think the question refers to 'flying saucers' when they answer that question. With respect to the question of Darwin, the answer must be "yes" as the question is asking if catholics believe that Darwin had an idea about evolution. Of course he did! As to the intent of the question: whether Catholics believe the theory (which by its nature is yet un-proven), the church believes that it is as likely a theory as the theory of creation. It actually goes one step further, in that it has the 'proof' of the Bible and faith that the creation theory is the correct one. This is actually quite a strong and valid one.

    The problem comes with education, in that instead of teaching evolution as one of several theories, it teaches it as fact - which it is not. It is because of this mis-belief (that evolution is fact) which is why peoiple ask if the church believes in it or not. Any theory, if strong enough, is valid...and science to-date favours the church's opinion. The problem is that many people think that evolution is fact, and that Darwin said that man descended from ape. This is wrong. Evolution is just a theory, an idea, yet to be proved - just as the theory of Creation. The question of man being descended from ape is a big mis-understanding. Darwin said that man and apes share a common ancestor who no longer exists. This ancestor 'fathered' homo sapiens sapiens, and also the lineage of apes. Apes and man are not directly related according to Darwin. To-date, this "missing link" does not exist. He is saying, in a much simplified sense, is that man appeared on the planet at a certain point in time, altered/evolved from an unknown source. This does not contradict the Bible or the church's teaching. The only difference is that the Bible says that God created man (Adam) which is why there is no predescendant (missing link)... which so far is true. Until a lifeform fossil is found that shows where modern man came from, the evolution of man remains an unproven theory.

    Comments
    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Do the Catholic teachings recognise Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution? Does the Catholic Faith recognise that dinosaurs existed?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company