VATICAN ENDORSES EVOLUTION
In a blow to intelligent design and creationism, the Vatican's cultural secretary Archbishop Ravasi argued that biological evolution and a christian view of creation were not incompatible.
In 1996 Pope John Paul II had said that evolution was more then a mere hypothesis, but intelligent design proponents had seized on statements by Benedict XVI that referred to a "intelligent project". But it was for naught. Intelligent design was almost banned from a papal backed conference marking the 150th anniversary of the Origin of Species, as "poor science, poor theology". It was eventually allowed to be discussed at the fringes of the event as a "cultural phenomenon" but not as a scientific or theological issue.
The Vatican is claiming that they have never formally condemned evolution. They are also claiming that a 4th century saint, Augustine of Hippo and a middle age saint, Aquinas had made observations that life seemed to be transitory, transforming slowly over time.
Even the Church of England has waded in.
In 1996 Pope John Paul II had said that evolution was more then a mere hypothesis, but intelligent design proponents had seized on statements by Benedict XVI that referred to a "intelligent project". But it was for naught. Intelligent design was almost banned from a papal backed conference marking the 150th anniversary of the Origin of Species, as "poor science, poor theology". It was eventually allowed to be discussed at the fringes of the event as a "cultural phenomenon" but not as a scientific or theological issue.
The Vatican is claiming that they have never formally condemned evolution. They are also claiming that a 4th century saint, Augustine of Hippo and a middle age saint, Aquinas had made observations that life seemed to be transitory, transforming slowly over time.
Even the Church of England has waded in.
What is extraordinary is that Darwin was surrounded by the influence of the Church his entire life. Having attended one of the best Church of England boarding schools in the country in Shrewsbury, he trained to be a clergyman in Cambridge; was inspired to follow his calling into science by another clergyman who lived and breathed botany; and married into a staunch Anglican familyIt's strange but for once the Catholic church is not the weird religious nuts desperately clinging to and out dated mode of belief.
posted by Renegade79 at 2:19 pm
2 Comments:
Yep, and in the church's traditionally timely manner too. What? Only a century and few decades. Really, no time at all.
Their modernisation program is about to endorse fire for the use in church candles. Previously this was seen as blasphemy due to the burning bush in scripture.
Just ask Victorians about the burning bush... wait... too soon?
I thought the burning bush was why Muslims had to shave their bodies and we urge people to wear condoms.
(And yes, a little too soon)
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