Sacred
Scientism
Since the "scientific
revolution" occurred as part
of the biblical
chapter of the Abrahamic Big Story,
there is a tradition which reveres science (traditionally "philosophy")
as the "handmaiden
to theology." Historically, just about every early scientist
was a professed Catholic or Christian.
Of note,
they rapidly built upon the seminal work of Muslim scholars,
their Abrahamic kin. Since, in these early centuries, to
challenge the biblical facts and events of the Abrahamic
Big
Story was to court execution and/or invite the scrutiny
of the Inquisition,
the emphasis was on how science provides insight into God’s amazing
creation.
Since, today, the scientific method
is respected as
a sound and rational way of knowing, it is difficult to feel the
dread and fear which plagued
many early scientists.
Galileo’s
plight is well known by many, but his invitation to Cardinal
Robert Bellarmine to look through his
telescope is an iconic moment. At that time
Catholic theology held that the physical world manifested both
the
intrinsic and expressed nature
of God.
Consequently,
when Galileo
looked through his telescope and saw spots on the sun, what
he saw was unbelievable—and so
creatively unimaginable—to
many.
Cardinal
Bellarmine, an astute and encompassing intellect, it is alleged, refused to
even look through the telescope. Why?
Because he already knew that it could not be
true. (Although this is an unverifiable story,
it has import even if simply as a metaphor of
a mindset.)
Continue—Sacred Scientism
