0

Many religions, like Hinduism teach that the world is in a cycle of creation: creation then preservation then destruction (fading, annihilation) of the world then creation of a new world, in a repeated cycles, and so on.

The mysticism of many religions adopt this view, i.e: creation of the world is eternal process, coming from no beginning and going to no end, in repeated cycles.

What is the opinion of Catholic Church regarding this matter?

Improve this question
3
  • As @DJClayworth pointed out, all mainstream Christian traditions teach one time creation "ex nihilo" and one time either re-creation / transformation of this universe into an eternal version (after purging it from evil). This is one quite central teaching, so if you're trying to "make Christianity fit" with a universal religion / mysticism, you will end up distorting Christianity. (BTW, I did not downvote your question).
    – GratefulDisciple
    Commented Jan 2, 2020 at 21:07
  • 1
    Up-votes are earned by questions which show research effort and that are useful and clear. Throwing out a blanket criticism of 'dogmatic stance' is not going to endear you to the community.
    – Nigel J
    Commented Jan 3, 2020 at 1:20
  • An eschatological world view of history and destiny, beginning with the creation of the world and the concept that God works through history, and ending with a resurrection of the dead and final judgment and world to come.
    – LuisTavares
    Commented Jan 3, 2020 at 10:20

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

None of the main parts of Christianity adhere to a cyclic view of creation. The Christian scriptures speak of the creation of the world (meaning the universe) by God "in the beginning" (meaning that nothing happened before that). Christians consider the creation was "Ex Nihilo" meaning that it was from nothing - there was no material from which the universe was made.

Likewise the scriptures speak of an end times of being with God which will last for ever. The "new world" will not be destroyed, not even for another creation.

Improve this answer
3

It's de fide, a truth of the Catholic faith, that God created the universe a finite time in the past and that the universe will end a finite time into the future. Thinking the universe is eternal is a heresy.

The Fourth Lateran Council pronounced (Denzinger 428-9):

Firmly we believe and we confess simply that the true God […] by His own omnipotent power at once from the beginning of time created each creature from nothing

and that He will

come at the end of time, to judge the living and the dead

Scriptural proofs (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma bk. 2, ch. 1, §6, 1.):

John 17:5: “And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had before the world was with thee.” Eph. 1:4: “He chose us in Him (Christ) even before the foundation of the world.” Ps. 101:26: “In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundest the earth.” Cf. Gn. 1:1; Pro. 8:22 et seq.; Ps. 89:2; John 17:24.

St. Thomas Aquinas defended this Catholic truth, against those (e.g., the Greeks, Aristotle) who believed the universe to be eternal, in his short work De aeternitate mundi (On the Eternity of the World). He argues this truth can only be known by divine revelation.

Improve this answer
2
  • off course the universe has beginning and end, but I am talking about cyclic annihilation and recreation of the universe. For me, the creation is ex-materia not ex-nihilo.
    – salah
    Commented Jan 3, 2020 at 6:41
  • "For me, the creation is ex-materia not ex-nihilo." Then it seems you'd consider this materia (a creature) eternal. No creature is eternal according to Catholic teaching.
    – Geremia
    Commented Jan 3, 2020 at 18:34

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .