scitsofreaky Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 BELIEVING that God created the universe in six days is a form of superstitious paganism, the Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno claimed yesterday. Brother Consolmagno, who works in a Vatican observatory in Arizona and as curator of the Vatican meteorite collection in Italy, said a "destructive myth" had developed in modern society that religion and science were competing ideologies. He described creationism, whose supporters want it taught in schools alongside evolution, as a "kind of paganism" because it harked back to the days of "nature gods" who were responsible for natural events. Brother Consolmagno argued that the Christian God was a supernatural one, a belief that had led the clergy in the past to become involved in science to seek natural reasons for phenomena such as thunder and lightning, which had been previously attributed to vengeful gods. "Knowledge is dangerous, but so is ignorance. That's why science and religion need to talk to each other," he said. "Religion needs science to keep it away from superstition and keep it close to reality, to protect it from creationism, which at the end of the day is a kind of paganism - it's turning God into a nature god. And science needs religion in order to have a conscience, to know that, just because something is possible, it may not be a good thing to do." Brother Consolmagno, who was due to give a speech at the Glasgow Science Centre last night, entitled "Why the Pope has an Astronomer", said the idea of papal infallibility had been a "PR disaster". What it actually meant was that, on matters of faith, followers should accept "somebody has got to be the boss, the final authority". "It's not like he has a magic power, that God whispers the truth in his ear," he said. This article: http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=674042006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycorth Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Superstitious? Pots and kettles, here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGJ@ReligionisBullshit Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 I fail to see why an all-powerful god would need 6 days to create a universe when he/she could obviously do it in "no" time at all. If it takes 6 days then there are limits to his omnipotence. If he needs a day to rest then there are limits to his omnipotence. The Christian concept of creationism violates the Christian concept of the nature of god. Besides, what was he resting up for? Hardening the pharoah's heart? To destroy life on earth in a flood? Resting on the seventh day would violate omnipresense. If a god is all present then he is all present in space and time and the concept of a day goes out the window right along with other beliefs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycorth Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 I fail to see why an all-powerful god would need 6 days to create a universe when he/she could obviously do it in "no" time at all. If it takes 6 days then there are limits to his omnipotence. If he needs a day to rest then there are limits to his omnipotence. The Christian concept of creationism violates the Christian concept of the nature of god. Besides, what was he resting up for? Hardening the pharoah's heart? To destroy life on earth in a flood? Resting on the seventh day would violate omnipresense. If a god is all present then he is all present in space and time and the concept of a day goes out the window right along with other beliefs. Exactly - I've always found that confusing. Why does the Xian god need to rest - he's all-powerful, right? You'd think he had some stamina. Guess he used all his stamina up. Probably why Mary was said to be a virgin when he knocked her up. He had no stamina left and just couldn't get it up anymore, so magical fertilization was all that the old coot had left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnosis of Disbelief Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Exactly - I've always found that confusing. Why does the Xian god need to rest - he's all-powerful, right? You'd think he had some stamina. Guess he used all his stamina up. Probably why Mary was said to be a virgin when he knocked her up. He had no stamina left and just couldn't get it up anymore, so magical fertilization was all that the old coot had left Or maybe Satan gave him some Viagra.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white_raven23 Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Woooo Oooooh Oooooooh. Magic semen. Glittery. Glows in the dark. Because it's magic. Oh!! There's an idea! Wish I had photoshop, I'd dim down a painting of mary (make it look like the surrounding lighting is low) and put a luminescent smear over her top lip. And a caption beneath........"Got Jehovah?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnosis of Disbelief Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Woooo Oooooh Oooooooh. Magic semen. Glittery. Glows in the dark. Because it's magic. Oh!! There's an idea! Wish I had photoshop, I'd dim down a painting of mary (make it look like the surrounding lighting is low) and put a luminescent smear over her top lip. And a caption beneath........"Got Jehovah?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycorth Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 "Religion needs science to keep it away from superstition and keep it close to reality, to protect it from creationism, which at the end of the day is a kind of paganism - it's turning God into a nature god. And science needs religion in order to have a conscience, to know that, just because something is possible, it may not be a good thing to do." Scitsofreaky.... great article! Coming from the Vatican, this may be a good sign. I think the Catholic congregation has no idea of the implications of what this person is suggesting, on their religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycorth Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 "Religion needs science to keep it away from superstition and keep it close to reality, to protect it from creationism, which at the end of the day is a kind of paganism - it's turning God into a nature god. And science needs religion in order to have a conscience, to know that, just because something is possible, it may not be a good thing to do." Scitsofreaky.... great article! Coming from the Vatican, this may be a good sign. I think the Catholic congregation has no idea of the implications of what this person is suggesting, on their religion. Indeed, Amanda - very nice snippet, there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatepirate Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 I doubt it'll help much. Most protestants consider catholics heathen scum anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scitsofreaky Posted May 7, 2006 Author Share Posted May 7, 2006 "Religion needs science to keep it away from superstition and keep it close to reality, to protect it from creationism, which at the end of the day is a kind of paganism - it's turning God into a nature god. And science needs religion in order to have a conscience, to know that, just because something is possible, it may not be a good thing to do." Scitsofreaky.... great article! Coming from the Vatican, this may be a good sign. I think the Catholic congregation has no idea of the implications of what this person is suggesting, on their religion. I'm certainly glad I stumbled upon it, and that is a great snippet. I bet many fellow deists will like that snippte. I doubt it'll help much. Most protestants consider catholics heathen scum anyway.Well, I don't think anyone expects this to change the way all christians think. But it will probably get some to start thinking.Frankly I'm not all that surprised. The Catholic church, while being slow, does seem to be the church most open to science. For example, the Vatican has a group of cosmological monks who aren't looking to disprove the Big Bang, but to actually study cosmology. It would be nice if they were a bit quicker on the up-take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♦ nivek ♦ Posted May 7, 2006 Share Posted May 7, 2006 Thats SICK White Raven... Where did that idea *cum* from? Da DEBBILE? CONFESS! Making fun of Holy Emmisions! haRRUmpH! kL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Posted May 7, 2006 Share Posted May 7, 2006 I doubt it'll help much. Most protestants consider catholics heathen scum anyway. Hatepirate... none of them agree with each other anyway! Science may be the answer... and if this kind of movement is getting lots of support... couldn't that be a good thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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