Creation and the Angels

1. Creation and the Angels Science and Evolution Original Sin October 5, 2013

2. Prayers • Sign of the Cross • In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen • Glory be • Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen 2

3. Prayers • The Our Father • Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 3

4. Prayers • Angel of God • Angel of God my guardian dear to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light, to guard, to rule and to guide. Amen 4

5. Discussion… • If someone were to come to you at work on Monday and ask you why you do not believe in sola Scriptura – Bible alone; what would you tell them? Explain why we need Tradition and Scripture in your own words • How in tune am I to the Word of God? How frequently do I study the LOVE Letters that God has written to me? • What is one thing that I have learned so far in this class over the first two lectures? 5

6. House keeping • Start attending weekly Mass • At Holy Communion, come up and cross your arms for a blessing. • Look at the handouts after class each week and read them. More insights • Paper on the middle of each table for questions you can put them by the computer at break or toward the end of class • Prayers in the middle of the tables weekly – try to memorize them and pray them 6

7. Details • NAME TAGS – just leave them here after class and they will be here for you next week. We are meant to journey together. If you do not have a name tag, please make a note on a paper in the middle of your table. • Prayer cards • Sponsor sign up sheet up front 7

8. Creation and the Angels Science and Evolution Original Sin October 5, 2013

9. New Terms • Fall • Original Sin • Sin • Creed • Creation • Sanctifying Grace • Beatific Vision • Concupisense 9

10. Fall • (1) Biblical revelation about the reality of sin in human history. The Biblical story begins with the original sin freely committed by the first human beings…this sin is described as a “fall” from God’s friendship and grace, which they had received from God not only for themselves but for the whole human race • (2) In the “fall” of the Angels, Scripture and Church tradition see the emergence of Satan and the “Devil” the fall of these angelic spirits was due to their freely chosen rejection of God and His reign 10

11. Original Sin • The sin by which the first human beings disobeyed the commandment of God, choosing to follow their own will rather than God’s will. As a consequence they lost the grace of original holiness, and became subject to the law of death; sin became universally present in the world. Besides the personal sin of Adam and Eve, original sin describes the fallen state of human nature which affects every person born into the world, and from which Christ, the “new Adam,” came to redeem us. 11

12. Sin • An offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God. In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins. 12

13. Creed • A brief, normative summary statement or profession of Christian faith. • The word “creed” comes from the Latin Credo, meaning “I believe”. • Creeds are also called Symbols of faith. 13

14. Creation • The act by which the eternal God gave a beginning to all that exists outside of himself. Creation also refers to the created universe or totality of what exists, as often expressed by the formula “the heavens and the earth”. 14

15. Sanctifying Grace • The grace which heals our human nature wounded by sin by giving us a share in the divine life of the Trinity. It is a habitual, supernatural gift which continues the work of sanctifying us-of making us “perfect,” holy, and Christlike. 15

16. Beatific Vision • The contemplation of God in heavenly glory, a gift of God which is a constitutive element of the happiness in heaven. 16

17. Concupiscence • Human appetites or desires which remain disordered due to the temporal consequences of original sin, which remain even after Baptism, and which produce an inclination to sin. 17

18. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” 18

19. Profession of Faith • Creed (The Apostles’ Creed) • “Begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything.” CCC198 • “Begins with Father, for Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity.” CCC198 • “Begins with the creation of Heaven and Earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works.” CCC198 19

20. “I believe in God” • “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” • “The whole creed speaks of God, and when it also speaks of man and of the world it does so in relation to God.” CCC199 • God is unique there is only one God. • “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deut 6:4-5) 20

21. Implications of Faith in One God • It means coming to know God’s greatness and majesty: We must serve God first. • It means living in thanksgiving: if God is the only One, everything we are and have comes from him. • It means knowing the unity and true dignity of all men: Everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. 21

22. Implications of Faith in One God • It means making good use of created things: faith in God, the only One, leads us to use everything that is not God only insofar as it brings us closer to him, and to detach ourselves from it insofar as it turns us away from him. • It means trust in God in every circumstance, even in adversity. • St. Teresa of Jesus Let nothing trouble you / Let nothing frighten you Everything passes / God never changes Patience / Obtains all Whoever has God / Wants for nothing God alone is enough CCC 223-227 22

23. “The Father” • “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” • By calling God “Father”, indicates two main things: • God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority • God is at the same time goodness and loving care for all his children 23

24. “Almighty” • “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” • God’s power has great bearing on our lives • God who created everything also rules everything and can do everything • Nothing is impossible with God, who disposes his works according to his will 24

25. “Creator” • “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” • “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1) • God is infinitely greater than all his works • God does not abandon his creatures to themselves • Creates them • At every moment, upholds and sustains them in being • Enables them to act • Brings them to their final end • God is living, interacting, with his creation 25

26. Ancient Myths of the Origins of the World • Pagan ideas before Christianity • Pantheism – everything is God • Dualism – good & evil are eternal equal forces • Gnosticism – physical world is evil, immaterial knowledge is good • Deism – God is like a watchmaker, God made the world and then steps back and watches it run • Materialism – matter has always existed, no spiritual realm CCC 285 • Catholic s have a world view 26

27. “Heaven and Earth” • “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” • Means all that exists, creation in its entirety • All that is seen and unseen • “Earth” • World of man • “Heaven” • The place of God • Saints and the place of spiritual creatures, the Angels who surround God 27

28. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” 28

29. God in Relation to Time • God is outside of time • God can see all points in time at once • It’s all present to God, there is no past or future • We know our past and the present – not the future • God is bigger than time and space 29

30. Creation • God created everything from nothing • Galaxy, stars, earth, Angels, man, plants, animals…everything • Created by God out of nothing, by an act of his will • St. Thomas – The uncaused cause is God. He caused everything to be by starting Creation in the first place. 30

31. Book of Genesis • God created everything in 6 days and He rested on the 7th day • Days are not necessarily 24-hour periods • “For God, a thousand years is like a day. A day is like a thousand years.” (2 Peter 3:8) • Theologians say a day could refer to longer periods of time, 50 million, 100 million, 5 million years – we really don’t know • The sun wasn’t created until the fourth day, how can we say that a day was a 24 hour period when the sun that determines our days wasn’t even created 31

32. The First Six Days • First Day – God created the light and darkness • Second Day – God created the sky and waters • Third Day – God created the land, seas, and plants • Fourth Day – God created the sun, moon, and stars • Fifth Day – God created creeping things, birds, and fish • Sixth Day – God created beasts and cattle, and finally God created man in his own image and likeness 32

33. The Seventh Day • God rested for all of the work He had done • That doesn’t mean God was tired, because if God were tired, He wouldn’t be God • The first 6 days God created everything and is no longer creating at this time • The only thing He still continues to create are new human souls, immortal souls, with every life that is conceived 33

34. Book of Genesis and Science • No contradiction • God is the Origin and the Creator • God is the Author of both science and religion • True science and true religion • Both come from Almighty God 34

35. Creation of Man • Sixth day • Body and soul • God’s image and likeness • “God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (soul); and man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7) • A soul is the immortal spirit that God created for us, which will live forever • Our soul is the principal that gives life to our body • Our bodies will die and will go back to dust • Our souls will live forever in all eternity • Either in Heaven or Hell 35

36. What makes man different than the animals? • Man has an immortal soul – animals have a material soul • When an animal dies its soul ceases to exist • Man has intellect and free will • Man was made in the image and likeness of God • Knowledge and love make us different than animals 36

37. Evolution • Evolution is a theory • God oversaw all of creation • If there was an evolutionary process, God oversaw that entire process • God’s hand was there before, during, and after any evolutionary process 37

38. Evolution of Man? • Could the body of man evolve over the years? • Yes, material evolution could occur • Not spiritual evolution, we do know that there is no change in spiritual evolution 38

39. Did man evolve from Monkeys? • Monkeys → Apes → Man • Animals have a different kind of soul • Man was made in the image and likeness of God • There is no scientific evidence to support man evolving from monkeys • Evolution is a theory, part of it is true, and God oversaw the whole evolutionary process 39

40. Adam and Eve • Our first parents • “God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (soul); and man became a living being.”(Gen 2:7) • Special gifts given by God • Made in God’s image and likeness • Sanctifying grace • Friendship with God • Eternal life – immortal, never going to die • Never going to experience illness or disease 40

41. Preternatural Gifts • Gifts that are beyond nature, that perfect nature • Transcending the normal course of nature, supernatural • Infused knowledge • Absence of concupiscence • Body immortality 41

42. Garden of Eden • Created by God for Adam and Eve • Harmony • When they worked it wasn’t laborious • Animals all got along 42

43. Fall of Adam and Eve • Tempted by fallen Angel -- Lucifer appeared in the form of a serpent • Sin of pride, sin of disobedience • “No we do not want to remain creatures, we want to become like God” • They rebelled against God, committing Original Sin • Adam was the head of the human race • When he sinned – all of his descendants would lose all of the supernatural gifts • We lost God’s grace • We were born into the world with Original Sin on our soul • Baptism removes Original Sin but the effects still remain 43

44. Effects of Original Sin • Weakened will • Darkened intellect • Not as intelligent as we would have been • Concupiscence • Unruly desires, or passions that are harder to control • Tendency to do wrong • Sin - abuse the gifts God gave us • There is no order in our body, disordering of our desires • Suffering, sickness, death entered the world 44

45. After the fall is man totally corrupt? • No, we did not become totally corrupt • We have a weakened nature, not an evil nature • Human nature is not corrupted completely, we can obtain grace to correct us (make us better) 45

46. Break • Take 3=4 minutes for stretch, bathroom break, water break 46

47. Discussion • How do I recognize the creation aspect of God in my day to day life? • Where have I recognized the presence of God around during this past week? 47

48. Angels 48

49. What is an Angel? • The word Angel – means “messenger” • An Angel is a messenger from God • Angels are pure spirits created by God • Don’t have a body or gender • Above Angels is only God, because God is uncreated • God always did exist, He does exist, and always will exist • God is pure spirit • Angels are like God, because they are pure spirits • Angels are mentioned in the bible over 800 times • Angels have an intellect and a free will 49

50. What is an Angel? • Angels are rational beings • They are made in God’s image and likeness • They can think, love, and choose • All of the Angels were created by God at once • Every Angel is unique and individual • They are like man because they have a free will (choice) & an intellect (know) • They can see God • They have an irrevocable act of will (can’t take it back) • Weren’t created in Heaven, they were created outside of Heaven 50