EVOLUTION AND THE BIBLE 



biology, and geology. A notable example is the endeavor 

 essayed in the last century to match the six days of creation 

 with the geological periods proposed by science. Concordism 

 is built up on the assumption that the inspired writers were 

 granted a scientific knowledge far in advance of their time, 

 and that they stated in popular language what science des- 

 cribes in technical terms. Attempts along these lines have 

 always failed, for the simple reason that the Bible is not a 

 scientific text, but is a book that sets forth religious truths 

 designed to carry us along the path toward salvation. 



II. ORIGIN OF MAN IN THE BIBLE 



Catholic teaching is based on revelation. As far as the origin 

 of man is concerned, this revelation is essentially contained in 

 two accounts presented by the first three chapters of Genesis. 



A. Some Preliminary Ohsevvations 



"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" 

 (Gen. 1:1). Everything was made by God. and all His works 

 are good. By His life-giving breath and the power of His 

 word. He summoned all beings into existence. Finally, at the 

 climax of creation, God created man to His own image, to 

 dominate all living creatures that move on the earth. Then 

 He fashioned the woman, who is dependent on the man but 

 shares his dignity, as his companion and helper. These two, 

 the man and his wife, w^ere established in a state of innocence 

 and happiness, and enjoyed the friendship of the Creator. 

 From this single couple all mankind descends. 



This is a rapid survey of the story that has always been 

 important in Christian teaching. Did the author have the 

 intention of composing the history of man's beginnings? If by 

 history we mean a detailed record of past events, based on 

 evidence carefully handed down in waiting, we can scarcely 

 uphold the historical character of the narrative. However, we 

 must not evaluate the history recounted in the early chapters 

 of Genesis according to rules imposed by the critical historical 

 method practiced in our day. Modern historians, working on 

 documents or examining contemporary witnesses, desire to 

 recreate objectively the happenings of the past, to date them, 



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