"No death before sin" - Evolution vs. Creationism

[LItraptFE]

I wrote an article for my school newspaper about how Catholics can believe in evolution in all instances except for the placement of the soul by God. This was a response to my article posted online.

"But those who attempt to harmonize evolution with the Bible have a serious theological issue on their hands. In Romans 5:12, Paul says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Paul was saying that there was no death before Adam sinned. And the Bible clearly states that death is an enemy and a result of the Fall. If you believe in evolution, you must accept that there were millions of years of suffering and death BEFORE Adam sinned and, in fact, BEFORE man even evolved. Ultimately, death becomes, not an enemy, but a good thing because it is what drives evolution. This is not a tenable biblical position.

I would like to know how Catholics reconcile the issue of "no death before sin.""

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

Originally Posted by LItraptFE

I wrote an article for my school newspaper about how Catholics can believe in evolution in all instances except for the placement of the soul by God. This was a response to my article posted online.

"But those who attempt to harmonize evolution with the Bible have a serious theological issue on their hands. In Romans 5:12, Paul says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Paul was saying that there was no death before Adam sinned. And the Bible clearly states that death is an enemy and a result of the Fall. If you believe in evolution, you must accept that there were millions of years of suffering and death BEFORE Adam sinned and, in fact, BEFORE man even evolved. Ultimately, death becomes, not an enemy, but a good thing because it is what drives evolution. This is not a tenable biblical position.

I would like to know how Catholics reconcile the issue of "no death before sin.""

I am no expert on the Catholic stance on evolution, but I think you should re-read what Romans 5:12 says:

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

This particular passage talks about the death of humans, not other kinds of life forms.

God bless!

[Farsight001]

nuntym has a very good explanation. I also always assumed that it just meant spiritual death. I thought it made more sense that way. We know that sin causes the "death" of our souls. It just makes sense to me that the first sin opened the door for all sin and caused the initial "death."

[JRKH]

Originally Posted by LItraptFE

I wrote an article for my school newspaper about how Catholics can believe in evolution in all instances except for the placement of the soul by God. This was a response to my article posted online.

"But those who attempt to harmonize evolution with the Bible have a serious theological issue on their hands. In Romans 5:12, Paul says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Paul was saying that there was no death before Adam sinned. And the Bible clearly states that death is an enemy and a result of the Fall. If you believe in evolution, you must accept that there were millions of years of suffering and death BEFORE Adam sinned and, in fact, BEFORE man even evolved. Ultimately, death becomes, not an enemy, but a good thing because it is what drives evolution. This is not a tenable biblical position.

I would like to know how Catholics reconcile the issue of "no death before sin.""

Later in the same passage paul says this:

17 If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.

If Adam's sin is what led to (physical) death, and Christ's righteousness leads to acquittal for that sin for ALL men, then why do the righteous still die?
Christ Himself in talking about this matter says:

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11:25-26)

Those who have been redeemed still die (physically), even though they have been acquitted by Christ's righteousness and saved by their faith. This points then to a "spiritual" meaning for the death rather than a physical one in Rom 5:12

Peace
James

[Michael Francis]

Sticky: Temporary Ban on Evolution/Atheism Threads