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Page 15

In light of the pro-evolutionist scientific advice, is it accurate to say that, "In his encyclical Humani Generis [On Certain False Opinions, 1950], Pope Pius XII had already stated that there was no opposition between Evolution and the doctrine of the faith about man and his vocation, on condition that one did not lose sight of several indisputable points"?

Two years later (September, 1998), writing in the encyclical letter Fides et Ratio ("Faith and Reason"), Pope John Paul II lamented the crisis of meaning in the modern world and condemned the threat of scientism, which had accompanied the spectacular growth in modern scientific achievements. He described scientism as

"the philosophical notion which refuses to admit the validity of forms of knowledge other than those of the positive sciences; and it relegates religious, theological, ethical and aesthetic knowledge to the realm of mere fantasy . . . science would thus be poised to dominate all aspects of human life through technological progress." (Section 88).

John Paul II also wrote in praise of Pius XII, "In his encyclical letter Humani Generis, Pope Pius XII warned against mistaken interpretations linked to Evolutionism, existentialism and historicism. He made it clear that these theories had not been proposed and developed by theologians, but had their origins "outside the sheepfold of Christ." He added, however, that errors of this kind should not simply be rejected but should be examined critically." (Section 54).

One would hope for further Papal examination of many other crucial Origins aspects - such as polygenism, the origin of Eve's body, the impact of Romans 5:12 and conceptual problems in Theistic Evolution - and rigorous addressing of the historicity of Genesis.

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