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Title: Pope Francis says Big Bang theory and evolution 'compatible with divine Creator'
Source:
telegraph.co.uk
URL Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor ... tible-with-divine-Creator.html
Published: Oct 28, 2014
Author: By Nick Squires
Post Date: 2014-10-28 13:42:04 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 71595
Comments: 132
Theory universe born in cosmic explosion 13.7 billion years ago 'doesn't contradict' divine Creator but 'demands it', says pontiff The theory of the Big Bang is compatible with the Catholic Church's teaching on creation and belief in both is possible, Pope Francis has said. The Pope insisted that God was responsible for the Big Bang, from which all life then evolved. The Big Bang - the theory that the universe was born in a cosmic explosion about 13.7 billion years ago and has expanded and evolved since - "doesn't contradict the intervention of a divine Creator, but demands it," the Pope said. The beginning of the world was not "the work of chaos" but part of a divine plan by the Creator, he said. The Jesuit Pope made the remarks during an address to a meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which gathered at the Vatican to discuss "Evolving Concepts of Nature". "Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve," he told the meeting. God should not be regarded as some sort of "magician", waving a magic wand, he said. "When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so," he said. "He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that He gave to each one so they would reach fulfilment." The Pope's remarks were in line with Catholic Church teaching of the last few decades. As far back as 1950, Pope Pius XII said that there was no intrinsic conflict between Catholic doctrine and the theory of evolution, provided that Catholics believed that the human soul was created by God and not the result of random evolutionary forces. That stance was affirmed in 1996 by Pope John Paul II. "The Pope's declaration is significant," said Giovanni Bignami, the president of Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics. "We are the descendants of the Big Bang, which created the universe. You just have to think that in our blood we have a few litres of hydrogen, which was created by the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago. "Our blood is red because it contains iron, which was created by the explosion of a star millions and millions of years ago. Out of creation came evolution."
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 20.
#1. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
Often thought the same thing. BBT, evolution.....all of it is just the way of the Creator.
This is a way of looking at Christianity that makes it more plausible to me. I still disagree with major aspects of that religion, but common sense being expressed by one of the largest Christian churches is a welcome thing to see. By the way, I am not Christian or a Catholic, but I was raised in that church leaving it after the ceremony of Confirmation which I had agreed to go through.
Plausible in what sense? Meaning you can embrace an Uncreated Creator as long as those who follow Him acknowledge Big Bang and the theory of evolution? Or plausible in the sense that "finally some Christians are realizing there is no Jewish-Christian God and can now join the rest of us in the primordial goo"?
I believe in a female deity and question whether a Jesus Christ even existed. I respect the religions of others, but I myself am quite Pagan. I believe most religions are vehicles used to manage people and are too focused on humans as the pinnacle of creation. I feel all life is sacred, and that humans are destroying and extincting much of the fabric of life that is the best part of this planet. I also quite firmly believe that there are other planets out there with life on them.
NOTE TO SELF: Dismiss plans to turn Flipper into "Mammy."
In 1970 he founded the Dolphin Project, a group that aims to educate the public about captivity and, where feasible, free captive dolphins. He was featured in the Academy Award-winning film, The Cove (2009), which used covert techniques to expose the yearly dolphin drive hunting that goes on in Taiji, Japan." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_O'Barry Flipper's name was Kathy and she is dead.
Hello Mike...Kathy (RIP :-( I once knew a woman who shocked me with her belief there was NO difference between Man and...Dolphin -- in both the context of intelligence and possessing a soul. Does that happen to mirror your personal belief as well? Or do you extend that concept even further and believe EVERY creature is "equal" in the eyes of Gaia/God/The Universal Creator? Thanks...
I would say I agree with her. Dolphins have language and culture. They have brains that rival ours in size and complexity.
#38. To: Ferret Mike (#20)
The human and dolphin brain comparison brain is...interesting. As to "complexity," we don't possess any instruments, gauges, or metrics that prove the extent of their "complexity." Just that Dolphins are admittedly very intelligent, possess "feelings", and possesses their own language, and understand human communication to a degree. SAME AS DOGS. OR APES. That said, you still didn't answe my original question: Do you extend that concept even further and believe EVERY creature is "equal" in the eyes of Gaia/God/The Universal Creator? Are we "committing murder" if we slaughter cattle? Hooking a fish? Stepping on a spider? Eradicating ANY "life" for whatever reason? How does Gaia "judge" man? Doe she provide "Salvation"? What IS the "End Game" for Gaia and her "children?
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#2. To: 4 givan 1 (#1)
#7. To: Ferret Mike (#2)
This is a way of looking at Christianity that makes it more plausible to me
#9. To: redleghunter (#7)
#16. To: Ferret Mike (#9)
Intelligent humans should respect and protect non-human intelligent beings. Never kill or enslave dolphins ~ Mike McCarthy
#17. To: Liberator (#16)
"Richard "Ric" O'Barry (born Richard Barry O'Feldman)[1][2] is an American first recognized in the 1960s for capturing and training the five dolphins that were used in the well-known TV series Flipper. O'Barry made a radical transition from training dolphins in captivity to assertively combating the captivity industry soon after Kathy, one of the Flipper dolphins, died in his arms. O'Barry contends Kathy committed suicide.[3]
#18. To: Ferret Mike (#17)
Flipper's name was Kathy and she is dead.
#20. To: Liberator (#18)
"I once knew a woman who shocked me with her belief there was NO difference between Man and...Dolphin -- in both the context of intelligence and possessing a soul."
Replies to Comment # 20. I would say I agree with her. Dolphins have language and culture. They have brains that rival ours in size and complexity.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 20.
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