A Catholic Perspective of the Creation Debate: Creator and Creation

Creator and Creation

by Mary O. Daly

I decided to modify the biology plan of First Son for First Daughter. Creator and Creation had been recommended many times, so I decided I'd finally just buy it for our biology course. Mary Daly was a scientist from a family of scientists who was passionate about allowing students to see the Lord at work in the natural world. Her books provide a solid foundation for Catholic students of science who, when they enter the university or academic world, will encounter resistance to the idea that you can be a faithful Catholic and an intelligent scientist.

In Creator and Creation, Daly begins with a clear explanation of terms like "creationism." She explores what the Church does and does not say about Creation and evolution. Early in the book, she quotes the Catechism:

Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason...methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. (Catechism #159, labeled as #296, perhaps from an earlier edition)

Later she says:

The creationist says that he knows what he knows because he reads the Bible. The Catholic says we know what we know because men are children of the Creator with minds in His image, and we can, therefore, learn about our Father by studying both the Bible and creation, always working in unison with the stabilizing covenant community, the Church. We are certain that revelation and natural understanding do not conflict. (p. 90)

The book essentially rejects the fundamentalist idea of Creationism (a young earth), but it is more flexible in its treatment of evolution.

But there are many flaws with the concept of evolution as a system to explain the universe and the world, including the development of life on Earth. These are not flaws in the concept of evolution, which is powerful and fascinating; they are evidence against the sufficiency of evolution as a total cosmology. (p. 94) 

Daly provides a philosophical framework for considering the Catholic faith and the scientific ideas embedded in and surrounding Creation and evolution. It can help students carefully consider new ideas as they are reading science textbooks or articles or while listening to a lecture.

The universe is far more vast than medieval cosmology had numbers to express. The Earth is a tiny planet circling an insignificant star at the edge of a commonplace galaxy which spins within the wide universe as a mote of dust might drift along the edge of a soap bubble in a child's bath. If our value be measured in physical terms, it is too slight to notice.

Of course, faith tell us to measure it in spiritual terms. (pp. 101-102)

We learn that our planet is surprisingly perfect to foster life, particularly our life. 

All the things which seemed to leave us on the insignificant margins of the cosmos, actually belonged to the perfect fitting of our universe home.   (p. 102)

The book does suffer some stylistic and editorial flaws, which is common among those that are self-published. There are some scientific theories discussed which may, in time, be thoroughly disproven, but Daly's points are not dependent on any particular theories. She consistently insists we must follow where our rational minds and the created world lead us, secure in our faith of a good God who loves us. 

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I believe new copies of Creator and Creation are only available through the Hedge School website, but there are used copies available in the usual places.

Commentary on Creation, the Fall, Abraham, and Joseph: A Path through Genesis

A Path through Genesis

by Bruce Vawter, C.M.

published by Sheed and Ward in 1956 with an imprimatur

In the Mater Amabilis™ high school beta plans (available in the facebook group), ninth graders read Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers. I wanted a commentary to read alongside. My first thought was to use the Catholic Scripture series (we own the volume on John), but they haven't published any Old Testament commentaries. Kansas Dad, of course, is a theology professor, but his area of expertise is early Church history and ethics, not Old Testament, so I asked one of his fellow professors for a recommendation. He's a Hebrew scholar who earned his PhD in Israel. He gave me a couple of books to skim from his personal library and I decided to buy a copy of A Path through Genesis. It's out of print, but readily available. When I was searching for it, I found a review by Flannery O'Connor in her book, The Presence of Grace and Other Book Reviews (Google books).

Vawter's commentary includes the entire text of Genesis (from The Holy Bible, translated from the original languages...by members of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, St. Anthony Guild Press, 1952). Some of the names were spelled a bit differently than in the NAB First Son received from our parish, but he was able to follow along without difficulty.

A Path through Genesis provides cultural and historical context for Genesis, grounded in solid theology, from a Catholic theologian interested in walking laypeople through the text. Throughout the book, Vawter guides the reader in understanding the meaning of the author of Genesis and therefore discerning the essential truths of the events and stories inspired by God.

The Bible was not written in a vacuum, but by men of highly individualized personalities whose powers of mind and spirit were separate creations of God. Inspiration did not change, it accepted these men. Their writings bear the impress of themselves, of their times, of their capabilities and limitations. If we would know the meaning of the Bible, then, we must take it for what it is, the noblest work of human endeavor.

Throughout the book, Vawter emphasizes when appropriate the relationship between our faith and modern scientific thought. Written in the 1950s, it addresses evolution and creation, repeating the teachings of the popes and the councils that dispel the myths of conflict between faith and reason.

We must today interpret the Bible in the light of knowledge that was denied our ancestors. Any interpretation of Scripture that contradicts a known fact of science we may be very sure is no true interpretation. This principle was established fifteen hundred years ago by St. Augustine, who in his De Genesi ad litteram attacked the problems of Genesis in the light of the knowledge of his age. We can do no better than imitate his spirit.

A Path through Genesis emphatically rejects a literal reading of Genesis.

"Fundamentalism" or "literalism" has never had a home in the Catholic Church. It is regrettable, however, that some Catholics have felt that the fundamentalists are "on our side" in their reverence for the letter of God's word amid a world that has so largely gone over to unbelief. Fundamentalism is not born of respect for the Bible. It is born of contempt for man's God-given intellect. It has failed the most elementary task of religion, which is the rational service of God. 

I read this book alongside First Son. Not only is it clear in its explanations of ancient and Biblical history, but it is often eloquent in its delight of Scripture and in bringing Genesis directly to the present.

To be like God: there is the root of sin. To acknowledge no dependence, to be a law to oneself, this is the vulgar idea of being like God. Man was made in God's image, intended to be like God, but in God's way and with God's means. Satan counted on enticing man to adopt his own means, and he won.

What precisely was the sin that Adam and Eve committed, we shall probably never know. In all likelihood the author of Genesis was quite as ignorant of it as we. 

Vawter connects the foibles, mistakes, and misunderstandings of the men and women of Genesis with our own today. Abraham laughed when God said he'd have a son.

There is the temptation that has plagued men of faith throughout the centuries. Faith generally meets its test in small things rather than great. The man who can cheerfully face death in the arena where the issues are clear and drawn may thread his way only with difficulty through a world which is not black and white but considerably grey.

It is deceptively easy to think we would have been holier than the patriarchs, that we would not have doubted. Vawter, though, places them within their own times, revealing their limitations and therefore the greater leaps they made to a faith that is already prepared for us.

Abraham lived without the Church, without the sacraments, without the consolation of the fulfillment of prophecy, all of which we have. H had to walk virtually alone, gropingly, with only his strong faith in a future he was not to see in this life. We must candidly confess, if we had lived in the time of our father Abraham, we would only with God's help have done as he, and we would have one it far less well.

I asked First Son whether he thought A Path through Genesis was a good addition to his studies this year. He whole-heartedly approved. He found it helpful in his understanding of the text and enjoyable to read.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post and all opinions are my own. I purchased a used copy of this book. The link above is an affiliate link on Amazon, but the book can be found at all the usual used book websites.

Homeschool Review: Genesis 1

Genesis 1: House of the Covenant by Mary Daly

This book is recommended for grammar level students (4th - 6th grades) in Volume 1 (Ancient History). Connecting with History is the study of salvation history and therefore begins with Creation. It explores the meaning of the creation story in Genesis and how it can be reconciled with current scientific theories.

Beautifully printed text appears on the left hand page. The right hand page is a black and white illustration with Biblical verses. It is a coloring book, with nice thick pages appropriate for colored pencils or crayons. First Son is not much interested in coloring, but a student could color the picture while listening to the text. Each day, I read one or two pages and asked First Son (who was ten) to narrate, though mostly we just talked through the thought-provoking ideas. I think it might have been difficult for him to read through the ideas on his own slowly enough for him to concentrate on them, but he was capable of discussing them with me.

The Catholic Church asserts God created the world, but we are free to assess the scientific evidence when considering the length of time in which He did so. (Read more in the Catechism.) This book reveals the truth and beauty of the creation account in Scripture as a complement to our reason and study of the natural world.

He has the power to make things quickly instead of slowly; He can do anything. But He could not mean for us to study the world, if He made it falsely, since we would never know when we were finding the truth and when we were finding falsehood.

Our faith teaches us that God He can neither deceive nor be deceived. He is our loving Father.

If you believe in a more literal reading of Genesis, you may not want to read this book with your child. I still recommend you find a copy for yourself to better understand the beliefs of those who believe in the truth of the Genesis account of creation in a less literal way.


All of the links above are affiliate links to RC History. I purchased Genesis 1 from RC History and have received nothing in exchange for this review. I do receive a small commission if you make any purchases at RC History. If you would like to visit the store without going through an affiliate link, you may do so by clicking here.

September 2014 Book Reports

Genesis: The Book of Origins by Fr. Albert Joseph Mary Shamon is one of the recommended background books for teachers to read in preparation for Connecting with History volume 1 which covers creation and Genesis. It covers creation through the story of Joseph with insights into each one. I found it a decent book, though I already knew much of it from other readings. Certainly it would be valuable for someone relatively unfamiliar with the meaning of those Scripture readings beyond the Sunday School stories. (purchased at Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus is a wonderful book of historical fiction based on the true life of Manjiro (John Mung), a Japanese fisherman shipwrecked as a teenager who makes his way to America (perhaps the first Japanese person to visit the United States) in the 1840s. It contains a vast amount of information on whaling, prejudices in America and Japan, America's inventions, and the Gold Rush, as well as courage and perseverance. I loved it. The drawings and reproductions in the book are often those of the real Manjiro. We also listened to the audio book, which was wonderful and let me avoid trying to pronounce the Japanese words. Be aware there are graphic descriptions of whaling, comparisons between Christianity and Buddhist faiths (not always to Christianity's benefits), and an episode where Manjiro steps on an image of Mary and Jesus when he returns to Japan. All of these seemed accurate depictions of the time in which Manjiro lived. (library copy)

Revolutionary by Krista McGee, read to review for another website and not worth your time. (purchased for the Kindle)

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen (a review for Blogging for Books)

The Night is for Hunting (The Tomorrow Series #6) by John Marsden, also read to review for another website. If you've read the first five books in the series, you'll read this one, but the series as a whole isn't that interesting or well-written. (library copy)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• Open Mind, Faithful Heart by Pope Francis (January 2014) 
• The Education Of Catholic Girls by Janet Erskine Stuart (February 2014)
• Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (February 2014)
• A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller (April 2014)
• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• Men and Women Are From Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body by Mary Healy (September 2014, with our parish adult education class)
• The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home by David Clayton and Leila Marie Lawler (September 2014)
• The Bible Compass: A Catholic's Guide to Navigating the Scriptures by Edward Sri (September 2014)
• The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children by Sofia Cavaletti (September 2014, with a book club at our parish)

Links to Amazon are affiliate links. Links to Sacred Heart Books and Gifts and RC History are not affiliate links.