Letters

First parents (letter)

Scot Chaston

Contents - Oct 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Liturgy: light at the end of the tunnel - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop George Pell: 'The strong family is a religious family' - Archbishop George Pell News: The Church Around the World Events: Gerry Matatics Visit / Catholic Homeschooling Conference, Parramatta - AD2000 Anglican General Synod 2001 - moves towards women bishops delayed - Nigel Zimmermann Cardinal George of Chicago sacks leading 'progressive' liturgist - Michael Gilchrist Can US bishops enforce Papal teaching on Catholic universities? - Zenit News Service Archbishop Hart opens Thomas More Centre Bookroom - Catherine Sheehan Salesian Archbishop from India visits Australia - Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil SDB Education: Mass attendance: a key measure of Catholic schools' effectiveness - Br John Moylan CFC Eternal Word Television Network's missionary outreach - Michael Daniel Letters: Liturgy translation (letter) - Jack R. Nyman Letters: Church leadership (letter) - Mary Daly Letters: True picture (letter) - Christine Slagter Letters: Homosexuality (letter) - Arnold Jago (Dr) Letters: Papal teaching (letter) - John Young Letters: First parents (letter) - Scot Chaston Letters: Non-Christian gods (letter) - Jane Wilks Letters: Cult (letter) - Wal Maggs Books: 'Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine', Archbishop Sheehan, Fr Peter Joseph - Br Christian Moe FSC (reviewer) Books: 'The One Minute Philosopher' by Montague Brown - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: 'The Spirit of the Liturgy' by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: Tales Without Reason: Forgotten Heroes of the Apostolate in 1840s Australia - Michael Daniel Books: Seeds of Life: Early Christian Martyrs; Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Poetry: Feast of St Francis of Assisi (4 October) - A. Muir Reflection: Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist - Bishop Kevin Manning

Apes and other animals are limited in their daily experiences to "simple awareness". Human consciousness is unique to the human animal in that it is self-aware, reflective, and self-managing. The human brain has a unique functionally asymmetric structure that is the physical foundation for our language-based speech/ thought capability that we call the "human mind".

Whatever the explanatory models that scientists use in their search for knowledge - such as evolution - the historical details of the physical and biological circumstances on this planet from which the manifold life forms emerged have yet to be fully understood. But it is reasonable for scientists to work on the hypothesis that the Homo lineage, whose cells share the same genetic material DNA as do all other life forms, did also emerge naturally from the biology and history of this planet.

The anticipation by scientists, that the genesis of the human person is in principle the same as for all other animals, does not contradict the Genesis story of Adam and Eve. We believe as Christians that God has intervened in human history. He gave Adam and Eve their immortal souls and the opportunity to be aware of His Presence in their consciousness. We, the only survivors of the Homo lineage, share that privilege with our First Parents.

SCOT CHASTON
Page, ACT

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 9 (October 2001), p. 14