We've come a long way since the days of Galileo, but the ride has been worth it.
Posted on 10/04/2005 12:21:01 PM PDT by Junior
PARIS (Reuters) - A senior Roman Catholic cardinal seen as a champion of "intelligent design" against Darwin's explanation of life has described the theory of evolution as "one of the very great works of intellectual history."
Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn said he could believe both in divine creation and in evolution because one was a question of religion and the other of science, two realms that complimented rather than contradicted each other.
Schoenborn's view, presented in a lecture published by his office on Tuesday, tempered earlier statements that seemed to ally the Church with United States conservatives campaigning against the teaching of evolution in public schools.
A court in Pennsylvania is now hearing a suit brought by parents against a school district that teaches intelligent design -- the view that life is so complex some higher being must have designed it -- alongside evolution in biology class.
"Without a doubt, Darwin pulled off quite a feat with his main work and it remains one of the very great works of intellectual history," Schoenborn declared in a lecture in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna on Sunday.
"I see no problem combining belief in the Creator with the theory of evolution, under one condition -- that the limits of a scientific theory are respected," he said.
Science studies what is observable and scientists overstep the boundaries of their discipline when they conclude evolution proves there was no creator, said the cardinal, 60, a top Church doctrinal expert and close associate of Pope Benedict.
"It is fully reasonable to assume some sense or design even if the scientific method demands restrictions that shut out this question," said the cardinal.
JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING?
Schoenborn, who ranked among the papal hopefuls last April, caused an uproar in the United States last July with a New York Times article that seemed to say the Church no longer accepted evolution and backed intelligent design.
Proponents of intelligent design argue that Darwin's natural selection theory is flawed and alternatives should be taught.
Scientists reject this as a disguised form of Creationism, the literal belief in Creation as described in the Bible and barred by the U.S. Supreme Court from being taught in public schools.
Even Catholic scientists, including chief Vatican astronomer Rev. George Coyne S.J., contested Schoenborn's view.
In his lecture, Schoenborn said his article had led to misunderstandings and sometimes polemics. "Maybe one did not express oneself clearly enough or thoughts were not clear enough," he said. "Such misunderstandings can be cleared up."
Schoenborn said he believed God created "the things of the world" but did not explain how a divine will to bring about mankind would have influenced its actual evolution.
"They were so to speak let free into their own existence," he said.
He was, but for reasons none of us can fathom. Going back over his last thread, there is nothing in there warranting a banning. The same with SeaLion. Hence the "Special Plea" at the bottom of the post. Pretty much everyone else in the Little Black Box deserved what he or she got, creo and evo alike, but those two were shafted.
The Grand Master is not without influence in these matters.
No Happy Freepday to me? -sniff-
And I thought you liked me!
You'll be in the next posting. I do one or two a day, usually.
I looked at what is listed as his last post and nothing appears unusual. Perhaps the rabble he was talking with in that last thread called in some favors.
Evolution does not speak to the origin of life.
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn gets it. Backwards, but at least his thinking lobe is functioning.
"You're looking good today, science."
"Why thank you. And you too, religion"
Thanks for the ping!
Unlike the metaphysical musings of Aristotle and Darwin, Galileo's science was valid
Too bad the RCC embraced Aristotle's "scientism" rather than Galileo's science
Er, Darwin, himself, said it did:
"Origin of man now proved. -- Metaphysics must flourish. - He who understands baboon would do more toward Metaphysics than Locke." --- Darwin, Notebook M, August 16, 1838
Origin of man != origin of life.
Thanks for posting this. I was surprised that a conservative Cardinal would really support Intelligent Design. Glad to see he doesn't.
Careful, you have approached a black hole.
"...said he could believe both in divine creation and in evolution..."
Reminds me of he old Lite beer commercial where the "tastes great / less filling arguement ends with some nut interrupting with "I feel very strongly both ways."
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