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As a Catholic, I believe the [[Nicene Creed]], which says in part: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible" (New Roman Missal).  Thus, we believe by faith the reason '''why''' we exist, namely, God's creation of us, but we also have the ability through God-given reason to deduce '''how''' ''H. sapiens'' came to be.  The overwhelming body of scientific evidence suggests not only an Earth that is billions of years old, but also that modern life has descended from previous life (the fact of evolution) and all life traces to a common ancestor.

As a Catholic, I believe the [[Nicene Creed]], which says in part: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible" (New Roman Missal).  Thus, we believe by faith the reason '''why''' we exist, namely, God's creation of us, but we also have the ability through God-given reason to deduce '''how''' ''H. sapiens'' came to be.  The overwhelming body of scientific evidence suggests not only an Earth that is billions of years old, but also that modern life has descended from previous life (the fact of evolution) and all life traces to a common ancestor.

Although the Bible is divinely inspired, I believe that portions of the Bible that are written to be taken literally (like, for example, Jesus's command that we eat his flesh and drink his blood, or else we will have no life [Jn 6:53]), Genesis was not written as a scientific treatise (after all, the audience for whom it was written, who predates modern science by about 3000 years, would never be able to understand the modern scientific explanation for how people came to be) and is therefore not meant to be taken literally.  Taking Genesis literally additionally leaves one with the uncomfortable position of having God (who is The Truth) create reason for us only to have us not use it with regards to an important question: our creation.

Although the Bible is divinely inspired, I believe that although there are portions of the Bible that are written to be taken literally (like, for example, Jesus's command that we eat his flesh and drink his blood, or else we will have no life [Jn 6:53]), Genesis was not written as a scientific treatise (after all, the audience for whom it was written, who predates modern science by about 3000 years, would never be able to understand the modern scientific explanation for how people came to be) and is therefore not meant to be taken literally.  Taking Genesis literally additionally leaves one with the uncomfortable position of having God (who is The Truth) create reason for us only to have us not use it with regards to an important question: our creation.

==The answers==

==The answers==