Events in the Bible · Question 1

Do I really have to believe the universe was made in six days?

A watercolor of a lamb looking at the six starlit days of creation and a good world

The question: “Science says the universe is extremely old, so isn't Genesis wrong from its very first chapter?”

The Church's answer: What Catholic faith must profess is that everything that exists comes from the one God, that creation is good, and that human beings were given a particular dignity and responsibility. The ‘six days’ of Genesis proclaim creation as an ordered rhythm of worship. The Church does not teach that this has to be counted as six periods of twenty-four hours, and the age of the universe and the processes of life are open to scientific study.

An analogy — a birthday song and a birth record

A birthday song is not a medical chart recording the hour of birth and the weight, and it still tells the truth: “Your being born is a joyful gift.” Measure two texts that answer different questions with the same ruler and you can lose both.

This analogy shows that a different literary form can still carry true content. It does not mean Genesis is merely a song expressing feelings; it professes the faith that the real world came from God.

If they press further: “So nothing happened and it is only poetry?” — No. Calling something a literary expression does not mean calling it false. It conveys the claim that the real world is God's free creation, in the solemn language of the ancient world.

In one sentence: “The heart of Catholic faith is not a calculation of 144 hours but the profession that the universe and life came from God and are a good gift.”