Creationists, did you know the Vatican also thinks you're all fruitcakes..?

Question

Intelligent Design is not science, and has no place in science lessons, according to the Vatican's chief astronomer, the Rev. George Coyne. According to the Italian news agency, ANSA, Father Coyne was speaking informally at a conference in Florence when he said that intelligent design "isn't science, even though it pretends to be."

He argued that if it is to be taught in schools, then it should be taught in religion or cultural history classes, but that it should not be on the science curriculum.

Proponents of intelligent design argue that life on Earth is just too complex to have arisen without the aid of some kind of designer. ID's critics point out that its main tenets are highly unscientific and untestable, and say that it is merely creationism in disguise.

Father Coyne has consistently argued against regarding intelligent design as scientific. In June he wrote in Catholic magazine The Tablet:

"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."

So, creationists, will you now attack the Vatican..?
And how will other christian faiths view you in light of this..?

Answer 1

I didn't know this ... Thanks for posting it.


Here's something to help us all remember this important opinion... http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/Not_Science_GIF-1.gif

[][][] r u randy? [][][]

Answer 2

I'm a creationist. I had a Catholic grade school and high school
education. Even back in those days, I was taught that evolution was fact (however, you had to believe that the moment the creature became a human, God breathed a soul into it)
As far as ID theory being untestable - do you believe everything is testable with Evolutionary Science? Why do you think the punctuated equilibrium or saltation theories are being proposed? Those theories are proposing that there are such huge gaps or leaps involving mega millenia that its impossible for any scientist to live long enough to observe it and that the gaps are the reason no links have been found among fossil remains.

Answer 3

About 20 years ago, in some of my early study of this subject, I found something that amazed me. It was in "The New Catholic Encyclopedia." There was a very good article on evolution, three or four pages worth, and it ended with this exact quote: "The fact of biological evolution can no longer be seriously disputed." Yeah, I memorized it because it was so unequivocal and so unexpected.

Lately, I have not been able to find the quote. That statement has been removed from more recent versions of the encyclopedia. Maybe Father Coyne and some others can prevail on the encyclopedia committee to reinstate it.

Answer 4

I don't know that the chief astronomer speaks for the Vatican.

I don't think he's saying that ID is wrong, just that it isn't science. Equally "not science" is the notion that evolution, including natural selection, excludes ID. The trick is that science must state it's propositions neither affirming nor denying a design or Designer.

Answer 5

Its not just the Vatican or Catholics. Most Christian denominations accept evolutionary theory. Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Congregationalist, United Church of Christ, some Baptist denominations, Anglicans (including the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, the Church of England and others), three of the four major denominations of Judaism (Reconstructionist, Reform, and Conservative), and some Muslims. It is only the extreme anti-science fundamentalist groups in the big three monotheistic religions that deny evolutionary theory because they hold onto a literal interpretation of their ancient texts. Fundamentalist or conservative Muslims & Christians and the Orthodox Jews.

Answer 6

haha intense. other christian denominations and the vatican aren't on great terms anymore, though anyway, since the pope announced that catholicism is the only true religion. don't see how anyone is surprised by that, though, since many religions seem to do that to other religions.

Answer 7

The Creationism crowd still thinks they won the Civil War.

Yeeeee Haaaaaw!!!!

.

Answer 8

People who believe in intelligent design are simply too lazy or ignorant to research the facts that send their "theory" to the crapper. Creationism is also not compatible with evolution, because either way you end up warping one or both sides of the argument.

Answer 9

Christians don't consider the Pope to be infallible.

But he lives in a nice house.



Sending you a smile to help pick up your day.

Answer 10

I'm a "follower of Jesus", I don't follow any saint or pope or anyone who is called father.
Just goes to show you how EVIL the catholic church is.

Answer 11

Outside the USA this is common knowledge, in fact almost no-one who has any degree of education accepts young earth creationism, Catholic or otherwise.