EVOLUTION - you know the Pope accepts it right?

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weybourne1

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Pretty straightforward question, just not sure if many people here knew that. (I had no idea until reading a new book on the topic)

Turns out that the majority of senior clergy members and including His Infallible-ness the Pope recognize that evolution is a fact.

Evolution is a theory in the same vein as Einstein's theory of Relativity.

This issue is that most people who don't want to recognize it as a fact, are confusing theory with hypothesis.

The evidence for evolution is indeed overwhelming and abundant, which is why any reputable scientist supports that it is indeed a fact.

I can understand why some people who have been deliberately mislead would think otherwise. (some people think that humans evolved from monkeys, and then ask why there are still monkeys..hahaha).
 

ebia

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Pretty straightforward question, just not sure if many people here knew that. (I had no idea until reading a new book on the topic)

Turns out that the majority of senior clergy members and including His Infallible-ness the Pope recognize that evolution is a fact.
Roughly speaking, yes.
 
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kevlite2020

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Pretty straightforward question, just not sure if many people here knew that. (I had no idea until reading a new book on the topic)

Turns out that the majority of senior clergy members and including His Infallible-ness the Pope recognize that evolution is a fact.

Evolution is a theory in the same vein as Einstein's theory of Relativity.

This issue is that most people who don't want to recognize it as a fact, are confusing theory with hypothesis.

The evidence for evolution is indeed overwhelming and abundant, which is why any reputable scientist supports that it is indeed a fact.

I can understand why some people who have been deliberately mislead would think otherwise. (some people think that humans evolved from monkeys, and then ask why there are still monkeys..hahaha).

I don't want to start a debate over the validity of evolution, but just to address what you're saying here, yes, it's fairly well known that the pope accepts the evolution theory. I believe he also believes in the gap theory (basically, 7 days meant 7 ages in genesis). But the pope is just a man, and he doesn't have any more or less authority than any other Christian. He's just a man. I would argue that his position in the church is fairly unbiblical, as is the power that people give to him.
 
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SpiritualAntiseptic

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Pretty straightforward question, just not sure if many people here knew that. (I had no idea until reading a new book on the topic)

Turns out that the majority of senior clergy members and including His Infallible-ness the Pope recognize that evolution is a fact.

I believe that the Pope and most clergy hold evolution as the most likely theory... while teaching that believing in creationism or evolution is not against the faith.
 
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ebia

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weybourne1

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I apologize if there is a more appropriate room for this question..I was just under the impression that this is the only place we atheists can post.

I appreciate the replies, and sorry if my original tone came across as harsh - it's just that I don't see why evolution is such a threat to some people, you know?

History is full of previous ideas being altered - that's how we were able to develop newer and better medicines, for example - and by ignoring factual evidence just because it doesn't line up with past ideas, that can be the most dangerous way of thinking!

On the flip side of things, because science is always discovering new truths (example recently would be the release of articles on Ardipithecus ramidus), science is open to amending past ideas to include new information, rather than deny it's validity because it doesn't line up with past findings. And that's the best part about science, and scientists - they admit when they were wrong - which makes their evidence that much more substantial.

Anyways, I was just trying to get a sense of what the general Christian public thought about evolution, since a lot of them that I meet aren't even willing to study the evidence, and that, to me, is a shame.
 
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Bro_Sam

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Pretty straightforward question, just not sure if many people here knew that. (I had no idea until reading a new book on the topic)

Turns out that the majority of senior clergy members and including His Infallible-ness the Pope recognize that evolution is a fact.

Evolution is a theory in the same vein as Einstein's theory of Relativity.

This issue is that most people who don't want to recognize it as a fact, are confusing theory with hypothesis.

The evidence for evolution is indeed overwhelming and abundant, which is why any reputable scientist supports that it is indeed a fact.

I can understand why some people who have been deliberately mislead would think otherwise. (some people think that humans evolved from monkeys, and then ask why there are still monkeys..hahaha).

The pope is just as welcome to his opinion as anybody else. Doesn't affect me or my religion one bit.
 
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ephraimanesti

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(some people think that humans evolved from monkeys, and then ask why there are still monkeys..hahaha).
A more likely theory is that monkeys have de-volved from human beings who have chosen to deny the existence of their Creator and wandered off into the darkness of unbelief.

IN CHRIST,
ephraim
 
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weybourne1

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A more likely theory is that monkeys have evolved from human beings who have chosen to deny the existence of their Creator and wandered off into the darkness of unbelief.

IN CHRIST,
ephraim

Does this mean that I am going to turn into a monkey?

We share a common ancestor with monkeys, apes, orangutans, etc, etc,etc,. We did not evolve out of them, that is a popular misconception. Agreed?
 
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I apologize if there is a more appropriate room for this question..I was just under the impression that this is the only place we atheists can post.

I appreciate the replies, and sorry if my original tone came across as harsh - it's just that I don't see why evolution is such a threat to some people, you know?

History is full of previous ideas being altered - that's how we were able to develop newer and better medicines, for example - and by ignoring factual evidence just because it doesn't line up with past ideas, that can be the most dangerous way of thinking!

On the flip side of things, because science is always discovering new truths (example recently would be the release of articles on Ardipithecus ramidus), science is open to amending past ideas to include new information, rather than deny it's validity because it doesn't line up with past findings. And that's the best part about science, and scientists - they admit when they were wrong - which makes their evidence that much more substantial.

Anyways, I was just trying to get a sense of what the general Christian public thought about evolution, since a lot of them that I meet aren't even willing to study the evidence, and that, to me, is a shame.

I totally agree with you on the two bolded parts. I will tell you that I believe in young earth creation, not evolution. But I have researched it heavily and made my decision based on the facts and my reasoning as best as I can, and unbiased as I can. To anybody who just avoids the issue of evolution at all, I think that's a shame too. People aught to be encouraged to step out in their faith and really learn what they believe in, rather than believing blindly. The bottom line is, if someone wants to believe in evolution and still have faith, they can find a way to do that, and if someone wants to believe in creation and still have faith, they can find a way to do that. It's not like if they discover some info about evolution that they can't quite come to terms with, it's not going to ruin their faith and their life. It's that fear of finding out at all that hurts.
 
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weybourne1

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I agree that it's a fear of finding out, which is why it is a shame that there is an enormous movement to block evolution from being taught in schools. What we have to remember is that evolution is a theory in the sense that relativity is just a theory.

Why block someone from learning something that has a mountain of evidence supporting it, simply because it might lead them to ask more questions about their faith? Questioning one's faith is supposed to lead you closer to your god, or at least that's what I was told by a lot of my Christian friends.
 
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Digit

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Anyways, I was just trying to get a sense of what the general Christian public thought about evolution, since a lot of them that I meet aren't even willing to study the evidence, and that, to me, is a shame.
I think ultimately you are going to find all sorts of people who have various beliefs. Just as not all atheists share the same beliefs about various topics in life, nor do all Christians. These guys for example don't believe evolution to be a true account of how things came to be at all. I've read so many different accounts of our origins that really, I'm not sure it matters to me personally. I am one man, a finite being and ultimately I have gained a great more than my fair share from introspective reflection on the Bible's teachings and God's, that if mankind collectively feels evolution is a truth about our origins, I'm pretty ok with that but I'm just not sure I have hours, and days and months to investigate it, considering I spent two years doing a huge amount of study and barely scratched the surface of various other topics. ;)
 
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HumbleSiPilot77

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We share a common ancestor with monkeys, apes, orangutans, etc, etc,etc,. We did not evolve out of them, that is a popular misconception. Agreed?

Meaning you can have sex with an ape and produce a hybrid. Agreed?
 
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HumbleSiPilot77

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Also, there is no need for mockery toward the Bishop of Rome as in "Infallible-ness the Pope" ... Does this type of address seek a serious response from Catholics? I doubt it. Pope's infallibility does not deal with his opinions either, but only ecclesiastical matters within Church of Rome.
 
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ephraimanesti

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Does this mean that I am going to turn into a monkey?
Your fate is in your hands. Not knowing you, i can't call it.

We share a common ancestor with monkeys, apes, orangutans, etc, etc,etc,. We did not evolve out of them, that is a popular misconception. Agreed?
Human beings did not evolve at all. Evolution pertains to plants and animals changing and adapting to their environment. Man was created in the image and likeness of God.

Comparing the two methods of creation used by God is like comparing apples and oranges.

A BOND-SLAVE OF OUR LORD/GOD/SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
ephraim
 
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Jpark

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Pretty straightforward question, just not sure if many people here knew that. (I had no idea until reading a new book on the topic)

Turns out that the majority of senior clergy members and including His Infallible-ness the Pope recognize that evolution is a fact.

Evolution is a theory in the same vein as Einstein's theory of Relativity.

This issue is that most people who don't want to recognize it as a fact, are confusing theory with hypothesis.

The evidence for evolution is indeed overwhelming and abundant, which is why any reputable scientist supports that it is indeed a fact.

I can understand why some people who have been deliberately mislead would think otherwise. (some people think that humans evolved from monkeys, and then ask why there are still monkeys..hahaha).

Hello,

I believe that the Pope, to escape ridicule, he has accepted evolution. But the Catholic church is not the church. Neither is the church in America.

The Pope is not the representative of Christianity. The apostle Paul was. And true Christians are. And true Christians do not deny Paul's teachings.

If Paul really did advocate evolution, true Christians would recognize evolution.

But this is what Paul says concerning the beginning:

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the wolrd His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse
 
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SpiritualAntiseptic

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Also, there is no need for mockery toward the Bishop of Rome as in "Infallible-ness the Pope" ... Does this type of address seek a serious response from Catholics? I doubt it. Pope's infallibility does not deal with his opinions either, but only ecclesiastical matters within Church of Rome.

I'd even refine that a little more- the Pope is speaking infallibly when it pertains to matters of doctrine while saying that the statement is infallible.
 
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