EVOLUTION AND THE BIBLE 



this colossal scale has taken place, an evolution which even- 

 tually culminated in the bodily form of man, the Book of 

 Genesis is unable to say. Nor is theology in a position to 

 instruct us about the matter, because the objects of natural 

 science are beyond its scope and competence. For an exact 

 exposition we must look to scientific investigation; biology, 

 comparative anatomy, genetics, geology, paleontology, anthro- 

 pology, and their sister sciences have the task of discovering 

 and displaying the evidence. If science is able to prove evolu- 

 tion as the certain product of its researches and to make known 

 its underlying causes, no difficulty arises from Christian 

 faith. 31 On the contrary, the faith welcomes so lofty and 

 inspiring a view of the universe, in which the whole powerful 

 striving and the tenacious reaching out, in countless new 

 attempts over the span of immense ages, were an astonishing 

 and marvelous preparation for the coming of man. 



Evolution and the Bible: 

 April 22, 1959. 



Imprimi potest 



Leo J. Bums, SJ., Provincial Wisconsin Province 



Imprimatur 



t Edward J. Hunkeler, D.D., LL.D. 

 Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas 

 Kansas City, Kansas 

 June 4, 1959. 



^^ Cf. P. Overhage, S.J., "Evolution der Organismen und christlicher 

 Glaube," Stimmen der Zeit 161 (1958) 290 f. 



119 



