catholicsphere

Finding Design in Nature - New York Times(login required), by HRISTOPH CARDINAL SCHÖNBORN, presents the oft-cited comments of Pope John Paul II, along with clarification on Catholic teaching regarding evolution, in contrast to media attempts to paint Pope Benedict XVI as an evolutionist.

The article astutely addresses the issue, and inadvertently points to a significant problem in this post-modern world; rejection of traditional religious truths and replacement with similar, yet inferior, ideas.

If one looks, for instance, merely at the debate over the existence of God, the premise can be seen. The overwhelming majority believe in some form of God, but not necessarily in accord with the Church’s theology. But, what can be seen to happen is the development of such ideologies that moves closer to the truth — in Catholicism truth is revealed truth — in a similar sense of “re-inventing the wheel.”

In some cases, this is not bad, since it is merely a roundabout way to arrive at the truth. But, in many cases, this ideology stops just short of the fullness of truth because when one sees the truth in a place such as the Church, the reaction may be to turn away from it because of ill-formed opinions and prejudices.

All this to create something new in something old. We find design, not mere chance, in nature. And if we do not ignore the cause of nature, we may be surprised at what we find beyond.