Oldest rock in the world 2 days after creation (embedded age)

[Frank Robert]

No, I'm just interested. Christianity allows for a wide range of religious beliefs, some of them quite eccentric, and it is interesting to learn about their origins.

I think that is an excellent pursuit.

What follows is just an some ideas that come to mind.

Since Catholicism is the oldest denomination of Christianity, which is historical fact, I believe it would be a good place to start.

From Catholic.com:

The controversy surrounding evolution touches on our most central beliefs about ourselves and the world. Evolutionary theories have been used to answer questions about the origins of the universe, life, and man. These may be referred to as cosmological evolution, biological evolution, and human evolution. One’s opinion concerning one of these areas does not dictate what one believes concerning others.​

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Topics covered:

The Catholic Position​

The Time Question​

Chronological Reading​

The Topical Reading​

Real History​

Adam and Eve: Real People​

Science and Religion (which the article ends with)​

The Catholic Church has always taught that “no real disagreement can exist between the theologian and the scientist provided each keeps within his own limits. . . . If nevertheless there is a disagreement . . . it should be remembered that the sacred writers, or more truly ‘the Spirit of God who spoke through them, did not wish to teach men such truths (as the inner structure of visible objects) which do not help anyone to salvation’; and that, for this reason, rather than trying to provide a scientific exposition of nature, they sometimes describe and treat these matters either in a somewhat figurative language or as the common manner of speech those times required” (Leo XIII, Providentissimus Deus 18).​

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As the Catechism puts it, “Methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things the of the faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are” (CCC 159). The Catholic Church has no fear of science or scientific discovery.​

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I love the "no fear of science" line​

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As an aside: I have not always been Catholic, dunning my under grad and graduate days, I lived in FL where I attended both the United Church of Christ and Metropolitan Church. I found both to be highly community oriented and totally loving of your neighbor. Unfortunately, where I live now, I need to travel over 60 miles to the nearest UCC which I am doing for the holidays.​

 

[BCP1928]

I think that is an excellent pursuit.

What follows is just an some ideas that come to mind.

Since Catholicism is the oldest denomination of Christianity, which is historical fact, I believe it would be a good place to start.

From Catholic.com:

The controversy surrounding evolution touches on our most central beliefs about ourselves and the world. Evolutionary theories have been used to answer questions about the origins of the universe, life, and man. These may be referred to as cosmological evolution, biological evolution, and human evolution. One’s opinion concerning one of these areas does not dictate what one believes concerning others.​

​

Topics covered:

The Catholic Position​

The Time Question​

Chronological Reading​

The Topical Reading​

Real History​

Adam and Eve: Real People​

Science and Religion (which the article ends with)​

The Catholic Church has always taught that “no real disagreement can exist between the theologian and the scientist provided each keeps within his own limits. . . . If nevertheless there is a disagreement . . . it should be remembered that the sacred writers, or more truly ‘the Spirit of God who spoke through them, did not wish to teach men such truths (as the inner structure of visible objects) which do not help anyone to salvation’; and that, for this reason, rather than trying to provide a scientific exposition of nature, they sometimes describe and treat these matters either in a somewhat figurative language or as the common manner of speech those times required” (Leo XIII, Providentissimus Deus 18).​

​

As the Catechism puts it, “Methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things the of the faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are” (CCC 159). The Catholic Church has no fear of science or scientific discovery.​

​

I love the "no fear of science" line​

​

As an aside: I have not always been Catholic, dunning my under grad and graduate days, I lived in FL where I attended both the United Church of Christ and Metropolitan Church. I found both to be highly community oriented and totally loving of your neighbor. Unfortunately, where I live now, I need to travel over 60 miles to the nearest UCC which I am doing for the holidays.​

I have always been an Anglican, but educated by Roman Catholics. I took my undergraduate degree at an RC school where the head of the biology department--a brother in orders--was considered at the time to be a leading expert in the evolution of bats.

 

[truthpls]

My major, major problem with fundamentalists is they are stuck solidly in a particular interpretation of the Bible that is meant to eliminate any reading of the Bible that they do not agree with.

OK

Agree.

There are a range of people's beliefs go from devote Christians to atheists and agnostics and former Christians who are now atheists or agnostic and to atheists/agnostics who are now Christian

Whatever other beliefs people who use only natural processes to map out how we were created happen to have does not matter at all. The issue is that God is a spirit, not natural. Creation was a miracle by this Sprint. The flesh/physical/natural cannot tell us how He spoke and a universe appeared. That should be obvious. The natural world can only give us a false model of that past creation that basically says 'If there were no supernatural creation, then the physical processes we tell us it was made these other ways'

There is also a range of Christians from scientifically knowledgeable to Christians who believe science to be evil.

Science is just a study of the natural world. Since this world is fallen and whatever man's wisdom invents will inevitably be used for bad purposes, it is safe to say science is not the solution.

 

[Frank Robert]

I have always been an Anglican, but educated by Roman Catholics. I took my undergraduate degree at an RC school where the head of the biology department--a brother in orders--was considered at the time to be a leading expert in the evolution of bats.

That's great. I love that the Catholic religion and teaching is open to science and all other disciplines. They do have some limitations but those limitations are not onerous they are just warnings about the differences.

Fundamentalist appear to be tied into a no win situation even over minor differences that often lead to an all or nothing" mentality

 

[AV1611VET]

Fundamentalist appear to be tied into a no win situation even over minor differences that often lead to an all or nothing" mentality.

Fundamentalists don't elect leaders who change morals.

 

[Frank Robert]

Fundamentalists don't elect leaders who change morals.

ROL,

 

[dlamberth]

That's great. I love that the Catholic religion and teaching is open to science and all other disciplines. They do have some limitations but those limitations are not onerous they are just warnings about the differences.

Even as a person who is not a Christian, some of my most important spiritual teachers are from the Catholic religion. Besides their spiritual advancements, science has often been very much a part of their lives. Some have had a direct effect into my own spiritual life and how I experience this Creation.

 

[truthpls]

That's great. I love that the Catholic religion and teaching is open to science and all other disciplines. They do have some limitations but those limitations are not onerous they are just warnings about the differences.

Fundamentalist appear to be tied into a no win situation even over minor differences that often lead to an all or nothing" mentality

Did Catholics used to teach about creation and Adam and Eve in school catechism?

 

[Hans Blaster]

Did Catholics used to teach about creation and Adam and Eve in school catechism?

I don't know. Most of us didn't go to Catholic school, so our religious education (or catechism classes) were generally limted to the more important aspect of being in the church an theology.

 

[Frank Robert]

Did Catholics used to teach about creation and Adam and Eve in school catechism?

I went to Catholic schools in the 1950s. It's hard to remember but I think they just taught that A & E were the first humans. It wasn't till the 7 or 8th grade when they started teaching about evolution. As far as I can remember evolution was taken as a given.

 

[AV1611VET]

I went to Catholic schools in the 1950s. It's hard to remember but I think they just taught that A & E were the first humans. It wasn't till the 7 or 8th grade when they started teaching about evolution. As far as I can remember evolution was taken as a given.

Tares.

 

[truthpls]

I don't know. Most of us didn't go to Catholic school, so our religious education (or catechism classes) were generally limted to the more important aspect of being in the church an theology.

I went to one. I remember reading it

 

[truthpls]

I went to Catholic schools in the 1950s. It's hard to remember but I think they just taught that A & E were the first humans. It wasn't till the 7 or 8th grade when they started teaching about evolution. As far as I can remember evolution was taken as a given.

OK, so creation used to be true, but now they changed their minds and it is a lie! I guess you should only believe what that church teaches this week?

 

[BCP1928]

Did Catholics used to teach about creation and Adam and Eve in school catechism?

I expect most churches do. The story of Adam and Eve is an important and meaningful story told by God and should be taken seriously whether it is literal history or not.

 

[Hans Blaster]

I went to one. I remember reading it

Then I should be glad my parents wouldn't waste money paying for an "education" that was already covered by their taxes.

 

[AV1611VET]

I expect most churches do. The story of Adam and Eve is an important and meaningful story told by God and should be taken seriously whether it is literal history or not.

The story of Adam & Eve throws a monkey wrench into the story of evolution.

 

[BCP1928]

The story of Adam & Eve throws a monkey wrench into the story of evolution.

Only if you take it literally

 

[AV1611VET]

Only if you take it literally.

There are only two ways to take it.

Literally or blasphemously.

 

[BCP1928]

There are only two ways to take it.

Literally or blasphemously.

According to you. But more people realize that the authority of the story stems from its divine authorship, not from its adherence to some arbitrarily chosen literary genre.

 

[AV1611VET]

But more people realize that the authority of the story stems from its divine authorship, not from its adherence to some arbitrarily chosen literary genre.

Then they deserve an A for recognizing the Author, and an F for wresting the Scriptures.