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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]] officially declared that evolution and Catholicism are not incompatible; this remains the official standpoint of the Catholic Church <ref>Truth Cannot Contradict Truth, Address of Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (October 22, 1996) <i>Catholic Library</i>v[http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm]</ref>.  

In October 1996, [[Pope John Paul II]] referred[http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm] to "theories of evolution" that could be "more than a hypothesis" whicht led many to conclude that evolution and Catholicism are not incompatible.  However, the Magisterial Teaching Authority of the Church as explained by hundreds of 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.  Inspite 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]'' which was promulgated by Pope St. Pius X in 1907.  This remains the official standpoint of the Catholic Church <ref>Truth Cannot Contradict Truth, Address of Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (October 22, 1996) <i>Catholic Library</i>v[http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm]</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.”

[[William Jennings Bryan]] wrote that "Theistic evolution may be defined as an anesthetic which deadens the patient’s pain while [[atheism]] removes his religion.”