Bishop Barron on Creation

Summary

The script explores the theological concept of creation, emphasizing that God creates out of love to manifest and share His glory. It highlights love as an act of will, not just a feeling, and creation as a non-violent act. The universe's existence signifies our interconnectedness and our role as 'ontological siblings.' The narrative also touches on the harmony between science and religion, with Adam representing the first scientist and priest, indicating God's desire for humans to be fully alive, intelligent, and in friendship with Him.

Takeaways

• 🌟 God creates out of love and to share His glory, not out of need.
• ❤️ Love is defined as willing the good of the other as other, an act of the will beyond mere feelings.
• 🌌 The universe is loved into existence, reflecting a fundamental reality of non-violence.
• 🕊️ Non-violence is the true order, contrasting the old myths where order comes through violence.
• 🔭 God creates ex nihilo, a non-violent act of generosity that speaks the world into existence.
• 📖 The Sermon on the Mount encourages living in a way that aligns with the universe's grain of nonviolence.
• 🌐 We are all interconnected, sharing a common center through creation.
• 🍃 The ethics of the Bible emphasize our fundamental connection over what divides us, as ontological siblings.
• 🍎 In Genesis, God gives Adam and Eve dominion over the garden, symbolizing permission for science, art, and life's enrichment.
• 🔬 Adam as the first scientist and philosopher, naming the animals, reflects the conflict between science and religion as tragic.
• 🙏 Worship as adoration is likened to breathing in divine life and breathing it back, rediscovering Eden and friendship with God.

Q & A

Why did God create according to Vatican I?

Vatican I stated that God creates not out of need but to manifest and share His glory.

What does it mean that the universe has been 'loved into existence'?

It signifies that creation is an act of love, not necessity, and that everything exists because of God's love.

How does Thomas Aquinas define love?

Thomas Aquinas defined love as willing the good of the other as other, emphasizing it as an act of the will rather than primarily a feeling.

What does the creation narrative suggest about non-violence?

Creation suggests that non-violence is the fundamental reality because God created the universe through a non-violent, generous act of love.

How does the creation story relate to the Sermon on the Mount?

The creation story implies that living non-violently, as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, is to live in accordance with the universe's deepest nature.

What does it mean to say that we are connected to each other through creation?

It means that all beings share a common origin and are fundamentally linked, forming an ontological family.

What is the significance of Thomas Merton's definition of prayer?

Thomas Merton's definition of prayer as finding the place where one is being created by God emphasizes the ongoing act of creation and the presence of God in the present moment.

What does the Church Fathers' interpretation of Adam and Eve's liberty in the garden imply for human endeavors?

It implies that God encourages human exploration in science, art, and other enriching activities, as indicated by the permission to eat from all trees except one.

Why is the conflict between science and religion considered tragic?

The conflict is tragic because both rely on the premise of an intelligible world, which is rooted in the religious belief that the world was spoken into existence through divine intelligence.

How does the figure of Adam relate to the roles of scientist and priest?

Adam, as the first scientist, named the animals and understood their nature, and as the first priest, he walked in friendship with God, leading worship and adoration.

Why should preaching and teaching begin with the act of creation?

Starting with creation emphasizes grace and positivity, whereas beginning with sin can skew the conversation towards negativity and a puritanical view.