The John-Henry Westen Show

chevron_right

Billions of Years or 6,000? The Great Debate on Creation vs Genesis

whatshot 18 snips

Sep 18, 2026

Ed Mazza, Catholic historian, and astrophysicist Hugh Ross defend an ancient universe compatible with faith. Catholic creationist Hugh Owen and biochemist Kevin Mark argue for a young Earth grounded in Genesis, tradition, and liturgy. They clash over cosmic dating, Big Bang theory, radiometric evidence, biblical chronology, death before the Fall, and whether Genesis should be read as precise history.

01:49:03

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

What St Thomas Says Faith Requires

St. Thomas says the world’s beginning by creation is essential to faith, while how and in what order creation occurred is incidental.
Mazza uses Augustine’s simultaneous-creation interpretation to show that faithful biblical readings can differ.

insights

INSIGHT

Augustine Warned Against Bad Science

Augustine warns Christians not to make Scripture appear foolish by defending mistaken claims about astronomy or nature.
Mazza connects this principle to the Biblical Commission’s permission to interpret yom as either a day or a longer period.

insights

INSIGHT

Why Owen Reads Genesis As Chronology

Hugh Owen argues that Genesis, its genealogies, and the Sabbath command reveal six ordinary days and a universe younger than 10,000 years.
He says God could have chosen any duration but deliberately established creation’s rhythm as humanity’s model.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Creation Doctrine Versus Cosmic Age

Genesis Days and Catholic Interpretation

04:54 • 13min

chevron_right

The Case for a Young Universe

18:04 • 15min

chevron_right

Papal Teaching and the Heresy Question

32:54 • 5min

chevron_right

Supernatural Creation Versus Natural Processes

37:31 • 5min

chevron_right

Astronomy’s Evidence for Deep Time

42:25 • 17min

chevron_right

Challenges to Big Bang Cosmology

59:18 • 13min

chevron_right

Astronomical Responses to Young-Earth Claims

01:12:15 • 5min

chevron_right

Miracles, Fossils, and Creation History

01:17:12 • 5min

chevron_right

Death Before the Fall

01:22:12 • 5min

chevron_right

Disease, Deformity, and Original Sin

01:26:42 • 7min

chevron_right

Light Travel and the Nature of Creation

01:33:16 • 5min

chevron_right

Hugh Owen’s Final Defense of Genesis

01:38:10 • 5min

chevron_right

Creation Ex Nihilo and Scientific Inquiry

The Third Secret of Fatima

Ed Mazza

This book concerns the third secret associated with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima in Portugal. The subject has generated extensive discussion about prophecy, ecclesial disclosure, and the interpretation of twentieth-century Catholic history. It belongs to the broader literature examining the Fatima messages and their significance for the Church. Ed Mazza’s work was mentioned as part of his credentials as a Catholic historian and author. The episode did not provide further details about the book’s argument or sources.

#86963

God, the Author of Nature and the Supernatural

Joseph Pohl

Pohl’s work explores the relationship between God’s authorship of nature and his authorship of supernatural revelation. Mazza cited it to argue that astronomy, geology, and paleontology can provide valuable assistance to interpreters of Genesis. The book presents the natural world as a genuine source of evidence about creation rather than a rival to Scripture. Its approach supports careful engagement with scientific findings while preserving belief in divine creation. In the episode, it was used to defend openness to an ancient universe.

#50890

On the Roman Pontiff

Domenico Palmieri

Domenico Palmieri’s On the Roman Pontiff is a substantial nineteenth-century theological study of the papacy. The work examines the nature, authority, and jurisdiction of the Roman pontiff within Catholic ecclesiology. In the episode, Edmund Mazza highlights Palmieri’s discussion of Thomas Cajetan’s distinctions between rejecting a papal command, suspecting a particular pope, and rejecting the papal office itself. This distinction is used to clarify the theological meaning of schism and resistance to ecclesiastical commands. The book is presented as a valuable resource for analyzing disputes over papal legitimacy and obedience.

#96556

The Synodal Church

Ed Mazza

This book examines the idea of a synodal Church and its implications for Catholic governance, teaching, and ecclesial life. The title places it within current debates about authority, consultation, and institutional change in the Church. It reflects Ed Mazza’s stated interest in contemporary Catholic controversies and ecclesial developments. The book was mentioned only in the host’s introductory biography. No specific thesis, chapter, or argument was discussed during the debate.

#46962

Manual of Dogmatic Theology

Adolf Tanqueray

A systematic manual of Catholic dogmatic theology explaining doctrines, theological authority, and the relationship between revelation and Church teaching.

#16246

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Fundamentals of Catholic dogma

Ludwig Ott

#43360

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Saints vs. Antipopes

Ed Mazza

Ed Mazza's 'Saints vs. Antipopes' surveys historical cases, theological arguments, and magisterial statements concerning alleged heretical or illegitimate popes. The book compiles perspectives from saints, medieval and modern theologians, and papal writings to assess whether a pope can teach heresy and what follows if he does. Mazza emphasizes precedents where bishops, clergy, and laity challenged suspected antipopes, arguing that such responses have historical and theological legitimacy. He also situates Marian apparitions and prophetic warnings within this context to underscore perceived contemporary parallels. The work aims to offer readers both historical documentation and practical guidance for encountering modern controversies about papal authority.

A first-of-its-kind debate on the John-Henry Westen Show: does accepting a universe billions of years old contradict a faithful Christian interpretation of Scripture?

Ed Mazza and astronomer Dr. Hugh Ross defend the proposition that it does not. Mazza argues the Church distinguishes the essential doctrine of creation from questions about how and over what period it unfolded—citing St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Leo XIII, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and Pope Pius XII. Ross approaches the question scientifically: distant galaxies, stellar development, and radioactive decay demonstrate immense cosmic ages while remaining compatible with belief in God as Creator.

Hugh Owen and Dr. Kevin Mark counter that Scripture, the Church Fathers, Catholic liturgy, and traditional teaching support a universe created less than 10,000 years ago. Owen argues Genesis records genuine history and that the supernatural work of creation cannot be reconstructed by extrapolating present-day natural processes backward in time. Mark challenges the Big Bang model and conventional dating methods, while Ross disputes the young-universe scientific arguments.

Make the switch today to iCatholicMobile today!

iCatholic Mobile—supporting the Catholic faith with every connection.

https://www.facebook.com/icatholicmobile

https://www.icatholicmobile.com/

HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL

U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews

****

PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews

+++

SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/

+++

Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:

LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenews

John-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books Privacy Policy Terms of Use