Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Religion's War on Science Marches On


“Catholicism and Catholic Universities have always been the center of scientific advancement.”. This inane denial of history almost sent me into spasms. Needless to say, it was uttered by a Catholic who’s brain had been steam cleaned by too many Catholic web pages. One need only think of Galileo’s trial and the threat of imprisonment for heresy; the suppression of Copernicus’ writings; and the live incineration of Giordano Bruno all at the hands of the learned Catholic church to put that nonsense to rest. In fact, even Gregor Mendel’s papers that were left in the monastery after his death were burned by the succeeding abbot (personal stupidity or Church directive ? One can only speculate). While Catholic apologists (read: revisionists) insist it’s all blown out of proportion, the written records of the Church say otherwise.

If Catholic / Christian opposition to scientific discovery had ceased in the 17th century I’d be finished here. But it hasn’t. It continues to this day.

The latest war against science by the spiritually impaired is over animal cloning. Right now cloning is only viable for breeding stock. If and when it can be reliably and economically implemented, this technology could dramatically increase animal product productivity, ease world hunger, and improve the lot of millions. Unfortunately. the cloning of specific animals that are high yield egg, wool, meat, or milk producers, etc., somehow displeases God and/or It’s disciples.

Statistics indicate that 79% of Protestants, and 61% of Catholics oppose animal cloning.
Of non-believers only 40% oppose it. It’s no coincidence, and no surprise either, that the higher the education, and the higher the income level of the poll respondents, the more likely they are to approve of animal cloning. Here’s the full article and data: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DailyNews/poll010816_cloning.html

Some theists like to credit God, and not scientists or doctors, for discoveries that have enhanced or extended our lives. Interestingly, more often than not God gets credit for those things many years after the fact, after theists had opposed the innovation to begin with.( i.e.: “If man had been intended to fly, God would have given him wings!”). But, if God is the inspiration for those things theists ultimately come to accept as good… why does God not get blamed for discoveries and technological developments theists deem as bad? If all creative innovation is God’s will, why oppose it? Who is to say what "God Hath Wrought" is bad? Or perhaps scientists developing cloning are being given the formula by “Satan”!?!? The brains of believers work in strange and mysterious ways.

So, religiosity continues its opposition to Man’s advancement, and once again stands in the way of the improvement of the human condition. One can only imagine what scriptural chapter and verse Christians will pervert to justify their objections to cloning on religious grounds. As far as I know one has yet to be offered. How about:

“Let no one be found among you…who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD…"
(Deuteronomy 18: 10-12); or better yet

"The poor you will always have with you" (Matthew 26:11)

DromedaryHump

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regarding Galileo: But didn't most of the scientific community at the time refute heliocentric beliefs? The Catholic position was also in regard to the Reformation, and the clashing with Protestant interpretations of scripture. And Pope Urban VIII never even attempted to deem Galileo's views as infallible. Anyway Galileo was wrong; the universe doesn't revolve around the sun.

Jesus is engaged?! That cheating rat!

Dromedary Hump said...

Thanks, Anon...
That scientists of the time may or may not have agreed with Galileo really isn't the point (certainly Capernicus agreed with it,since he fronted the theory befor galileo).
The point is No other authority, public or private, stiffled alternate scientific opinion with threat of torture, imprisonment or death. Hence the "war on religion" I reference.

In those days the term "the universe" was synonomous with what we call the solar system. They were unaware that there were solar systems beyond ours, and assumed what they could observe represented "the universe".

i heard CathyJo and jesus' engagement was cancelled. They tried counciling, but jesus felt cathyjo was just too much of a religious fanatic.

thks.
hump

Anonymous said...

You know Nothing of the Galileo affair, and furthermore nothing of Science, theology or Catholicism. It was Catholicism that created Western Science, sorry some nun bitch slapped you, but you had it coming. (Certainly Copernicus (A Catholic Priest) agreed with it, since he fronted the theory) Key word Theory! Once it was Proven, the Church adopted it like all other Facts. OMG your readers are dumber the n you! “The point is No other authority, public or private, stifled alternate scientific opinion with threat of torture, imprisonment or death. Hence the "war on religion" I reference.” The Catholic Church funded all of Galileo’s work and he was never imprisoned, the fact that you have to go back 300 years shows you are grasping at straws! Galileo died a Devout Catholic!

If quantum mechanics hasn't profoundly shocked you, you haven't understood it yet.- Niels Bohr

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.- Albert Einstein, in The New Convergence

The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may be divinely inspired.- Stephen W. Hawking

All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force… We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter.- Max Planck, Nobel Prize-winning Father of Quantum Theory

Stick to reading Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, their About one step up from Dan Brown! Jeez, whats next harry potter? Get an education, If you wanna be an Atheist you gotta have something on the ball besides Bogus Bigoted remarks and a hatred for authority!

Dromedary Hump said...

Micheal,
thanks for your belated and utterly inane commentary.

Nuns bitch slap people? Having never been either a catholic or a theist I'll defer to your first hand knowledge... and your nun mother's proclivities, evidently.

Yes, i see you have studied catholic apolegetics and internalized them well. You'd probably deny the persecution and execution of Servetus as well. Those little faux pas by the Church are such an inconvenience...lets just deny them.

Never mind that in 1992 Pope John Paul II grudgingly admitted—350 years too late—that his predecessors had been wrong. He called the Church's persecution of Galileo a "sad misunderstanding". Yes, Galileo mwas a Caytholic to the end. Excatly what options would he have had...Hmmmm? LOL.

Oh...well, fuck, This is a dilemma. Here the Pope is apologising, while You, a poor apologist and pope butt boy, is denying persecution. Tsk, Tsk... Who am I to believe?


Indeed, I recall reading a Catholic aplogetics that cited that the crusade against the cathars is overstated, and it only lasted a "few short years". Naturally, they leave out the part about how that crusade only lasted a few short years since it only took that long to vitually wipe out every Cather man, woman and child. What next... you'll defend the Pope XII's marvelous stand against the germans and the Holocaust??? LOL.

Funny thing about Catholic apolgetics, they re-write history to suit themselves.

Much like you take Einsteins quote out of context to suit your purpose. The sign of a true christian: distortion, and lies.
Just surprised you didnt call Einstein a theist or a Catholic. Guess that would have been just too obvious.

Here,do this: Keeps deluding yourself that the church wanted widepread thought, exchange of ideas, scientific advancement that cotracdicted biblical inference, and education of the masses. Deny that they made it a crime for laypeople to own bibles. Deny book burnings, and the obstacles to scientific discovery for ages.

Just keep sucking priest cock, as you seem to be so happy doing, and consider yourself an annointed and educated Catholic (the latter being an oxymoron).

Martin Luther said: "Reason is the enemy of faith" and "To be a Christian one must pluck out the eye of reaason", You have internalzed his doctrine well.

Keep up the good work and blind acceptence. And like your priest probably tells you..swallow, don't spit... Its a sacrement...LOL.