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Pope Francis says evolution is real and God is no wizard [View all]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/28/pope-francis-backs-theory-of-evolution-says-god-is-no-wizard/By Ishaan Tharoor October 28 at 12:36 PM
Delivering an address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis continued his habit of making provocative, seemingly progressive statements. The pontiff appeared to endorse the theory of the Big Bang and told the gathering at the Vatican that there was no contradiction between believing in God as well as the prevailing scientific theories regarding the expansion of our universe.
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, Francis said. He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfillment.
The pope avoids gesturing at the thorny issue (at least for some Christians) of whether humans descended from apes. Atheists argue, moreover, that understanding the Big Bang and what emerged from that cosmic moment obviates a need to believe in a deity. On that count, Francis obviously disagrees. He repeated the idea of God not being a magician, an entity that conjured all into being.
God is not a divine being or a magician, but the Creator who brought everything to life, Francis said. Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.
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Sorry--sounds to me like he's buying off on BIG BANG. That's the Big Picture. No Jesus riding Dino!
MADem
Oct 2014
#3
Are people 'angry'? I thought the general DU atheist response has been 'same old BS'
muriel_volestrangler
Oct 2014
#103
No, not here, necessarily--in some of the links I've seen on the topic, the rhetoric is strident. nt
MADem
Oct 2014
#104
It depends on whether you see a difference between "natural" and "super-natural."
immoderate
Oct 2014
#9
when fantasy substitutes for reality what one has is delusional behavior.
Warren Stupidity
Oct 2014
#53
Those "scientific minds" did not embrace religion while they were doing science.
immoderate
Oct 2014
#71
Religious institutions include schools, hospitals, shelters, lobbyists, etc. Religions are faith.
immoderate
Oct 2014
#90
that's a disingenuous as when one does weaken/distort/misrepresent another's words.
rug
Oct 2014
#75
Nothing illogical happens in any geometry as all geometries rely on logic to build theorums from
Warren Stupidity
Oct 2014
#91
Is that where you got the notion to insert LGBT issues in a discussion about evolution?
rug
Oct 2014
#76
I do think the evolution position is pretty standard, particularly in catholic schools.
cbayer
Oct 2014
#8
That is confusing and I am wondering if there might be a translation problem here.
cbayer
Oct 2014
#35
Probably because antitheists tend to conflate religion with fundamentalist literalism.
rug
Oct 2014
#38
Is cbayer an antitheist who tends "to conflate religion with fundamentalist literalism" too?
beam me up scottie
Oct 2014
#40
I seriously wonder if the Vatican PR drew attention to this to avoid the exorcist story
muriel_volestrangler
Oct 2014
#42
So Blank Frank is an ID obfuscator rather than an outright creationist.
Warren Stupidity
Oct 2014
#51
I really thought people at DU could recognize a PR stunt when they saw one.
Goblinmonger
Oct 2014
#92