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Evolution And The Bible

Dec 10, 2014
by Caroline Miller
Big Bang Theory, Evolution, Galelio Galilei, Nicholas Copernicus, Pope Francis
4 Comments

Recently, Pope Francis issued a statement which not only accepted science’s “Big Bang” theory on the origin of the universe but embraced Darwin’s theory of evolution as well. He concluded that neither of these suppositions contradicted the idea of divine intervention. On the contrary, God’s will was required. (Click here) ”

 Whether or not science will welcome or ignore the Pope’s overture of reconciliation is yet to be seen, but history shows that the relationship between the two, science and religion, has at times been an uneasy one. Every school child knows of the work of Nicholas Copernicus which said the sun and not the earth was the center of the solar system, and that of Galileo Galilei, nearly a century later, agreed. Both men printed books that were banned by the Church, though Copernicus escaped persecution because he died soon after publishing. Galileo Galilei wasn’t so lucky. He was forced to recant his writings before the Inquisition. (Click here).

 As with the theories of these two scientists, eventually the Church has had to make peace with ideas that become commonly held by thinkers and scientist around the globe. Pope Francis’ nod to current scientific canon about life’s origins and development is another adjustment. Dogma that becomes awkwardly irrelevant is eventually relegated to the realm of allegory and fable. Designating these old notions as such doesn’t render them meaningless, however. They reflect is our historical desire to learn more of our existence, the same impetus that sparks scientific investigation.

 I welcome Pope Francis’ overture to science and I agree with him that no inherent war lies between these two disciplines. Science asks questions about how the world works. Religion, through spiritual exploration, seeks to understand why.  

Galileo and the Inquisition

Courtesy of top-to-list.org.org

 

 

 

 

 

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4 Comments
  1. John Briggs December 10, 2014 at 3:11 pm Reply
    Caroline, An opinion: The modern sciences have become known for doubting and overturning their own settled scientific doctrines with increasing frequency. Darwin is considered to be obsolete; biologists on my campus do not want their students to read him. We were all supposed to die from food shortages ten years ago. Now we're worried about third-world obesity. Just when I had bought all my cold weather gear to endure the great freeze-over that was predicted thirty years ago for the early 21st century, I now have to go out and buy sunglasses and a zero-emission car. Our era's slowing and likely leveling off in the rate of world population growth was unimaginable by population scientists (in Portland one was our neighbor) forty years ago. With the unprecendented, gigantic growth in the world's middle class and the spread of education for women, birth rates in most of the world (not yet Africa) have declined dramatically, not just in the middle classes. And now physics has to deal with the notion that matter is made up of sub-atomic particles that can somehow be in two places at once, and that dark matter makes up most of the universe. The Big Bang may have given birth to time itself, which makes one wonder about whether or how the universe was born on time. At some point, as you imply, it seems that a science of "how" cannot proceed or sustain itself without ideas about "why," especially when it comes to understanding human beings. Like you most probably, I doubt that cloning a human being from human DNA, if it comes, can really tell us that we have understood what human beings are, or what it means to be human. I don't think modern science has supplied us with anything like an enduring narrative about the universe, or a comprehensive view of what it is and what we are. The danger comes when it is assumed to be the only relevant account, and our understanding of humanity is reduced to ... inhumanity. (Note how often NPR language replaces "mind" with "brain," as though we are defined by computer-like mechanisms in our heads, maybe interacting mechanically with the rest of our bodies.) By my calculation, modern science has lost much of its ability to articulate what is meaningful about the world, or to communicate itself responsibly to the ordinary public it so profoundly affects. In frustration, it has a tendency to lose its temper and express contempt for ordinary people who don't "get it." Picked up by the wrong hands, it then takes on some of the characteristics of an intolerant religion, obsessed with the coming of the "end-time" and bent on converting doubters or simply dictating what they and their political systems must do to avoid hellfire. Lincoln had an insightful thing to say about the limits of fire-and-brimstone preaching when he told the story of the Irishman who was condemned to damnation by his preacher for his drinking. The Irishman fell to his knees, admitted his guilt, and asked for one more to tide him over. I embrace with some measure of gratitude many of the works of modern science, certainly the ones that have helped give my relatives and friends and the people of the world longer and more prosperous lives. But I would wonder, with you, about a world that would be governed by science, or dominated by the opinion that science is the real source of authority in our lives. John
    • Caroline Miller December 10, 2014 at 7:18 pm Reply
      So many good points here that I can't respond to them all. Didn't known Darwin was out of fashion however. Think I have a blog coming up on a couple of books about his theories. Some folks haven't gotten the message, apparently. In any case, like dealing with Heisenberg's theory, just when you think you've seen a grain of truth, it disappears, changes and becomes a wave instead of a particle, metaphorically. To live in this world requires an open mind and plenty of flexibility.
  2. Pamela December 30, 2014 at 2:44 pm Reply
    It seems to dismiss Darwin or Freud or any precursor to current thought is a big mistake. All knowledge layers upon elements of revolutionary thinking, IMO. And both Darwin and Freud, although perhaps short-sighted and/or flawed by today's standards and information systems, were surely brave and revolutionary thinkers. I enjoyed your post, Caroline. This Pope is rather singular, and he's growing on me (as far as a Pope can). I agree with much of his rationale. My nephew, who is a serious force of intellect and works on a team working on string theory for UC Berkeley, would also agree with the notion that the two disciplines do not necessarily negate one or the other.
    • Caroline Miller December 30, 2014 at 4:24 pm Reply
      Thanks for you comment, Pamela. Nice to know a scientist who works on string theoryy agrees with me. Whew!

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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