65 Years of Priestly Life. The history of a Journey 18 The Big Bang and Evolution There is another topic that I would like to touch on. Today cosmology has been revolutionized with the theories of the Big Bang and of Evolution. Pope Frances lately has entered the dialogue about these topics. Pope Francesco and evolution The Pope inaugurated the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Academy of Science on 27 October 2014. Pope Francis is the only pope in recent times with a science background, having receives a Master’s degree in chemistry. II Some Highlights of the address A. The pastoral dimension The Pope is first and foremost a pastor and so the pastoral dimension takes precedence in all that he does. This puts constraints on the choice of words, metaphors , literary style, etc. For instance, he prefaced his address with encouraging worlds to the members of the Academy to move forwards “with scientific progress and the betterment of the standard of living of people, especially those in the greatest poverty”.(2) He tells the scientists that they are partaking “in the power of God and is capable of building a world adapted to this two-fold physical and spiritual life: to build a human world for all human beings and not only for one group or one privileged class. Many scholars who critique his words and deeds seem to lose sight of this central point. The Big Bang and Evolution The Big Bang Theory and Evolution are the most important contributions to the two areas concerning the birth of the universe and of living beings. What is the relation between these two sets of views-religious and scientific? In his view, both these perspectives are valid and valuable, both to be taken seriously. They do not contradict each other, rather they complement each other- the focus on two distinct, but closely related aspects, of the same issue. 1. The creation of the universe God indeed was the author of the universe. But the Pope says that with regard to how this creation was brought about, a literal understanding of the Book of Genesis is incorrect an unhelpful because it run the risk of “imagining that God was a magician, complete with all powerful magical wand” or a Platonic Demiurge who formed the different things in the universe by imposing form onto the receptacle. What the Creator did was, while assuring them of his continuous presence, to endow “each being with his own internal laws and autonomy so that using them each may develop and reach its fullness”. Accordingly, the universe has been progressing for millennia until becoming what it is today. The Big Bang does not contradict the intervention of a divine creator but depends on it. Science cannot bring out of sheer nothing, only the Creator is required for the Big Bang to occur.
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