"Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh heavier than lead, and with their wings exceedingly small. He did not, and that ought to show something. It is only in order to shield your ignorance that you put the Lord at every turn to the refuge of a miracle." -Galileo Galilei
I love it, what do you think?
2006-08-12 10:19:21 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And don't take such offense at the word ignorance, it just means you don't know. We're all very ignorant in the long run.
2006-08-12 10:20:20 · update #1
I found it in wikiquote.
2006-08-12 10:26:23 · update #2
I think he is right. A miracle, or magic, or any other plethera of excuse. We always have to have some explanation of how or why things work, and when unable to fathom some answer, we fall to "it's a miracle!".
Gotta love a "thinking" man!!!
2006-08-12 10:27:29 · answer #1 · answered by diane_b_33594 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you believe in God, AND you can handle science, you could take it to mean that he created everything suitable to a specific purpose and that no matter how we try to alter it, it will only serve the purpose for which it was intended. God meant for there to be some order to the universe, some SCIENCE (shocker!).
If you don't believe in God and think that science is king then it seems to imply that there is some order in the universe beyond which even "God" cannot tread, that science is pure and even God's creations cannot tanscend it.
The "ignorant" people who cannot understand the machinations of the universe claim that it is God's miracle that things are as they are and don't question beyond that belief.
2006-08-12 17:31:47 · answer #2 · answered by elk312 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I disagree with him. Yes, Everything is based on knowledge, but its God's Ultimate knowledge. But a miracle is simply realizing how great God's creation is. The birth of a child is a miracle. Human beings will NEVER know everything, never. So it is overly ambiguous to try to calculate all the affairs in the world and not be caught off guard with a miracle, or an unanticipated work of good produced by the creation (by way of the Creator.) God controls and calculates everything. Everything is a miracle,
it is our perceptions and Satan that blinds us. He is stupid to think that Human being have a little knowledge, We know nothing compared to the Creator. Miracles are seen by those who see good operating in our lives and the beauty in the creation.
2006-08-12 17:43:26 · answer #3 · answered by Muse 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it means a lot more than that. In particular, it means if you want to make reality and God compatible, then you'd better find a theology that doesn't reduce Him to banal wizardry and parlor tricks - for example, someone who "miraculously" created the universe in 6 days, or who had the solar system working backwards for Joshua.
He was calling for serious theology and serious science, as opposed to literalist claptrap and silly science.
2006-08-12 17:29:38 · answer #4 · answered by JAT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No offense. Next to Galileo I'm just a moron. This is not only insightful but extremely relevant to these pro fundamentalist days. Great!
2006-08-12 17:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that Galileo stated his beliefs as illusions of truth, in the same way as many believers state their beliefs as illusions of truth.
Sometimes, I don't really see the difference between anti-theists & theists: they both try to convince others they hold the ultimate "truth".
So: even though Galileo's words may seem charming, I think they are as empty as many believers' words.
2006-08-12 17:26:13 · answer #6 · answered by Axel ∇ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like it. Summarizes the idea of God building the world through the laws of science.
2006-08-12 17:28:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go go galileo! whoosh!
God as a clockmaker. Popular foundation of beliefs amongst the rennisance men.
2006-08-12 17:27:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It makes sense, and it's very true. It's our own ignorance that makes us hungry for a miracle all the time, because we overlook everyday miracles.
2006-08-12 17:25:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like most of the quotes from Gallileo, this one is absolutely true.
2006-08-12 17:27:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋