Question

According to Catholic teaching, can a Catholic believe in Evolution or the "Big Bang"? What do base your idea on?

Answer 1

The Catholic Church allows belief in evolution and the Big Bang theory, as they are seen as compatible with faith, and were even contributed to by religious figures like Belgian priest Georges Lemaître.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Catholic teaching, belief in evolution and the Big Bang theory is permissible. The Catholic Church maintains that scientific understanding of the material world is not in conflict with religious faith. In fact, the Big Bang theory was first proposed by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian priest and cosmologist. The Church supports the idea that the material aspect of the universe can be studied through science without contradicting spiritual beliefs. The Catholic Church views faith and reason as complementary, not contradictory. Furthermore, a significant number of religious scientists reconcile their belief in God with the scientific framework of evolution and cosmology, showing that these scientific theories do not preclude the existence of God.

Answer 2

When Pope Francis told a gathering of scientists this week that the Big Bang and evolution were real, he set off a firestorm of media coverage. But is it really surprising news that the Catholic Church supports such scientific theories?"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 at a meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, according to Reuters. "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 added at one point: "Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve."