“Theology on Tap” returned on May 7 at the Riverwalk in Parryville. Hosted by the Diocese of Allentown’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, young adults ages 21 to 38 from across the Diocese were invited to attend.
More than two dozen young adults attended to hear Dr. Imrich Gombar present his talk titled “God and Science, Do We Have to Choose?”
Theology on Tap is a longstanding speaker series for young adults in the Diocese. The goal is to help young adults explore topics relevant to modern life through the lens of faith in a relaxed atmosphere with like-minded individuals. Throughout the evening, attendees engaged in conversations with their peers while enjoying food and drink provided by the Riverwalk and the Diocese.
Gombar focused on how, despite the belief of many, science and faith are not contradictory. In fact, the faithful are encouraged to embrace science.
“The theory of evolution is something we shouldn’t be afraid of,” said Gombar. “In an official statement from the Vatican, ‘evolution has always been happening.’”
Gombar explained that the Catholic Church does not reject the scientific theory of evolution and teaches that God worked through evolutionary processes. However, Catholics do need to be aware of the secular view of evolution that subscribes to the idea that life and evolution are a “blind and unguided process.”
This, said Gombar, is not true. “The fact that we are here with our consciousness is not an accident.”
Explaining the idea of Catholic Theistic Evolution teaching, or the idea that at the beginning of creation was consciousness, and that is responsible for all life and development, Gombar said: “Every single gene we have has thousands and thousands of bits of information. That can’t be random.”
He also addressed Young Earth Creationism, the belief that Earth is only thousands of years old based on a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis. “Pope St. John Paul II, my favorite pope, said, ‘The Bible is not a book about how the Heavens were made, but how we can get to the Heavens.’”
Gombar holds a Ph.D. in psychology and frequently speaks on the relationship between faith and science. He actively works to help young people navigate questions about science and faith by exploring the complementary nature of their relationship to one another.
Photos by Norm Steinruck.
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