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Theistic evolutionists reject [[special creation]] of nature and its inhabitants and mankind as declared in Genesis chapters one and two and agree that humans and apes shared a common primatical ancestor. The position has come under attack from a variety of sources - Young Earth Creationists raise all of their standard objections to evolution as well as various theological and exegetical problems. Meanwhile, various agnostics and [[atheists]] have accused proponents of theistic evolution of not going far enough or of tacking on various ideas for their own emotional comfort and not for any evidence-based reasoning.

Theistic evolutionists reject [[special creation]] of nature and its inhabitants and mankind as declared in Genesis chapters one and two and agree that humans and apes shared a common primatical ancestor. The position has come under attack from a variety of sources - Young Earth Creationists raise all of their standard objections to evolution as well as various theological and exegetical problems. Meanwhile, various agnostics and [[atheists]] have accused proponents of theistic evolution of not going far enough or of tacking on various ideas for their own emotional comfort and not for any evidence-based reasoning.

In October 1996, [[Pope John Paul II]] referred [http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm] in address to the Pontifical Academy of Science to "theories of evolution" that could be "more than a hypothesis" which led many to conclude that evolution and Catholicism are compatible.  However, the Magisterial Teaching Authority of the Church as explained by several Papal Encyclicals, most notably ''Humani Generis''[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html] (promulgated by the Church in 1950) fall short of accepting any form of evolutionism in official Church teaching.  The Roman Catholic Church officially teaches that God created all things ''ex nihilo'' (out of nothing) by His Word.  No Catholic Christian can be compelled or required to accept evolutionism as a component of official Catholic Teaching.  In spite of this, many liberal theologians have advanced a heretical form of theistic evolutionism known as Modernism, which was condemned by the Church in several Papal Encyclicals, most notably ''Pascendi Dominici Gregis [http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P10PASCE.HTM]'' promulgated by Pope St. Pius X in 1907.  This remains the official standpoint of the Catholic Church.<ref>When, subsequently, some Catholic writers, in spite of this solemn definition of Catholic doctrine, by which such divine authority is claimed for the "entire books with all their parts" as to secure freedom from any error whatsoever, ventured to restrict the truth of Sacred Scripture solely to matters of faith and morals, and to regard other matters, whether in the domain of physical science or history, as "obiter dicta" and - as they contended - in no wise connected with faith, Our Predecessor of immortal memory, Leo XIII in the Encyclical Letter Providentissimus Deus, published on November 18 in the year 1893, justly and rightly condemned these errors and safe-guarded the studies of the Divine Books by most wise precepts and rules.[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_30091943_divino-afflante-spiritu_en.html]</ref>  

In October 1996, [[Pope John Paul II]] referred in an address<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm</ref> to the Pontifical Academy of Science to "theories of evolution" that could be "more than a hypothesis" which led many to conclude that evolution and Catholicism are compatible.  However, the Magisterial Teaching Authority of the Church as explained by several Papal Encyclicals, most notably ''Humani Generis''[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html] (promulgated by the Church in 1950) fall short of accepting any form of evolutionism in official Church teaching.  The Roman Catholic Church officially teaches that God created all things ''ex nihilo'' (out of nothing) by His Word.  No Catholic Christian can be compelled or required to accept evolutionism as a component of official Catholic Teaching.  In spite of this, many liberal theologians have advanced a heretical form of theistic evolutionism known as Modernism, which was condemned by the Church in several Papal Encyclicals, most notably ''Pascendi Dominici Gregis [http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P10PASCE.HTM]'' promulgated by Pope St. Pius X in 1907.  This remains the official standpoint of the Catholic Church.<ref>When, subsequently, some Catholic writers, in spite of this solemn definition of Catholic doctrine, by which such divine authority is claimed for the "entire books with all their parts" as to secure freedom from any error whatsoever, ventured to restrict the truth of Sacred Scripture solely to matters of faith and morals, and to regard other matters, whether in the domain of physical science or history, as "obiter dicta" and - as they contended - in no wise connected with faith, Our Predecessor of immortal memory, Leo XIII in the Encyclical Letter Providentissimus Deus, published on November 18 in the year 1893, justly and rightly condemned these errors and safe-guarded the studies of the Divine Books by most wise precepts and rules.[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_30091943_divino-afflante-spiritu_en.html]</ref>  

Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]], [[Francis Collins]], a former atheist and now an evangelical Christian, founded The Biologos Foundation to promote evolutionary creation, as well as "the harmony between science and biblical faith".<ref>{{cite book|editor=Paul Copan, Tremper Longman III, Christopher I. Reese, Michael G. Strauss|title=Dictionary of Christianity and Science: The Definitive Reference for the Intersection of Christian Faith and Contemporary Science|date=25 April 2017|publisher=Zondervan|language=English|isbn=9780310496069|page=119}}</ref>

Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]], [[Francis Collins]], a former atheist and now an evangelical Christian, founded The Biologos Foundation to promote theistic evolution, as well as "the harmony between science and biblical faith".<ref>{{cite book|editor=Paul Copan, Tremper Longman III, Christopher I. Reese, Michael G. Strauss|title=Dictionary of Christianity and Science: The Definitive Reference for the Intersection of Christian Faith and Contemporary Science|date=25 April 2017|publisher=Zondervan|language=English|isbn=9780310496069|page=119}}</ref>

[[William Jennings Bryan]] wrote that "Theistic evolution may be defined as an anesthetic which deadens the patient’s pain while [[atheism]] removes his religion.”  Marvin Olasky essentially concurred with this in a recent column chronicling the loss of Christianity from universities / colleges started by churches. <ref>"Soaping the slippery slope: Two books document the decline of once-Christian colleges into bastions of unbelief", ''World Magazine'', August 25, 2012, (accessed 08/31/2017)[https://world.wng.org/2012/08/soaping_the_slippery_slope?]</ref>

[[William Jennings Bryan]] wrote that "Theistic evolution may be defined as an anesthetic which deadens the patient’s pain while [[atheism]] removes his religion.”  Marvin Olasky essentially concurred with this in a recent column chronicling the loss of Christianity from universities/colleges started by churches. <ref>"Soaping the slippery slope: Two books document the decline of once-Christian colleges into bastions of unbelief", ''World Magazine'', August 25, 2012, (accessed 08/31/2017)[https://world.wng.org/2012/08/soaping_the_slippery_slope?]</ref>

== Francis Collins and theistic evolution ==

== Francis Collins and theistic evolution ==