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[Centaur]

A Vatican cardinal said Thursday that the faithful should listen to what secular modern science has to offer, warning that religion risks turning into “fundamentalism” if it ignores scientific reason.

Here's the link: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9913712/

A remarkable call for reason from a ranking official of an organization that at one time favored the burning of those who would not accept its orthodoxy. I'd be interested in comments from others, especially Catholics and fundamentalists.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I do enjoy good debate, but in the religious field it can become volatile. Let's see where it goes, but...I think it's in error. If it goes bad, I'll just delete the whole thread.

Ahem...

I think that the Vatican's recent statement is a bold one to make, considering the track record of repression, closed-mindedness and persecution of independant thinking, other than what the church approved.

Too much of anything is not good. Too much astronomy makes one eccentric and shallow, too much martini's makes one an alcoholic...and too much religion, (whichever brand), makes one equally as myopic. And hearing the church say that about fundimentalism is quite refreshing...

Thanks for the link.

[Maddad]

I honestly thought that I would never live to see this day. And I'm also glad to see I'm wrong.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

I agree with you and glad to see it to. But you will never change the minds of the fundimentalists...scary bunch...

Here's another account of the church's crimes against humanity regarding the Giordano Bruno incident of the 1600's.

astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Ancient&action=display&thread=1131423446

Recounting the wrongs of the past is a great start for the church, but...

...Every army believes God is on their side, every religion is the right one and all infidels will go to to a certain punishment.

Next!...

[Maddad]

Fundamentalism infects the Protestants as much as the Catholics, even while the Catholics object to it in the Protestants. Hey, it'd be a dull world without religion!

[tim]

Hi everyone
Curt that is a very interesting article. Here is a link to the vatican site that I think explains everything you want to know about the Catholics vision of bringing science and religion together.http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~nmcenter/sci-faith.html

To all
I am a christian and belong to a Lutheran church. I have never felt happier and more fullfilled in my life, thanks to God.
I am very happy the vatican is making this big step.

[Maddad]

www.cco.caltech.edu/~nmcenter/sci-faith.html
*Just making the link clickable*

[tim]

Thank you.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Vatican astronomer deplores 'intelligent design' as science

Here a continuation of the Vatican's surprising turn:

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VATICAN CITY // The Vatican's chief astronomer said yesterday that "intelligent design" isn't science and doesn't belong in science classrooms, becoming the latest high-ranking Roman Catholic official to enter the evolution debate in the United States.

The Rev. George Coyne, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, said placing intelligent design theory alongside that of evolution in school programs was akin to mixing apples with oranges.

"Intelligent design isn't science, even though it pretends to be," the ANSA news agency quoted Coyne as saying on the sidelines of a conference in Florence. "If you want to teach it in schools, intelligent design should be taught when religion or cultural history is taught, not science."

His comments were in line with his previous statements on intelligent design - whose supporters hold that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.

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Hmmm....I see.