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Title: In the Beginning...: A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall (Resourcement)
ISBN: 0802841066
Author:
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Publicate Date: 1995-09
Publish: 1995-09
List Price: $13.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $7.34
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $7.33
Amazon Merchant Price: $10.40
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Genesis And Creation According To The Pope
This book by Joseph Ratzinger collects a number of sermons on Genesis and the theology of creation (delivered long before he became pope).
Ratzinger has been portrayed as a theological right winger, but that's hardly the case. His view of the authorship of Genesis appears to take the liberal position. For example, he believes that there are two creation accounts in Genesis, one of which is post-exilic. He mentions Adam and Eve, but doesn't explicitly say whether he considers them to be historical. ("The story of the dust of the earth and the breath of God . . . does not in fact explain how human persons come to be but rather what they are.")
On the issue of evolution, Ratzinger says he believes in creation and evolution. But to what extent he rejects evolution isn't explained. Those who would like to find in the current pope an advocate of Intelligent Design will likely be disappointed.
On these issues Ratzinger reminds me of the late John Paul II when it came to the population of hell, the salvation of unbelievers, and truth or falsity of non-Christian religions. The liberal door is open, but he doesn't want to walk quite through.
This is a useful book on the Catholic view of creation, but those who want a systematic study will have to look elsewhere.
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2: Science and Gensis
This short book is a compendium of sermons the Pope gave during a Lenten season. It is necessary reading for people who are temped to take the Bible literally. It also gives others alternative understanding of Genesis and that there is a deeper meaning to the book. The Pope does an excellent illumination of the creation story from Genesis and the challenge which modern science seems to present to literal accuracy of these passages in the Bible. He presents the lessons we can learn from the creation story and accepts the science which seems to contradict the Bible.
I found it so engaging I passed it along to our local Pastor to read during this Lenten season.
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3: Delightful Exegesis
In the Beginning was a delight to read. One should not feel intimidated by the author. I must say I found the new pope's style very poetic and easy to follow in contrast to the writings of John Paul II whose style was more academic. I appreciated the distinction he made regarding the necessity of understanding the "literal" meaning of Sacred Scripture in the context of its literary form. For instance, if I read an Aesop Fable as though it were history, I would be missing the true literal meaning of the text - literal in the sense of literature or the means of communication based on writing. This must be taken into consideration, and everyone in fact does - even fundamentalist/literalists, although they won't admit it. For instance they would not claim Jesus actually taught we should eat his Body and drink his Blood. They would claim that our Lord's words in John 6 were metaphorical. The tragedy occurs when one interprets Sacred Scripture apart from the Church of Christ, the Church that is his Body and possesses his mind as St. Paul so clearly teaches. Then scriptural interpretation becomes absolutely subjective. The Holy Father also focuses on the true Christian attitude toward Creation, a doctrine that has been totally lost to the public mindset. Altogether, the book clears up many misconceptions regarding Catholic doctrine.
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4: Wonderful teaching on Catholic understanding of Gen 1-2
I found this book, which contains homilies by then Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), an excellent teaching on the Roman Catholic Church's interpretation of the first two chapters of Genesis. Cardinal Ratzinger writes exceptionally clearly on complex issues and his arguments are truly a delight to follow. This book is an excellent antidote to Catholics who think the Church takes Genesis 1-2 literally as do Evangelical Christians. Cardinal Ratzinger explains well the concepts of salvation history and that science and Christian belief are truly not in conflict. I found this very orthodox teaching a wonderful reminder. This book is an excellent source for anyone who wants to understand the Catholic Church's teaching on the Genesis creation stories and the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
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5: An Timely, Important Set of Reflections
No time could be better than now for this text to be read by Americans. Catholics stand between adamant fundamentalists and extreme atheistic evolutionists. This text is something I have desired to see for a long time. It is often difficult to show atheists that Catholics are not opposed to evolution and still show fundamentalists that we are not atheistic. I believe that reading this text and also sharing it can indeed help with dialog along these lines. Ratzinger presents insights about the true importance of belief in being created, a message that can help change the view of the world for many. Additionally, he exquisitely discusses the nature of sin in mankind, giving a brief, yet profound depth to a subject which is so often avoided in modernity.
I recommend this to all who would like to see and understand a truly Catholic stance on the nature of belief in creation. In particular, I suggest it to parties that believe one of the two extremes mentioned above. Nonetheless, there are insights to be gained by all in reading this marvelous text.
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