The Bible, Age of the Earth and Evolution

FaithT · Wednesday at 1:23 AM

I read this website Creation.com and as the name implies, they’re very literalistic, as were the teachings of the LCMS church I used to attend. Something is bothering me. This website and the Lutheran pastors say and believe that you can’t pick and choose what’s literal in the Bible and what isn’t. If you believe evolution is true and the earth is billions of years old then that puts the rest of the Bible in jeopardy. Like you have to believe all of it. What is the Catholic position on this line of reasoning? Because I know that we believe or can believe that evolutiom occurred and the earth/universe is billions of years old so does that puts the rest of the Bible in jeopardy? Why or why not?

Bob Crowley · Wednesday at 2:55 AM

I'd dearly like to know the whole truth myself.

However the Old Testament is not a Christian document. It's part of the Jewish canon.

So it would seem the people who should have the last word on the Creation / Evolution argument based on Biblical and Scientific data would be the Jews themselves.

And they are divided. Some take it literally. Some take it as allegory. Most compromise.

Creationism and Evolution in Jewish Thought | My Jewish Learning

Jewish thought on Creationism and Evolution is not as single-minded as scientists and others might expect.

www.myjewishlearning.com

A New Layout of the Universe

Recent scientific developments have provided new opportunities for reconciling the biblical account of creation with scientific cosmogony. Most notably, the Big Bang theory, which has gained widespread acceptance in the scientific community today, asserts that the universe began at a particular point in time. This theory can support the biblical account of intentional creation at a particular time by God.

The hotly contested debate regarding teaching evolution vs. intelligent design in American schools has increased discussion of evolution within the American Jewish community. Some American Jews reject the term “intelligent design,” seeing it as part of an attempt to bring Christianity into the public schools. Yet many Jews, even those who argue against the proponents of intelligent design, still strive to see the hand of God in the origins of the world. In the wake of these debates, Jews today continue to struggle to reconcile the traditional Jewish belief in creation with the scientific theory of evolution.

If the Jews themselves aren't sure how to interpret the Creation texts, then I don't see why the Church should take a hard line approach.

For the time being we'll have to agree to disagree.

FaithT · Thursday at 12:19 AM

Anyone else?

JimR-OCDS · Thursday at 6:17 AM

What does it matter?

If the earth is billions of years old, so what, and how does that effect your faith?

If you take the Old Testament literally, you'll come into trouble. It isn't meant to be
a textbook on history, but rather the relationship between God and man.

I watched Dr Jordon Peterson's programs on Genisis and Exodus, which is on
the Daily Wire. Requires a subscription but was really good. He had a panel of
scholars and experts on including Bishop Barron and Denis Prager.

FaithT · Thursday at 10:35 AM

JimR-OCDS said:
What does it matter?

If the earth is billions of years old, so what, and how does that effect your faith?

If you take the Old Testament literally, you'll come into trouble. It isn't meant to be
a textbook on history, but rather the relationship between God and man.

I watched Dr Jordon Peterson's programs on Genisis and Exodus, which is on
the Daily Wire. Requires a subscription but was really good. He had a panel of
scholars and experts on including Bishop Barron and Denis Prager.

Reread my OP.

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The Bible, Age of the Earth and Evolution

FaithT

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Bob Crowley

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Creationism and Evolution in Jewish Thought | My Jewish Learning

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FaithT

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JimR-OCDS

God Cannot Be Grasped, Except Through Love

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FaithT

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