82 lines
5.2 KiB
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82 lines
5.2 KiB
HTML
<p>Some time ago, I was talking with a friend, and he brought up how a mutual
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friend of ours had suggested that it is possible that Moses, the Biblical
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character from the Old Testament, did not historically exist. Rather, that he
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is simply a literary character used to explain Israel's liberation from Egypt
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and settlement in the Holy Land. My friend asked me this to get my opinion on
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whether or not this is doctrinally acceptable. My answer, however, is not as
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simple as a "yes" or "no". Perhaps it is not, I have not investigated to see if
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the Church has any magisterial teaching on this matter, but I would like to take
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this opportunity to comment on interpreting Scripture in general as a historical
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text.</p>
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<p>To begin, I'd like to say that I greatly respect this mutual friend of ours,
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and I know that either he was joking when he said it, or he has good reason to
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believe it's a possibility. This mutual friend was a seminarian, and has studied
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a Master's degree in history. He is also a person I know to uphold doctrinal
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orthodoxy, even if it is unpopular. So whether or not I agree with his opinion,
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I believe it is respectable simply from his credentials and merits. However,
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since I do not have much knowledge regarding this topic, I will instead focus on
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another topic where I am knowledgeable of the magisterial teaching and current
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scientific theories regarding the matter: Creationism versus Evolution.</p>
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<p>Whenever we bring up a question regarding Faith or Morals, our first step
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must always be to pick up a Catechism, or in general see what the Magisterium of
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the Catholic Church has to say on the matter. Not just to find a definitive
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statement, but especially to find the reasoning. If the Church has an official
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teaching on such a matter of Faith or Morals, we must either subject our
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opinions to that teaching, or reject the teaching and Christ's Church (i.e.
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reject Catholicism). It's not necessary to know why things are the way they are,
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only God knows that for sure. But we must be humble like children before the
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infinite wisdom and knowledge of God. If, on the other hand, the Church does not
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have any definitive teaching on the topic, then we are free to take a variety of
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opinions so long as they are compatible with the rest of Catholic Doctrine.</p>
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<p>To explain this with our example, the Church has <em>no definitive teaching</em>
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on the question of Creationism or Evolution; and in fact, She shall <em>never</em>
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have such a teaching, as this is a question of science and not Faith or Morals.
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As such it lies strictly outside the jurisdiction of the Church's teaching
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authority. You can easily discern this by contemplating whether believing in one
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or the other contradicts any doctrine for our salvation, which neither Evolution
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nor Creationism does.<sup><a href="#n1" >(1)</a></sup> As such, it is not
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problematic for a Christian to believe either of these theories. God will not
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judge either of these people based on their beliefs on how species came to be as
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they are.</p>
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<p>So the question now stands, if the Church has no official teaching, and
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therefore which you choose to believe has no direct effect on your salvation,
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which should you believe? Should you believe the interpretation of Scripture
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that is more true to the literal meaning, or the interpretation that has been
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harmonized with modern scientific discoveries? My view on the matter may be
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controversial, but I believe you should believe whatever helps you to grow in
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faith and charity. If it helps your faith to believe in Theistic Evolution, then
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do so. If you find it difficult to harmonize Evolution with Biblical inerrancy
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then go ahead and believe in Creationism. But most importantly: be respectful of
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those who disagree with you, and recognize that this one belief of yours in
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<em>personal</em>. Do not convince others that this is the only thing that a
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good Christian can believe. And to carry my point home: don't use your personal
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belief as an excuse to hinder scientific discovery on the matter. If you are
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truly convinced of your opinion, let the truth find its way out, as it
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eventually will. But do not be afraid of scientific discovery, for truth cannot
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contradict Truth.</p>
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<p>Finally, since I'm bound to get some commentary on the matter, I will
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publicly state that I accept Theistic Evolution. I think that this theory helps
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to explain certain accounts in Genesis, such as where Cain's wife comes from;
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but as a lay person, I don't wish to be so naïve as to proselytize others with
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my belief. Only God knows the ultimate truth behind these sorts of things, and
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on the final day when the truth is revealed to us, we should be humble in
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accepting whatever may be the case. So again, believe what you want, but accept
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that the Church has no official standing on these matters, that scientific
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theories are imperfect and subject to change, that you may be wrong, and above
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all that it's ultimately not that big of a deal.</p>
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<h3>Notes</h3>
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<ol class="notes" >
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<li id="n1" >
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When speaking of "Evolution" I'm specifically referring to Theistic
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Evolution. As a random and meaningless evolution that is not directed by
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God for the creation of Man in His image & likeness is directly in
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contradiction with Judaeo-Christian theology.
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</li>
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</ol>
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