Why are young Catholics leaving in droves?
Bishop Robert Barron, the world-famous YouTube evangelist, was Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. At the U.S. Bishops’ Conference meeting in June 2019, he spoke of the massive apostasy of Catholic youth and cited statistics such as “half the kids we baptized and confirmed in the last 30 years are now ex-Catholics or unaffiliated.” To put that into perspective, he said that “one out of six millennials in the U.S. is now a former Catholic.” He claimed that they simply no longer believe the Church’s teachings and called that “the bitter fruit of the dumbing down of our faith” as it has been presented in catechesis and apologetics. The reality is that many of those once-Catholic children of whom Bishop Barron spoke never had the faith or lost it before confirmation because of “the dumbing down of our faith.” Read More
Catholicism and Evolution Theory
The book argues that Genesis presents the origins of the universe, Earth, and humanity as the direct creation of God, forming the foundation of Catholic doctrine. Historically, the Church has upheld Genesis as a factual narrative, affirming the Bible’s divine inspiration and inerrancy. However, the rise of materialistic explanations in the 18th and 19th centuries led to widespread acceptance of evolution and the Big Bang as scientific accounts of origins, influencing Catholic scholars to reconcile these ideas with Genesis.
This reconciliation resulted in Theistic Evolution, which asserts that God guided the evolutionary process. However, this approach lacks specificity about how and when God acted, as neither science, Scripture, nor Catholic Tradition explicitly provide those details. Modern Catholic apologetics, exemplified by Bishop Robert Barron, interpret Genesis as theological and mystical rather than historical, a shift from the Magisterium’s earlier stance.
The book challenges the necessity of reinterpreting Genesis in light of evolutionary theory, questioning whether scientific explanations truly require altering fundamental Christian doctrines. It argues that methodological naturalism limits scientific inquiry and that science has not definitively explained the origins of life and the universe. The book seeks to persuade readers that truth in both science and theology matters and encourages a deeper pursuit of it.
Catholicism, Evolution, and Secular Theology
Catholicism's hierarchy has seen a significant decline in its youth membership. Bishop Robert Barron stated that half of the baptized and confirmed members in the last 30 years have left the faith. Additionally, one out of six millennials in the U.S. is now a former Catholic. Barron attributed this decline to the Church's failure to effectively convey its teachings, resulting in a loss of belief among the youth.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses questions about human origins and purpose. While the Bible has traditionally provided answers, the Catechism also acknowledges the value of scientific studies in understanding the cosmos, life's development, and human evolution.
However, the author argues that interpreting the Bible through the lens of scientific evolution has led to conflicts between faith and science. Many young individuals lose faith due to teachings about evolutionary origins in school, leading them to prioritize science over religion.
The author contends that evolutionary cosmology, biology, and geology are not as settled as portrayed in the education system. Neither evolutionary nor supernatural origins can be conclusively proven. The creation vs. evolution debate is, therefore, more about philosophy than science, and the author presents facts for readers to judge the plausibility of both perspectives.
The Evolution of Catholic Unbelief
The book criticizes Catholic scholars and education leaders, including Bishop Robert Barron, for adopting a secular Humanist paradigm regarding cosmic and biological origins, and accepting the evolutionary hypothesis as a proved fact. The author argues that this approach undermines the Bible and leads to the massive apostasy of Catholic youth who see a conflict between the Bible and science. The book proposes a plan to revive Catholic catechesis by teaching the forgotten creation doctrines combined with 21st Century natural science that proves intelligent design is more credible than chance. The author believes that such a catechesis would restore the integrity and harmony of Catholic teachings based on Scripture.
Intellectual Combat: Resistance to Religious Atheism
The book discusses the concept of "religious atheism," which is also known as Humanism. Humanism is an ideology that promotes "good without God" and has a long history dating back to the 19th century. Many atheists adopt Humanism, which has a common core of beliefs and a worldview that coincides with Humanism's creed. The article argues that once society rejects God, it can lead to frightening social, political, and spiritual consequences. The author believes that Humanism should be opposed as a religion, and education in modern natural science is key to effective apologetics in the 21st century. The author suggests that re-education of the Catholic clergy and laity is necessary to revive the Catholic Church's confidence in their theistic beliefs. Continue on Amazon