Do we believe...

[CountryMom]

My husband and I were discussing NASA's new "rocket" that is going to intercept a comet on July 4th to help explain the creation of parts of the Universe. This got us talking about what as Catholics we believe about creation.

Do we believe that God created the universe? Did He do it all in 7 days? Or Was the universe created first then God created everything on Earth? Also, did He ONLY create Adam and Eve and allow them to populate the Earth (of course I know we are all created by God, but I'm talked about how did just Adam and Eve "make" everyone)?? The bible only talks about Cain and Able. Then with the Flood, how many decendents of Noah were on the Ark so population could continue to grow?? The bible even talks about Noah being 800 years old? are there years different than ours? AHH!

Sorry for all the questions, but we are curious to know how the Chruch explains this or what as a church we believe.
Thanks.

 

[Dream]

We believe that God created the Universe, which is the number 1 most important aspect.

As far as the Earth being created in exactly 7 days, a literal world flood, and Noah living to 800 years, those are left up for interpretation. Some will argue that they are merely symbolic, others will take everything literally. Knowing how the Earth was created is not essential to the faith. Knowing who created the Earth, is.

Keep in mind though, any Old Testament prophets were not familar with the science theories we have today. If God tried to explain genetic mutation to Adam and Eve, they probablly would not understand a word of it.

 

[Wolseley]

God is the Ultimate Source. In other words, He created everything.

How He chose to create it, and how long it took Him to do it, is really more or less irrelevant.

I know that doesn't satisfy many people, but for me, it suffices to say that I know God did it, and after that I don't bother to concern myself with it. When I die, God is not going to judge me on how well I know the various "Origins" debates. He will judge me on how well I followed the teachings of Our Lord.

 

[Carrye]

How He chose to create it, and how long it took Him to do it, is really more or less irrelevant.

And so the Church has no official stance on them. Whether you believe in a literal 7 day Creation or not, you are within orthodox Catholic belief.

We must remember too, that the Bible is not a textbook. But we must know too, that science has verified various Biblical stories. As both a scientist and a budding theologian, I must recognize the limits of the biblical text as well as its inspiration.

It seems to me too, that God has never been too concerned about providing a systematic theology. His Revelation has always been adequate, but it has not always been understood. He didn't intend for the Good Book to contain all of the answers to all of the world. He gave us the Church, our rationality, and secular disciplines to explore that. And even then, we only see dimly.

 

[kayanne]

Also, did He ONLY create Adam and Eve and allow them to populate the Earth (of course I know we are all created by God, but I'm talked about how did just Adam and Eve "make" everyone)?? The bible only talks about Cain and Able.

I often wonder why this misconception is so common. The Bible does not mention only Cain and Abel, although it seems 95% of people think that.

Genesis 4:25 And Adam had relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for she said, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel; for Cain killed him."

Genesis 5:4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters.

Hope that helps, kayanne

 

[Michelina]

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church

286 Human intelligence is surely already capable of finding a response to the question of origins. The existence of God the Creator can be known with certainty through his works, by the light of human reason, even if this knowledge is often obscured and disfigured by error. This is why faith comes to confirm and enlighten reason in the correct understanding of this truth: "By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear."

Read the link below, Country Mom, it's very good:

http://www.nccbuscc.com/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt1art1p4.htm