[donh]

The Church did misbehave. So did Galileo. The persecution and the recanting of Galileo's position

Uh huh. How many heretics did Galileo burn at the stake?

was much more complicated than a simple "proof" that faith and science can not exist.

Insofar as I know, there was no wrestling match between faith and science in Galileo's mind, only the churches--rather as is now the case with creationists and biologists.

[The_Reader_David]

There is some irony in your extension of the assertion that the conflict between science and faith existed only in the church's mind to the current situation between creationists and biologists when it is posted on a thread about an article by Dawkins.

Perhaps you are unaware of Dawkins' notorious quote "Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist"?

The hottest polemicists on both sides see such a conflict.

[ArGee]

Uh huh. How many heretics did Galileo burn at the stake?

How many Christians have atheists and non-Christians killed throughout the ages? Your question is no more germaine to our discussion than mine.

Insofar as I know, there was no wrestling match between faith and science in Galileo's mind,

Look harder. Actually, you may be right. But Galileo had a bone to pick with the Church and he used his scientific idea to pick that bone, loudly and publicly. Whether for good or ill (and I choose ill) the Church was a powerful political force at the time. They didn't like Galileo attacking them, period. The fact that he used science in his attack was irrelevent to them. They didn't react to his science. They reacted to his politics.

only the churches--rather as is now the case with creationists and biologists.

Broad brush bigotry again.

Shalom.