3. Evolution and Creation
Video Version
Audio Version
Time Stamps
2:45 - Neo-Darwinism
4:00 - Dual Authorship of Humanity
8:00 - Creation is Ongoing
11:00 - The Biblical Creation Stories
17:00 - Theistic Evolution
21:00 - Making Evolution Practical
Show Notes
To read my article on this topic, go to https://www.becominggift.com/post/theistic-evolution
"The Church does not forbid that the teaching of "evolution" be treated in accord with the present status of human disciplines and of theology [...] Yet some with daring boldness transgress this freedom of discussion, acting as if the origin of the human body from previously existing and living matter, were already certain and demonstrated.” Humani Generis - Pope Pius XII
Neo-Darwinism = The combination of Darwin's theories of natural selection with newer scientific theories like genetics. More recently, academics like Richard Dawkins, have used the term Neo-Darwinism for a more specific form of evolutionary theory that includes atheistic philosophy.
Two extremes to avoid on how God is involved in the world:
God is the only true cause - God is the puppet master, and the creature is just a puppet.
The creature is the true author - God ordains it but is not involved in the creation process.
"Those divinely revealed realities which are contained and presented in Sacred Scripture have been committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. [...], they have God as their author and have been handed on as such to the Church herself. In composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by Him they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted." Dei Verbum 11, Vatican II
At 10:30, I gave the wrong last name for Fr. Nicanor. His last name is Austriaco. Listen to Fr. Nicanor Astriaco, O.P. lecture on the integration of creation and evolution - https://soundcloud.com/thomisticinstitute/32819-baylor-austriaco-historicity-of-adam
"The first is, to hold the truth of Scripture without wavering. The second is that since Holy Scripture can be explained in a multiplicity of senses, one should adhere to a particular explanation, only in such measure as to be ready to abandon it, if it be proved with certainty to be false; lest Holy Scripture be exposed to the ridicule of unbelievers, and obstacles be placed to their believing." St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I, Q. 68, A. 1
Doctrines the Church Holds About Creation:
The Special Creation of the Human Soul
Historical First Parents
Historical Fall into Sin
Three stages of evolution
From something to organized complex objects
From complex matter to life
From non-rational life to human life
See Chapter 14 of The One and the Many by Fr. Norris Clarke, S.J. https://amzn.to/3aq2zng
I heard the idea of distinguishing between biological and theological humanity from Rev. Simon Giane, O.P. Listen to this lecture at https://soundcloud.com/thomisticinstitute/did-christ-die-for-neanderthals-fr-simon-gaine-op
"Evolution is our best explanation for how the body came to be what it is now. Meaning, that it is a really helpful way to conceive of us, how we got here, how we work. By understanding how we work, how we function, it can give us a lot of insight into how to live our lives."
To read my article on this topic, go to https://www.becominggift.com/post/theistic-evolution
