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To: A. Pole
>> First he was not a scientist, he was a philosopher. The science as we know it was develo[ed in the Middle Ages by the Roman Catholic Church, yes using some ideas of Aristotle modified by scholasticism.

Second the philosophy of Aristotle was theocentric itself with God being the First Mover.<<

Well Aristotle wrote books on biology and zoology. Props to the Catholic church for its stand on science these days and for their support of science like astronomy.

But I've never heard the Catholic church credited with inventing science.
21 posted on 08/07/2006 11:42:33 AM PDT by gondramB (Never appeal to an enemy's better nature, he might not have one. Self interest yields more leverage)
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To: gondramB
But I've never heard the Catholic church credited with inventing science.

Now you did.

22 posted on 08/07/2006 11:58:29 AM PDT by A. Pole (Saint Augustine: "The truth speaks from the bottom of the heart without the noise of words")
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To: gondramB

Actually it isn't the Catholic Church per se that helped in the development of science, but the CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW in general.

In his book -- CHRISTIANITY ON TRIAL, Vincent Carrol did historical research and concluded that ...




Contrary to popular belief, Christianity has more to do with the spread of knowledge and science than its hindrance. Yes there were times when the church blocked progress in intellectual discovery and scientific enterprise, but they make up the exceptions to the rule. Even many secular thinkers have noted that it was the Christian world view that in so many ways made the rise of modern science possible.

The world view of the Roman Empire was syncretistic, fatalistic and superstitious. This made poor ground for scientific inquiry to grow and flourish in. However, the biblical Christian worldview was much more conducive to scientific progress.

For example, the cyclical view of history of pagan Rome was replaced by the linear conception of history in Christianity. Christians believed in a orderly, purposeful world which had a sense of direction and meaning, something which the scientific mind could tap into and explore. A perspective which viewed the world with purpose and meaning waiting to be discovered was much different than a fatalistic and cyclical view of history which offered little incentive to those who were scientifically motivated.

True, scientific advance did take root in two other cultures: the Islamic world and China. But in both the efforts stalled, and it was only in the Christianised West that science continued to develop. Bear in mind, for example, that it was Western technology and know-how that discovered and utilised the oil that sat for millennia in Middle Eastern (Muslim) deserts.





SEE HERE :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1893554155/sr=1-1/qid=1154977284/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2975855-7787044?ie=UTF8&s=books


29 posted on 08/07/2006 12:06:22 PM PDT by SirLinksalot
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