Author Topic: Dinosaurs (Read 2894 times)

Jehanne · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2011, 06:23:07 AM »

In trying to "reconcile" Sacred Scripture and modern scientific findings, do not, of course, make the One and Triune God subject to the physical laws which He, after all, created. Of course, I am "preaching to the choir" on this one, but this is one of the major errors of Catholic modernism and scientism. When people like Bishop John Shelby Spong say things like, "If Christ had ascended into Heaven, he would have gone into orbit..." they are assuming the naturalistic fallacy of David Hume and the other "philosophes" of the Enlightenment that place observable, physical law above the One who created those laws in the first place. It's an absurdity, but a widespread one. Saint Thomas, as always, got things right:

Quote

An arduous thing is called a miracle, not on account of the excellence of the thing wherein it is done, but because it surpasses the faculty of nature: likewise a thing is called unusual, not because it does not often happen, but because it is outside the usual natural course of things. Furthermore, a thing is said to be above the faculty of nature, not only by reason of the substance of the thing done, but also on account of the manner and order in which it is done. Again, a miracle is said to go beyond the hope "of nature," not above the hope "of grace," which hope comes from faith, whereby we believe in the future resurrection. (ST, I, 105, 7)

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:32:11 AM »

I looked up the passages in Job 40 and 41 that describe the Behemoth and Leviathon.

It seems pretty clear that the Behemoth is not an elephant or hippo, but a dinosaur like a brontosaurus. It had "bones like pipes of brass", "gristle like plates of iron", a "tail like a cedar." It was clearly huge. "He will drink up a river and not wonder."

The Leviathon sounds like a fishy dragon to me. "His body is like molten shields, shut close up with scales pressing up one another." "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke." "A flame cometh forth out of his mouth." It clearly has a neck, unlike the fish--"In his neck, strength shall dwell.' It couldn't be killed with arrows, spears, or slings.

From reading the scriptures, Job was familiar with both of these creatures either in his present time or from memory of a story passed onto him. In either case, it is clear that they were both created by God and the angels feared them.

The whole notion of dinosaurs, the way modern people understand, is something "discovered" in 1840. I think there was some mystery about it, even then.

IMO, the dinosaur issue is the last string for the "science proves God is a liar and therefore He doesn't exist" crowd.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:55:36 AM »

The Creation video is fabulous!! It is perfect for home schooling.

Thanks, Matthew, I would never have found it on my own.

Matthew · « **Reply #18 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:10:46 AM »

Another comment (which applies to ALL his videos)

There is so much information in them, and his pace is so fast, that he doesn't read ALL the quotes he shows on-screen. You almost have to pause the video many times to read the rest of the quote, etc. and really soak up the screenshots.

I'm a fast reader, and I didn't catch it all.

But on the other hand, he wastes A LITTLE BIT of time on his continuous attempts to be a comedian, as well as a preacher. I wish I could cut out the comedian/preacher elements :) Oh well, you can't have it all.

Still well worth the time, for the treasure-trove of insights and information contained in each video.

Jehanne · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2011, 10:22:37 AM »

Quote from: CathMomof7

IMO, the dinosaur issue is the last string for the "science proves God is a liar and therefore He doesn't exist" crowd.

It certainly takes enormous faith from that crowd to say that the Universe came from nothing by nothing and that we are nothing more than "molecules in motion."

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #20 on:** April 09, 2011, 01:38:58 PM »

Quote from: Raoul76

I was just wondering the other day if dinosaurs might be a giant hoax. The fossils first began to be discovered routinely around the time of the theory of evolution. Saying that dinosaurs existed for millions of years makes the creation of man as Adam look implausible.

Dinosaur bones and skeletons were being collected in China hundreds and hundreds of years before the 19th century. They were called "Dragon Bones" and were, and (I think) in some places, still are, ground up for medicinal powder, among other things.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #21 on:** April 09, 2011, 01:44:14 PM »

Quote from: Catholic Samurai

Quote from: Raoul76
I was just wondering the other day if dinosaurs might be a giant hoax. The fossils first began to be discovered routinely around the time of the theory of evolution. Saying that dinosaurs existed for millions of years makes the creation of man as Adam look implausible.

Dinosaur bones and skeletons were being collected in China hundreds and hundreds of years before the 19th century. They were called "Dragon Bones" and were, and (I think) in some places, still are, ground up for medicinal powder, among other things.

Suetonius mentioned that Augustus had established a museum for the bones of extinct sea creatures.