Russell Shaw, a Catholic writer and journalist whose prolific career spanned decades including years of work for the U.S. bishops, and the author of more than 20 books, including works on ethics and moral theology, died Jan. 6 at the age of 90. Shaw was predeceased by his wife, Carmen, to whom he was married for more than 50 years. The Shaws leave behind five children and numerous grandchildren.
This is a really thoughtful article, "Science, Faith, and Outer Space," It captures the kind of thinking he was describing in what he wrote. Learning more each and every time.
Great line.
It also demonstrates clearly that, counter to popular ideas, the church is not anti-science at all. (Besides Big-Bang being discovered by a Jesuit Priest, Mendel who basically discovered natural selection was a monk....so you have evolution + cosmology both from the Church)
Aquinas himself said that making the world comprehensible was a great gift of God. That is, an ordered universe that we can uncover how it works is part of the divine plan. And this very promise of "being orderly" is what prevents him from interceding in each and every little tragedy. For if God did constantly intervene, the universe would stop being comprehensible and orderly. Further it would undermine our moral agency by eliminating our own compassion and growth (why help children with cancer if God will just intervene and magically cure them).
God was a physicist
On the contrary, science comes out of Christianity. There's a lot of ignorance about this and a lot of it sadly is from modern Christians who don't know their history and have taken an unnecessarily hard stance on the first book of the Bible. Specifically creation. And prior to Darwin there were differing opinions on creation. Fear and defensiveness has led Christians to make barriers where there shouldn't be barriers.
Agree. Displaying a fear or opposition to science is foolish and counterproductive. I don't think Christians have anything to fear from science.
Yes, the blathering of rude atheists like Richard Dawkins is annoying, but letting them shake you is just losing the battle of ideas. And Dawkins seems to be regretting his harsh stance against Christianity now anyway
Amen!
And I have developed a deep passion for more unity across Christianity. We can disagree but do so in love and seek to understand. There is just too much at stake.
Not a week goes by that I'm not hearing some falsehood about Catholics from a Christian I know. 99% of the time it's just ignorance and they thank me for explaining it.
Over time I have just come to realize more and more everything I was told growing up about the Church and what they believed is not accurate at all. In some ways I've come to realize its a deterrent to keep others from finding salvation. Also come to realize not everyone is gifted to find the real answers in this life, while also being blessed with finding them through faith. So you kind of just have to let it be, and be mindful of your words.
Very wise.
There is a type of Christian who isn't really able to answer scientific objections and isn't really interested in learning how either. I think that's fine, everyone is different. No one should look down on them for having a simple faith. That being said, I think it would be helpful if they learned how not to display a fear of science, either.