Vatican Official Refutes Intelligent Design

[mckitterick]

Oh, I love seeing news like this. Shows that the Intelligent-Design faithful are more detached from scientific reality than those in the Vatican. So that should tell us what? Uh-huh. These Intelligent-Design wacks are not in agreement with God. That's my take.

Vatican Official Refutes Intelligent Design

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's chief astronomer said Friday that "intelligent design" isn't science and doesn't belong in science classrooms, the latest high-ranking Roman Catholic official to enter the evolution debate in the United States.

The Rev. George Coyne, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, said placing intelligent design theory alongside that of evolution in school programs was "wrong" and was akin to mixing apples with oranges.

"Intelligent design isn't science even though it pretends to be," the ANSA news agency quoted Coyne as saying on the sidelines of a conference in Florence. "If you want to teach it in schools, intelligent design should be taught when religion or cultural history is taught, not science."

His comments were in line with his previous statements on "intelligent design" _ whose supporters hold that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.

Proponents of intelligent design are seeking to get public schools in the United States to teach it as part of the science curriculum. Critics say intelligent design is merely creationism _ a literal reading of the Bible's story of creation _ camouflaged in scientific language, and they say it does not belong in science curriculum.

In a June article in the British Catholic magazine The Tablet, Coyne reaffirmed God's role in creation, but said science explains the history of the universe.

"If they respect the results of modern science, and indeed the best of modern biblical research, religious believers must move away from the notion of a dictator God or a designer God, a Newtonian God who made the universe as a watch that ticks along regularly."

Rather, he argued, God should be seen more as an encouraging parent.

"God in his infinite freedom continuously creates a world that reflects that freedom at all levels of the evolutionary process to greater and greater complexity," he wrote. "He is not continually intervening, but rather allows, participates, loves."

The Vatican Observatory, which Coyne heads, is one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world. It is based in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

Last week, Pope Benedict XVI waded indirectly into the evolution debate by saying the universe was made by an "intelligent project" and criticizing those who in the name of science say its creation was without direction or order.

Questions about the Vatican's position on evolution were raised in July by Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn.

In a New York Times column, Schoenborn seemed to back intelligent design and dismissed a 1996 statement by Pope John Paul II that evolution was "more than just a hypothesis." Schoenborn said the late pope's statement was "rather vague and unimportant."

Best,
Chris

Comments

[everflame.livejournal.com]

Well, he's a Jesuit. That explains his sanity.

Also, does it seem both awesome and fucking weird to anyone else that the Vatican has a "chief astronomer?"

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I love it that they have a "chief astronomer"! Makes me think those Jesuits are the true keepers of knowledge. I mean, what's the deal with so many religionists having a problem with understanding the universe that their gods made for us? Isn't that what it/they would have wanted? My personal faith says yes, that it's our duty! So brava to the Vatican's "chief astronomer"!

Chris

[skyflame.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Vatican has had a Chief Astronomer for several centuries. I mean, they didn't slap down Copernicus and Galileo for the science, but for the (indirect) power challenge to the Papal Authority. Copernicus understood that and waited until his deathbed to publish his pamphlet. Galileo was arrogant enough to not particularly care, and in the end the Vatican renounced the judgement against him. Granted, it was in the 1960s or '70s, but they finally backed down. ;)