Creationism dismissed as 'a kind of paganism'

Nevyn

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=674042006

Creationism dismissed as 'a kind of paganism' by Vatican's astronomer
IAN JOHNSTON

BELIEVING that God created the universe in six days is a form of superstitious paganism, the Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno claimed yesterday.

Brother Consolmagno, who works in a Vatican observatory in Arizona and as curator of the Vatican meteorite collection in Italy, said a "destructive myth" had developed in modern society that religion and science were competing ideologies.
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He described creationism, whose supporters want it taught in schools alongside evolution, as a "kind of paganism" because it harked back to the days of "nature gods" who were responsible for natural events.

Brother Consolmagno argued that the Christian God was a supernatural one, a belief that had led the clergy in the past to become involved in science to seek natural reasons for phenomena such as thunder and lightning, which had been previously attributed to vengeful gods. "Knowledge is dangerous, but so is ignorance. That's why science and religion need to talk to each other," he said.

"Religion needs science to keep it away from superstition and keep it close to reality, to protect it from creationism, which at the end of the day is a kind of paganism - it's turning God into a nature god. And science needs religion in order to have a conscience, to know that, just because something is possible, it may not be a good thing to do."

Brother Consolmagno, who was due to give a speech at the Glasgow Science Centre last night, entitled "Why the Pope has an Astronomer", said the idea of papal infallibility had been a "PR disaster". What it actually meant was that, on matters of faith, followers should accept "somebody has got to be the boss, the final authority".

"It's not like he has a magic power, that God whispers the truth in his ear," he said.

Really I am not sure who comes out worse in this one.

Zombrex

Finally a religious person with a bit of common sense

Asiaprod

the idea of papal infallibility had been a "PR disaster". What it actually meant was that, on matters of faith, followers should accept "somebody has got to be the boss, the final authority".

Very nice to see that one in writing.

I'm starting to like the vatican more...

Sapien

bluewolf wrote:

I'm starting to like the vatican more...

Frankly, it was highly improbable that there wasn't at least one vaguely intelligent person amongst that chattering horde of cross-dressing loons.

He's wrong though. Science doesn't need religion.

shatners basoon

Science need you!!!!
*points finger at you*

Zombrex

Sapien wrote:

He's wrong though. Science doesn't need religion.

No, but it might need morality, which is what I think he means (religious folk always confuse religions with morality )

Sapien

Wicknight wrote:

No, but it might need morality, which is what I think he means (religious folk always confuse religions with morality )

Your employment of the conditional tense fills me with serene joy, oh Wicknight!

UU

That was a really great article. Thanks to the OP.

Brother Consolmagno sounds like a really great and intelligent man with cop-on. The worst thing imo for Christianity and other religions is taking certain stuff to literal. It has been proven to cause fundalmentalism which is diabolic. It's a shame there aren't more people like Brother Consolmagno in religions, we can really learn something from them all!

kittex

Damn. I had a chance to be at that lecture but couldn't go.