From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution

by Matthew J. Ramage

The claim that evolution undermines Christianity is standard fare in our culture. Indeed, many today have the impression that the two are mutually exclusive and that a choice must be made between faith and reason―rejecting Christianity on the one hand or evolutionary theory on the other. Is there a way to square advances in this field of study with the Bible and Church teaching?

In this book―his fourth dedicated to applying Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI's wisdom to pressing theological difficulties―Matthew Ramage answers this question decidedly in the affirmative. Distinguishing between evolutionary theory properly speaking and the materialist attitude that is often conflated with it, Ramage's work meets the challenge of evolutionary science to Catholic teaching on human origins, guided by Ratzinger's conviction that faith and evolutionary theory mutually enrich one another.

Pope Benedict gifted the Church with many pivotal yet often-overlooked resources for engaging evolution in the light of faith, especially in those instances where he addressed the topic in connection with the Book of Genesis. Ramage highlights these contributions and also makes his own by applying Ratzinger's principles to such issues as the meaning of man's special creation, the relationship between sin and death, and the implications of evolution for eschatology. Notably, Ramage shows that many apparent conflicts between Christianity and evolutionary theory lose their force when we interpret creation in light of the Paschal Mystery and fix our gaze on Jesus, the New Adam who reveals man to himself.

Readers of this text will find that it does more than merely help to resolve apparent contradictions between faith and modern science. Ramage's work shows that discoveries in evolutionary biology are not merely difficulties to be overcome but indeed gifts that yield precious insight into the mystery of God's saving plan in Christ.

Genres: Evolution

325 pages, Paperback

Published June 24, 2022

About the author

Dr. Ramage has earned an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies and Philosophy at the University of Illinois, an M.A. from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a Ph.D. from Ave Maria University. His doctoral dissertation was “Towards a Theology of Scripture: Joseph Ratzinger’s Method C Hermeneutic and Sacra Doctrina on the Afterlife in the Old Testament”.

He taught Religious Studies at the University of Illinois immediately before being hired at Benedictine College in 2009, where he is an Associate Professor of Theology. His research and writing concentrates on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, biblical exegesis, and the development of papal doctrine.

He has published in a number of scholarly journals including Nova et Vetera, Scripta Theologica, Cithara, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review as well as popular online venues such as Strange Notions, The Gregorian Institute, and Crisis. He lives in Atchison, Kansas with his wife and five children.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay but this book is REALLY good. It can get long at times, but maybe that was just because I was forced to read it. But the book is beautifully written; simple enough for ignorant people like me to understand, but rich enough that you get SO much out of it. It addressed some really hard questions about the idea of Christian creation vs evolution, and brought to light truths I hadn't even considered before. 100/10 recommend, especially if you're interested in this topic, but even just in general it's a really good informational read.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books out there on the origins debate from a Catholic perspective. Ramage brings together Scripture, philosophy, science, and some deep cuts of Joseph Ratzinger's scholarship to craft a powerful argument not only that Catholics may, but that they should, accept evolutionary theory and integrate it within a broader theology of creation. The book begins with what is by now a fairly standard Thomistic critique of the "Intelligent Design" movement, but it moves on to explore topics at the interface of Catholic theology and evolutionary science that go well beyond that. Among the many parts of this book that I found particularly interesting (and all of which draw deeply from Ratzinger) were his treatment of the creation accounts in the context of the myths and cosmology of the ancient near east, his discussion of original sin as wounded relationality, and his application of principles of Mariology to the question of "death" before and after sin. I personally found his (and Ratzinger's) argument about the biblical Adam being first and foremost an allegory for Israel and its exile, and through Israel humanity as a whole in its alienation from God, to be a very plausible one. However, I can understand a creationist not being convinced by this. The book does not slam the door on any of the knottier theological questions, but it is an excellent model for how to think through the issues as a faithful, orthodox, and rigorous Catholic theologian who is trying to integrate faith and reason.

[Aaron K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read portions of it for class. Really liked how the author addresses the big bang theory and the Genesis story of creation.