A Lesson In Politics

A few years ago, Pope John Paul II said the following:

"God could have used evolution to create the Earth."

At first, it appears that the pope has just gone ahead and condoned evolution, an incredible admission from a church that does not believe in forms of birth control beyond abstinence and rhythm, that does not condone abortion, that does not allow priests to marry, and basically represents tradition in all its glory. Any knowledgeable person would expect the Catholic church to maintain its anti-evolution stance. Instead, the Pope throws out this bone to all the evolutionists, reconciling itself with science after the 150-year split.

But look at the sentence again. "God could have used evolution to create the Earth." That sentence, as it stands, is something even I can agree with. God certainly could have used evolution to create the planet. He also could have created life by causing a massive solar flare to solidify. He could have had two asteroids collide in space, and the heat from the explosion could have warmed the first Adam to life.

Such it is with politics: the art of appearing to support every side of every argument at the same time. I commend the pope for showing us all how this is done.


"A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be." (Epictetus)