I had a similar question with Michael's post but was too busy to think about it at the time .. unless one claims that St Thomas' separation of faith and reason gave permission for scientists to charge ahead since reason/science can't disprove (or prove) the faith part. But in general, Christian religions have not been exactly at the forefront of science. Though the Catholic church is ultimately accepting of scientific advances - sooner or later - example being the acceptance of Darwinian theory as established science and more than "just a theory", and (if I remember) that "creationist science" is junk science because of the lack of falsifiability (I was impressed with that one!). The Orthodox christian tradition as I understand it, also doesn't try too hard to make faith & tradition & science fit, as they treat the faith & tradition as more of a mystery, not readily explainable through science. Marc I agree, I just want to know things better too ... Maybe someone can make a case that by funding universities, trade and commerce, they assisted science inadvertently? (trade and commerce fostered science, as it required maps, technology, navigation tools, people who can read and keep track of $$, basically a secular education)
========================== John W. Kulig Professor of Psychology Plymouth State University Plymouth NH 03264 ========================== ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marc Carter" <marc.car...@bakeru.edu> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 4:38:47 PM Subject: RE: [tips] Galileo Was Wrong? I agree that the dark ages weren't as "dark" as we tend to think, but I'm not sure that thoughtful Christian theology had a great deal to do with the development of science. Theology studies the nature of God (a non-natural entity or entities) via "revealed truth" (not by observation). Although one or two of St. Thomas's arguments might have used nature to justify belief in the existence of god, I don't see how it leads to science (as we know it now). I can see Humanism (a shift in focus to the temporal human condition), Copernicus, Brahe's excellent observations, Bacon's development of induction, Kepler's frustrations, Galileo's application of math to things in the world (and his observations), and Newton's invention of gravity as key points in the development of modern science. Newton is really the first modern scientist. I'm not sure where I see the thoughtful theology part. Where do you see it? (I'm not being argumentative; I'd like to know things better.) m -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts & Sciences Baker University -- > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Smith [mailto:tipsl...@gmail.com] > Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 2:08 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: Re: [tips] Galileo Was Wrong? > > I'm thinking that the dark ages weren't so dark and science > is a natural outgrowth of thoughtful Christian theology. > So, without the dark ages and Christian theology, science > wouldn't be anywhere. > > --Mike The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail") is sent by Baker University ("BU") and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: ku...@mail.plymouth.edu. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13338.f659d005276678c0696b7f6beda66454&n=T&l=tips&o=4901 or send a blank email to leave-4901-13338.f659d005276678c0696b7f6beda66...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=4905 or send a blank email to leave-4905-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
