Pope says Big Bang and evolution are true

[Ishmael]

Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are right and God isn't 'a magician with a magic wand'

Francis goes against Benedict XVI’s apparent support for 'intelligent design' - but does hail his predecessor’s 'great contribution to theology'

ADAM WITHNALL Author Biography Tuesday 28 October 2014

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope made comments which experts said put an end to the “pseudo theories” of creationism and intelligent design that some argue were encouraged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

Francis explained that both scientific theories were not incompatible with the existence of a creator – arguing instead that they “require it”.

“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.

He added: “He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfilment.

“The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it. Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”

The Catholic Church has long had a reputation for being anti-science – most famously when Galileo faced the inquisition and was forced to retract his “heretic” theory that the Earth revolved around the Sun. But Pope Francis’s comments were more in keeping with the progressive work of Pope Pius XII, who opened the door to the idea of evolution and actively welcomed the Big Bang theory. In 1996, John Paul II went further and suggested evolution was “more than a hypothesis” and “effectively proven fact”.

Yet more recently, Benedict XVI and his close advisors have apparently endorsed the idea that intelligent design underpins evolution – the idea that natural selection on its own is insufficient to explain the complexity of the world. In 2005, his close associate Cardinal Schoenborn wrote an article saying “evolution in the sense of common ancestry might be true, but evolution in the neo-Darwinian sense – an unguided, unplanned process – is not”.

Giovanni Bignami, a professor and president of Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, told the Italian news agency Adnkronos: “The pope’s statement is significant. We are the direct descendents from the Big Bang that created the universe. Evolution came from creation.”

Giulio Giorello, professor of the philosophy of science at Milan’s University degli Studi, told reporters that he believed Francis was “trying to reduce the emotion of dispute or presumed disputes” with science.

Despite the huge gulf in theological stance between his tenure and that of his predecessor, Francis praised Benedict XVI as he unveiled a bronze bust of him at the academy's headquarters in the Vatican Gardens. “No one could ever say of him that study and science made him and his love for God and his neighbour wither,” Francis said, according to a translation by the Catholic News Service. “On the contrary, knowledge, wisdom and prayer enlarged his heart and his spirit. Let us thank God for the gift that he gave the church and the world with the existence and the pontificate of Pope Benedict.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html

Edited October 28, 2014 by Ishmael

[mrchang]

Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are right and God isn't 'a magician with a magic wand'

even the top bible bashers are backtracking now.

[forest dog]

I find it quite difficult to dislike this pope.

He is certainly an improvement on the last one, the nazi bloke who mysteriously got the sack.

[mrchang]

i find it easy to dislike them all

[Mackie]

next he'll be telling us father christmas isn't real!

[THC4METOO]

Shame he doesn't believe in contraception or the persons right to choose which drug they partake of.

[Osama]

http://youtu.be/VGBAZTQ0nbQ

[forest dog]

One the other hand at least he is in favor of gay rights and is doing something about pedophiles in the church.

Quite progressive when you consider the organisation he's head of.

[johnnyneuro]

By how much further could he have missed the point?

The Big Bang theory is the best we can do *based on the evidence*. If it turns out that the mircrowave background is not appropriately polarised (Plank data yet to be reported), then we may need to revise our ideas and think of a Big Bounce. Or whatever the evidence best fits.

To say that a creator is required is just assuming we know the origins of the Universe. We don't. We're just trying our best to understand it - BASED ON THE EVIDENCE!

@Bazzad for Pope!

[Stoned Whale]

The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it. Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.

Well that sorts that then! lol

[Guest bazzad9]

the pope said

“The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it. Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”

blind assertions yet again based on absoloutly fuck all apart from some naval gazing and wishfull thinking

basicly its an admission that the god of the gaps needs to take a step even further back into the ever decreasing gap

im as interested in his opinion and validation of cosmology as i am as to what bat man thinks about the global economy

best pope ......are we gonna have best serial killer next with the argument "well he was nicer than the last one and he smiled all the time so ......"

if there was such a thing as hell these self appointed popes will be first in line

if you beamed an alien down to the vatican and that was all they knew and you explained that they are a leading religion in the world and are all about helping and love etc looking around the vatican im sure these aliens would assume that we must be doing well ,no world wars ,no hunger ,no homeless poor or neglected ......."must be so look at all the wealth here "

think ill stop there as i could go for hours about these parasites

edited because it looked like i was quoting what ish said rather than the pope

Edited October 28, 2014 by bazzad9

[Guest bazzad9]

breaking news

noddy has just confirmed germ theory .....we can all stop worrying now and make use of it

[mrchang]

You not convinced then baz?

[Cambium]

Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are right and God isn't 'a magician with a magic wand

Aaaah, the old backtrack and re-jig. Favoured tool of charlatans the world over.