Evolving our understanding
The conference on biological evolution opened today here in Rome at the Gregorian University, and it’s making headlines quickly.
It’s interesting attending the conference and seeing how the major media report it.
The AP did a big piece on this opening day.
The Vatican sought Tuesday to show that it isn’t opposed to science and evolutionary theory, hosting a conference on Charles Darwin and trying to debunk the idea that it embraces creationism or intelligent design.
Some of the world’s top biologists, paleontologists and molecular geneticists joined theologians and philosophers for the five-day seminar marking the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s “The Origin of Species.”
Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the Catholic Church doesn’t stand in the way of scientific realities like evolution, saying there was a “wide spectrum of room” for belief in both the scientific basis for evolution and faith in God the creator.
“We believe that however creation has come about and evolved, ultimately God is the creator of all things,” he said on the sidelines of the conference.
Christian churches were long hostile to Darwin because his theory conflicted with the literal biblical account of creation.
The Church does not promote creationism. Today’s sessions heavily emphasized historical Darwinism and natural selection as a scientific explanation of how creation evolved over millions of years.
This is far more complicated than cultural camps who adhere to neo-Darwinism or Intelligent Design make it out to be, though they each believe they’ve found the best common ground answer to thorny questions about the origin of man. And when it includes philosophers and tholeogians, the destination of man as well.
This is only the beginning…
Reporting live from the Rome conference all week. In whatever few moments allow for computer access.
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One of the many reasons why I really like B16 is that he is not afraid of science. In the manner of George Bush in 2003 with regard to attackers in Iraq, the Pope tells us in regards to scientists, “Bring ’em on!” (well, not in that same way…but with the same voracity). I really think the Pope believes that science will lead the world to God. Science is a friend to the Christian and not the enemy. Science may have an explanation but that explanation will lead us ultimately to God. The Pope is telling us not to be afraid of the future because we know who holds it! God has made the universe and it is ultimately under his dominion! Praise God!
Are there any official reports from this conference? I looked on the Internet, but in vain. Cardinal Schönborn gave a talk to the Austrian Academy of Sciences, however, around this time (March 4), which is quite interesting, and of which I’ve translated part.
Where’s our Sheila???? How am I suppose to know what’s going on in the world without Sheila’s blog???