Agenda: Sunday, April 19th 2026

11:00am: Mass at St. Anne’s Catholic Church 440 E. Elliot Rd. Gilbert, 85234

1:00pm: Desert Monks Brewing Company 1094 S. Gilbert Rd. #101, Gilbert, AZ 85296

Announcements: 

Ice Breaker: What objections have you heard to Genesis 1-3? How did you respond, or how do you wish you would have responded? 

Discussion Topic: The Human Person, Genesis, and Evolution

Sources: Human Person According To John Paul Ii | Pauline Books and Media

Supplement: Genesis 1-3, RSV Second Catholic Addition

Suggested: N/A

Terms: 

Imago Dei- Image and likeness of God

Ex nihilo– Creation out of nothing

Bara-The immediate creation of the world

Dabar– Created through The Word

Exitus-reditus- To go forth from and return to God

Telos– Design or ends for what a thing was made for

Discussion prompts:

1. According to the book myth is a category of human expression. Can you think of true stories told in the form of myth? If not, can you think of any personal story where you have used myth to drive home a point to your audience?
2. Can fiction have elements of truth?
3. On page 54 we read “A truth too dense to fit in fact” what do you think is meant by this statement?
4. Why do you think myth is appropriate to describe things about human nature? 
5. What do you think is meant by “God’s presence to us is unlike any other presence in the universe. He is present as a Causal Agent?
6. Pantheism identifies God with the universe and Deism identifies God as a creator but with no relation or involvement in human affairs. As a Catholic Christian, why are these views erroneous?
7. What does it mean to create ex nihilo (from nothing)?
8. How would you explain what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God?
9. As a Catholic why would evolution not be a hindrance to the belief in God?
10. Why is a gift of love an accurate representation for creation out of nothing? P.63-65
11. How does design in the world illustrate creation out of love?
12. “Creation is not necessary for God, creation is an unnecessary generosity. For man, generosity is most necessary.” What do you think is meant by this statement?
13. How do we best make sense of God’s presence in created things?
14. How do we best make sense of  the concept of exitus-reditus (man’s return to God) highlighted in the book? and why is it fitting for man’s ultimate end (telos) to be in communion with God? P.69-70 *Hint: it deals with man’s desire for God we discussed in our previous book.

Next Meeting: TBD

3:00pm: End