The theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real and God is not “a magician with a magic wand”, Pope Francishas declared.
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. “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.”

Source:

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

Religion is evolving

Wow great!

Dialling...

Lalasticlala
ishilove

Left for me, believing what a scientist said or agreed on is far better than believing what a philosopher said. Why? cos I like fact. so if my pope is seeing truth in this theory is no big deal

johnydon22:
You need to pay interest in this field. . .read about them to know what exactly you are about to believe. . . One thing with you theists is that you guys rarely check before believing something. (Once the pastor says it then i believe it) You have to apply independent study on your own and employ free thinking to determine what YOU find plausible and believable and not what they church/pastors/pope says

your signature got me thinking big. You are one of the few atheists I so much respect on this forum.

johnydon22:
You need to pay interest in this field. . .read about them to know what exactly you are about to believe. . . One thing with you theists is that you guys rarely check before believing something. (Once the pastor says it then i believe it) You have to apply independent study on your own and employ free thinking to determine what YOU find plausible and believable and not what they church/pastors/pope says

Read wat I wrote well I said I prefer scientist fact dan philosopers speculation an so if d pope is seeing truth in it no big deal. I didn't even state if I agree wif the theory or not pls

This religion has suffered changes like APC

{“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,”} .
In his evolution belief,is d Pope now saying God was and is not capable of saying "let there be light,firmanent,water...
"; and it be?. Is he now saying d world,d earth,d universe came out of nothing as being propagated by d evolutionists and that there was no God in d first place? If that is what he is saying he probably could be d false prophet who is to sell d idea of one religion in d endtime.Pls educate me if u think i am wrong.

Space duly booked. Will be back to comment. I see you Johnydon22

The real enemy of the world has spoken. But we will bring u down alongside the enemy god u r working for to cripple humans spiritual life. How then do we have spiritual life like my 3rd eye is open, I mingle and interact with the gods etc.

I think our work is really affecting Pope. Lol. It's happening. Because people are beginning to ask questions about who the real creator is and u r feeding them this trash to keep them away from asking. Lol


Hail enki the true creator of humanity, the Lord of earth and water

“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, then We separated them, and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” (Quran 21:30)

Ofcourse the Big Bang theory and part of the theory of evolution is real.

The man is on the first step!

Sir (Pope), what is your take on Jesus' magic?

mustymatic:
This religion has suffered changes like APC

Well said

the pope showin hu he really is....... aint surprised

I no longer believe in the Big B@ng and I never believed in the fairytale called evolution. The pope's statement won't change my mind, and I'm sure that applies to many other Catholics.

Rilwayne001:


We need more comment.

OLAADEGBU, Italo, lalasticlala. Please let us hear your view.

All faithful Roman catholics like Italo are bound to take the pope's statement as the "truth" since he is deemed to be "infallible" unless they want to suffer the fate of Galileo who dared to believe and teach otherwise.

Rilwayne001:


So, you don't believe the pope a.k.a vicar of christ?

You are barking up the wrong tree here.