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Creation: A Catholic's Guide to God and the Universe
Was creation a fantastic series of actions by God that long ago set the universe in motion? Or is creation an eternal flowing forth from God that even now causes all things to exist? Christopher Baglow, director of the Science and Religion Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, writes from within the deep well of Catholic tradition and his personal love of both science and faith to provide probing yet lively and often-humorous answers to the foundational questions of human existence. Christian doctrine sees creation not as a one-time event but rather as an eternal outpouring of divine merciful love. In A Catholic’s Guide to God and the Universe , Baglow explores how the doctrine of creation addresses the why of the universe, making it perfectly open to science, which helps us to answer how the universe came to be and continues to exist. He weaves the lessons of scripture, the Church’s long tradition of scientific inquiry and theological development, and cultural icons such as Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the inhabitants of C. S. Lewis’s Narnia series to create a concise and spirited guide for Catholics wanting to better understand the doctrine of creation without abandoning what science teaches us. Baglow helps to neutralize the unnecessary conflict between faith and science that often runs rampant among people of faith. He provides an excellent guide for curious Catholics, and an expert resource for teachers in Catholic schools, parish leaders, campus ministers, and RCIA teams, helping those exploring foundational questions of faith dive into the meaning of creation and what it tells us about who God is, who we are, and how we are to live.
- GenresTheology
160 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2022
This book, without admitting it was doing so, was answering the following question; Can we still reasonably do Catholic apologetics if we uncritically accept the Americanist, Scientistic mainstream narrative?
The Author logically shows that indeed we can!
But i'm left asking; Why should we?
It is apparent that the Author has read some of Pope Benedicts work on creation, or they have some mutual sources. I just read Pope Benedicts four Lenten homilies on creation and I would not be surprised if the Author, Dr. Baglow, had read them in preparation for this book. They talk about similar things, the most interesting I think is that the Genesis story might have been written in reaction to a Babylonian creation narrative called Enuma Elis . Dr. Baglow goes on to state that Gensis was "dramatic, even as revolutionary, as the declaration of independence would have been in 1776"
That's right ladies and gentleman, Dr. Baglow allows you even to compare the significance of that truly holy text, The Declaration of Independence.
Overall this type of uncritical regime acceptance is what makes this book, and much of the Catholic population, totally feeble.
Sure we could accept the mainstream narrative and still believe in Catholicism, but because we are called to pursue the Truth, we should not accept the narrative uncritically! There is a middle ground between biblical literalism and believing every contradictory and non-sensical scientific claim that comes out of the mouths of scientist
Just to give one example, the Author in the book, points to "scientific" research, that claims that there was never less than 16 homo sapiens. But how is that possible according to the evolutionary perspective the author holds? How could speciation, which admittedly to modern scientist, is so rare that it has never been observed, happen to 16 different individuals in a way so similar that they all became the same new species at once? The likelihood of this is absolutely ludicrous and the acceptance of this as fact, calls into account the authors ability to scrutinize information.
The Author logically shows that indeed we can!
But i'm left asking; Why should we?
It is apparent that the Author has read some of Pope Benedicts work on creation, or they have some mutual sources. I just read Pope Benedicts four Lenten homilies on creation and I would not be surprised if the Author, Dr. Baglow, had read them in preparation for this book. They talk about similar things, the most interesting I think is that the Genesis story might have been written in reaction to a Babylonian creation narrative called Enuma Elis . Dr. Baglow goes on to state that Gensis was "dramatic, even as revolutionary, as the declaration of independence would have been in 1776"
That's right ladies and gentleman, Dr. Baglow allows you even to compare the significance of that truly holy text, The Declaration of Independence.
Overall this type of uncritical regime acceptance is what makes this book, and much of the Catholic population, totally feeble.
Sure we could accept the mainstream narrative and still believe in Catholicism, but because we are called to pursue the Truth, we should not accept the narrative uncritically! There is a middle ground between biblical literalism and believing every contradictory and non-sensical scientific claim that comes out of the mouths of scientist
Just to give one example, the Author in the book, points to "scientific" research, that claims that there was never less than 16 homo sapiens. But how is that possible according to the evolutionary perspective the author holds? How could speciation, which admittedly to modern scientist, is so rare that it has never been observed, happen to 16 different individuals in a way so similar that they all became the same new species at once? The likelihood of this is absolutely ludicrous and the acceptance of this as fact, calls into account the authors ability to scrutinize information.
August 21, 2023
Marriage of Faith and Reason
In this book, Baglow shows how orthodox Catholic teaching, properly understood, supports the findings of science, properly understood, and vice versa. Baglow demonstrates both a deep familiarity with the sources of Catholic teaching on Creation and current scientific research. The subject matter could easily tempt any writer to flights of dense, opaque complexity, but Baglow maintains a reading level suitable for high schools, general adult education, as well as introductory college classes. If you wonder how to respond to Creationism on the one hand and widespread skepticism on the other, this book provides perhaps the best introduction to the subject possible for Catholics.
In this book, Baglow shows how orthodox Catholic teaching, properly understood, supports the findings of science, properly understood, and vice versa. Baglow demonstrates both a deep familiarity with the sources of Catholic teaching on Creation and current scientific research. The subject matter could easily tempt any writer to flights of dense, opaque complexity, but Baglow maintains a reading level suitable for high schools, general adult education, as well as introductory college classes. If you wonder how to respond to Creationism on the one hand and widespread skepticism on the other, this book provides perhaps the best introduction to the subject possible for Catholics.
February 13, 2023
I enjoyed and was able to digest a good piece of this. Baglow answers a lot of questions that non believers really struggle with in language that is easy to swallow. At the same time, though, there reaches a point where I just don’t think there IS a definitive answer—I just think that’s the point of faith. Either you can make the leap or you can’t. Baglow pushes a step too far and tries to make what can’t be logical sound logical. He lost me there, and a more frustrated agnostic turn away. Otherwise, though, an enjoyable, interesting look into something I still don’t understand. At all.
July 15, 2023
An excellent reflection on creation and faith, how science and evolution are reconciled with the biblical account of creation.
“science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science of idolatry and false absolutes” - Pope St. John Paul II
“science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science of idolatry and false absolutes” - Pope St. John Paul II
January 4, 2025
~4.5 stars~
I am an evolution x theology enthusiast, and every time I think I know just about everything there is to be said about these topics, I find a little nugget of something new. This book was just that!
I am an evolution x theology enthusiast, and every time I think I know just about everything there is to be said about these topics, I find a little nugget of something new. This book was just that!
January 18, 2023
It blew my whole view on creation/evolution. The two are not mutually exclusive. A must-read.
December 27, 2021
A helpful, articulate guide in an arena fraught with misunderstanding
Dr. Baglow’s helpful commentary does not forge new ground as much as it explains how religious thinking and scientific method are useful correctives to each other’s tendency to simplify human reality. Both the believer, of any stripe, and the unbeliever, of whatever nuance, has much to learn from this recounting of the dialogue between faith and science. Further resources are available on the Vatican Observatory Foundations website and podcast. We can all hope that the new James Webb telescope will offer even more insights into time, space and the gift of Creation.
Dr. Baglow’s helpful commentary does not forge new ground as much as it explains how religious thinking and scientific method are useful correctives to each other’s tendency to simplify human reality. Both the believer, of any stripe, and the unbeliever, of whatever nuance, has much to learn from this recounting of the dialogue between faith and science. Further resources are available on the Vatican Observatory Foundations website and podcast. We can all hope that the new James Webb telescope will offer even more insights into time, space and the gift of Creation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews