Independent Catholic resourceNot affiliated with Catholic Answers (catholic.com)
THECatholic AnswersFaith. Understood.
THE CATHOLIC ANSWERS COLLECTION

Let us leave these mysterious inner activities of God, and turn to external creatures. How do you view the theories of creation and evolution?

21px
Ask about this article

Creation is not a theory. It is a fact revealed by God. Evolution is a fact within certain restricted spheres, but a mere theory when made of universal application. We have to admit evolution in knowledge, or in growth from babyhood to manhood. As a universal theory, however, evolution from nothing is absurd. Yet granted that God created something, it is quite possible that God endowed His original creation with power to evolve. Did he create vegetables, and animals separately, or did He create a vast rotating nebula and give it the power to evolve into various forms of being and life? The latter idea has never been proved. It is a matter of speculation, with no certainty attached to it, save that science quite discredits spontaneous generation of life. Did man himself evolve from lower living beings? It is absolutely certain that his soul did not. The soul is an intelligent spirit, and an intelligent spirit cannot evolve from matter. Moreover, God has revealed that the soul is created immediately by Himself. Did man’s body evolve from lower animals, God creating the rational soul when some lower animal had sufficiently evolved towards manhood? Despite conjectures in favor of this notion, the evidence is against it. The missing link is still missing, and reason discounts the probability that a purely animal soul could develop an animal body beyond its own powers, lifting it to the higher stage needed for a rational soul.

Radio Replies Volume 1 by Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble MSC and Rev. Charles Mortimer Carty

Keep the conversation thoughtful.

Historical language and viewpoints in the original collection are preserved. For current official teaching, consult the Catechism and the Holy See.

Report an error or ask the editor
FOLLOW THE THREAD

More to explore.

All articles
God & Faith14 min read

Is It Necessary to Believe in the Fall of Man?

The Catholic Church holds that the Fall of Man is a foundational doctrine, rooted in the opening chapters of Genesis . The narrative describes Adam and Eve, the first humans, living in harmony with God in Eden. Their disobedience, prompted by the serpent’s temptation, led to the loss of original holiness and justice. This event,…

God & Faith11 min read

May Catholics Believe in Creative Evolution or Emergent Evolution?

The concept of creative evolution, as proposed by thinkers like Henri Bergson, suggests that life progresses through a vital force or élan vital that drives the development of new forms without requiring a divine creator. This view implies that evolution itself has the power to generate being from non-being. Such a perspective i…

KNOWLEDGE SHARED. FAITH STRENGTHENED.

Keep the door open.

Your optional contribution helps keep these resources free to read.

Support this independent site