Is Genesis to be understood figuratively?

http://www.catholic.com/

Did the people written of in the book of Genesis really live to be 900 years old? Tim Staples explains what the Catholic Church teaches about this.

Tim Staples is Director of Apologetics and Evangelization here at Catholic Answers, but he was not always Catholic. Tim was raised a Southern Baptist. Although he fell away from the faith of his childhood, Tim came back to faith in Christ during his late teen years through the witness of Christian televangelists. Soon after, Tim joined the Marine Corps. During his four-year tour, he became involved in ministry with various Assemblies of God communities. Immediately after his tour of duty, Tim enrolled in Jimmy Swaggart Bible College and became a youth minister in an Assembly of God community.

During his final year in the Marines, however, Tim met a Marine who really knew his faith and challenged Tim to study Catholicism from Catholic and historical sources. That encounter sparked a two-year search for the truth. Tim was determined to prove Catholicism wrong, but he ended up studying his way to the last place he thought he would ever end up: the Catholic Church!

He converted to Catholicism in 1988 and spent the following six years in formation for the priesthood, earning a degree in philosophy from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania. He then studied theology on a graduate level at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for two years.

Realizing that his calling was not to the priesthood, Tim left the seminary in 1994 and has been working in Catholic apologetics and evangelization ever since.

Catholic Apologist Extraordinaire!

Tim Staples has given hundreds of talks all over the country and has helped thousands of people find their way home to the Catholic Church. He brings his extensive knowledge of Scripture into his tapes, books, and talks, helping others to see the strong biblical evidences that support Catholic doctrines. Tim's humorous enthusiasm captivates his audiences, and his unique style has brought him great renown as an engaging speaker.

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[Zami9000]

ever since the beginning of the catholic church and christianity, and before that in judaism, genesis has been interpreted literally - and now since a few decades we are supposed to take it figuratively. This is very confusing, I do not believe the holy spirit changed his mind. I say the evolution theory is very weak science without any real proof whatsoever, and I'd rather go with God's word than darwin's word. Softcore "christianity" needs to stop, in all areas

[catholiccom]

@Zami9000 We have an article available at the "library" tab on catholicdotcom with quotes from early Christian writers showings there was a diversity of opinion on this matter. The article is titled "Creation and Genesis." Please look it up.

[7801Croc]

I do not blame you for not posting the other responses for as it is written: For the word of God is living and active {powerful} and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit..." The Truth of god's word is what God uses to save people and like the Pharisees of Jesus day you prevent people from entering by your traditions.

You would not want the Truth to be shown before the eyes of you fellow Catholics.

[catholiccom]

@7801Croc I have approved all of your posts. The only time I don't let something through is when it either uses profanity or intentional insults. Honest and charitable discussion is welcomed.

[mjeffords85]

@Zami9000 I dont think Tim is advocating evolution here.

[MegaWallaceR]

St. Augstine thought a literal interpretation was an insult to God because he took 6 days and even rested on the 7th....I agree with him

[22grena]

@Zami9000 I don't believe there is any contradiction between faith in God and evolution. We as catholics don't believe literally in the Old Testement. Remember Christ substituted a tooth for a tooth for turning the other cheek. So he didnt belive it literally either.

[bzkoss236]

@Zami9000 I personally believe it could also be both figurative and literal, in a way. I think there's a possibility that the numbers are correct, but the means by which those numbers were measured were different. Granted, I don't know for a fact, but I do think I've heard this position elsewhere before. And again, it's just an idea.

[Zami9000]

@catholiccom thanks I'll have a look at it

[ultimouomo11]

Vatican 1: Canon 5: "If anyone does not confess that the world and all things which are contained in it, both spiritual and material, as regards their whole substance, have been produced by God from nothing...let him be anathema." (Denz 1805)

Vatican 1: "God immediately from the beginning of time fashioned each creature out of nothing, spiritual and corporeal, namely angelic and mundane: and then the human creation, common as it were, composed of both spirit and body" (Denz 1783)

[Iraneus]

@7801Croc What specific example of "partiality" are you talking about from Scripture? Makes it kind of hard to respond when you don't explain yourself or point to a specific verse in Scripture. To be honest, dialogue with fundamentalist Christians seems fruitless to me. No matter how many times I tell you there is a difference between venation (dulai) and worship (latria) you won't believe me.

[7801Croc]

Quote by Iraneus: "How many different ways can I rephrase it? "Partiality" refers to eternal judgment."

Now you are narrowed partiality into judgment whilest before you gave it several meanings & I asked you to rephrase one time--you obviously are not interested in debating or dialoging the biblical facts & truth. As far as how the RCC defines worship, which you call veneration, but the RCC calls worship. NewAdventDotorg -Key phrase "Christian Worship". It is God U must convince-not me!