Pope Francis: ‘Evolution of Nature Is Not Inconsistent With the Notion of Creation’
The increasingly popular pope warns against the perils of depicting God as a "magician."
Philip Chidell / Shutterstock.com
The increasingly popular pope warns against the perils of depicting God as a “magician,” adding that evolution and creation are not incompatible ideas. And while Pope Francis isn’t the first Catholic Church leader to suggest this, American conservatives somehow keep missing the memo. Even the previous pope, Benedict XVI, who’s known for his traditionalism, “found the American debate between creationists and those who backed evolution ‘absurd.’ “
The Guardian:
Francis, 77, said it was easy to misinterpret the creation story as recounted in the book of Genesis, according to which God created heaven and Earth in six days and rested on the seventh.
“When we read the creation story in Genesis we run the risk of imagining that God was a magician, with a magic wand which is able to do everything,” he said. “But it is not so. He created beings and let them develop according to internal laws which He gave every one, so they would develop, so they would reach maturity.”
Although Francis was packaging the ideas with his trademark eye for a soundbite, the content of what he was saying does not mark a break with Catholic teaching, which has modified considerably since Charles Darwin published On The Origin of Species in 1859.
Read More.
—Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
Dig, Root, GrowThis year, we’re all on shaky ground, and the need for independent journalism has never been greater. A new administration is openly attacking free press — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Your support is more than a donation. It helps us dig deeper into hidden truths, root out corruption and misinformation, and grow an informed, resilient community.
Independent journalism like Truthdig doesn't just report the news — it helps cultivate a better future.
Your tax-deductible gift powers fearless reporting and uncompromising analysis. Together, we can protect democracy and expose the stories that must be told.
Dig. Root. Grow. Cultivate a better future.
Donate today.
Editorial Cartoons
TD Original
A sex scandal involving its most admired celebrity is shaking France to its core.
Film
“Sugarcane” tells the story of what kept a people together, despite a systematic effort to alienate them.
The papal dodge disappoints progressives and liberal Catholic women's groups while reassuring conservatives.
As voters prepare to choose a new parliament on Saturday, polls show surprising support for the party historically linked to the IRA.
Attorneys for about a dozen claimants allege hundreds of confidential emails show the New Orleans team was involved far more than it admits.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.