From: 15942@brahms.udel.edu (Stephen Barr)
Subject: Re: Origins
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:18:15 GMT

      Thomas, let me ask you a question. Would you have
any great problem with the following set of beliefs (mine)
on the subject of evolution?
      (a) If one were able to trace back through time
          one would find that today's organisms are the direct
          lineal descendants of simpler organisms that existed
          in the past. In particular human beings are (biologically
          speaking) the direct lineal descendants of non-human
          animals. In this sense evolution of species occurred.
          By this evolution single celled organisms evolved into 
          multicelled organisms, these evolved into organisms
          of greater and greater complexity, eventuating in
          primates and ultimately Man.

      (b) This evolutionary process was guided by the Providence
          of God. The whole process, the conditions that made
          it possible, the direction it took were all part of
          God's design. It was not an accident, but rather
          God so framed the laws of nature and disposed of things
          that this result occurred.

      (c) Man himself is not purely a physical being. He has an
          immaterial component that is called the soul or spirit.
          In particular our intellect and will and our capacity
          to know and to freely choose are not explicable in
          purely physical terms.  

      (d) These aspects of Man are what Scripture primarily is
          referring to when it says we are made in the image and
          likeness of God. These spiritual or immaterial aspects
          of Man, not being reducible to the physical, cannot 
          have emerged through any merely physical process
          (whether called evolution or something else). Rather
          they were created in Man -- in each man or woman --
          by a special act of God. This is what Scripture means
          when it says God breathed a spirit into Adam.

      (e) Man is not simply a product of biological evolution, 
          therefore, but rather a special creative and supernatural
          act of God was required.

      (f) The universe is about 15 billion years old. The Sun
          and Earth about 4 or 5 billion years old. Life on
          Earth goes back billions of years.


   This is what I believe. Some of this I believe on the weight
of scientific evidence (which admittedly is only very strong
and not absolutely certain in a mathematical sense). Some
I believe on philosophical grounds. Some on faith. But
I would call myself a believer in evolution. Does my brand
of evolutionism conflict in your view with Catholic faith, or
is it dangerous theologically? If so how, in your view?
And even if not dangerous, which if any of the above statements
would you have a hard time swallowing, and why? Steve Barr.
a
      Let me add, that I believe there was a first pair of
human beings, that all human beings are lineal descendants
of them, that they were created innocent and fell through sin,
and that as a consequence we are all born in Original Sin.
Steve.                                                   A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU