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A SUMMARY OF POPE PIUS XII ENCYCLICAL TITLED HUMANI GENERIS

The Pope says that human reason can arrive at certain knowledge of God. That reason
cannot comprehend the truths about God and the relationship between God and men. At this
level, the reason needs to surrender its power. This is why define revelation becomes mandatory
to expose religious and moral truths with certainty and freedom from error. Besides, human
intelligence, sometimes finds it difficulty to give a sound judgment of the catholic faith despite
the realties God has given. As such, the Pope condemns the false opinion which holds that
evolution explains the origin of all things. He also condemns pragmatism, immanentism,
materialism etc as false teachings. They erroneously claimed to have the foundation of all truths.

The Pope continues to assert that despite the theory of evolution claims to explain the
origin of all things; it is against the biblical creation of man. This theory in no way should be
confused with the human soul. The soul is immediately created by God. In this document,
Polygenism is rejected because it cannot be reconciled with the doctrine of original sin inherited
by all from Adam.

Still, the document points out some of the false teachings that may simply put threat to
Christian faith. Some denied the fact that God has eternal and infallible foreknowledge of free
actions of men. Some also question whether angels are personal beings. Still, some question
whether matter and spirit differ essentially. Some even say that that the doctrine of
Transubstantiation should be modified so that the Real Presence of Christ is reduced to a kind of
symbolism. Some say they are not bound by doctrine but the use of reason to explain all things.
The Pope says that the human reason must be properly trained to attain certain truth. What is
most important according to him is the divine revelation. For him, the theologians should not be
independent of the magisterial because it will guide their teachings.

In all, he wants the theologians to always have recourse to divine revelation. This will
show the relationship between the magisterial and the scripture. He still encourages the progress
of science but it should not transgress the limits which are established for the protection of the
truth of catholic faith and doctrine. Science can further researches but should be prudently done.
In their efforts, they must not indulge in false’ Eirenicism’.
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Barry A. kosmin and Ariela Keysar, Secularism and Secularity: Contemporary International
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Neuner .J and Dupuis. J, the Christian Faith in the Doctrinal Documents of Vatican
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Rockford, USA. 1978.

Vatican II document.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Hunani Generis. Pope Pius XII.

Richard Mc Brein, Catholicisim. Goffrey Chapman. 1984.

Battista Mondin, A History of Medieval Philosophy. Theological Publication in India, Bangalore.


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Joseph Omoregbe, knowing Philosophy. Joja Educational Research and Publishers Limited.
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