Re: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed

Greg, I wasn't speaking of the ASA below, I was specifically speaking about
evangelical protestants. I agree that the ASA is / ought to be more broadly
ecumenical (though it is historically an evangelical organization). And I
particularly appreciate, as you know, many aspects of Eastern Orthodox
theology and welcome Eastern perspectives on faith-science questions.

David W. Opderbeck
Associate Professor of Law
Seton Hall University Law School
Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology

On Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 3:51 PM, Gregory Arago <gregoryarago@yahoo.ca> wrote:

> "I wish, we evangelical protestants had such a careful, nuanced and
> honest way of integrating all this." - David O.
>
> Wondering if ASA is mainly an 'evangelical protestants' association or
> rather a Christian association that welcomes all denominations and branches
> in the Christian Church equally or impartially?
>
> The Wiki entry for ASA, for example, doesn't contain the word 'evangelical'
> in the content. ASA is classified under 'Evangelical parachurch
> organisations,' though perhaps that could use adjustment as well.
>
> I guess I'm just curious about the language of 'we evangelical protestants'
> David, where perhaps more objectivity and ecumenism in this case would
> benefit.
>
> Gregory
>
> --- On *Mon, 2/2/09, David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com>* wrote:
>
> From: David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
> To: "George Cooper" <georgecooper@sbcglobal.net>
> Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> Received: Monday, February 2, 2009, 10:23 PM
>
>
> Guys, you're reading too much into this statute thing, I think. Take a
> look at the Vatican's most recent report on creation and evolution
> (published as a book, with a warm introduction by Pope Benedict). I wish, I
> wish, I wish, we evangelical protestants had such a careful, nuanced and
> honest way of integrating all this.
>
> David W. Opderbeck
> Associate Professor of Law
> Seton Hall University Law School
> Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM, George Cooper <georgecooper@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>
>> Hi Dick,
>>
>> Yes, there are pros and cons to honoring those that have been scorned.
>> Your view may be the wiser, but the decision is very subjective. IMO, I
>> think the "Church", especially the Pope, would have more to gain than lose
>> by continuing with the statute placement. Galileo was faithful to his
>> faith and the Church; he was one of theirs. He was personal friends with
>> many of the Cardinals and with the Popes, though he fell from grace with
>> Urban, obviously. He is also, rightfully, still beloved by Italians, and
>> that too must be considered.
>>
>> Your comparison of honoring Galileo with Darwin is a good one. No doubt
>> there are many church bodies that would not object to honoring, though there
>> would be many that would be quite resentful of such an idea. It seems to
>> surprise some that Darwin's cornerstone came from Rev. Thomas Malthus ideas
>> on populations. I certainly don't expect any statue arising at my church's
>> facility, but perhaps they could let loose a bunch of pigeons there at
>> Westminster Abbey; Newton won't mind. J
>>
>> Coope
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Dick Fischer [mailto:dickfischer@verizon.net]
>> *Sent:* Monday, February 02, 2009 12:20 PM
>> *To:* 'George Cooper'
>> *Cc:* ASA
>>
>> *Subject:* RE: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
>>
>> Hi Coope:
>>
>> I think it is one thing for a religious organization, and in this case a
>> major religion, to admit to previous mistakes. It's quite another to
>> celebrate them. It's in that same vein that I have some misgivings about
>> celebrating Darwin. Okay, he was a brilliant scientist and made a major
>> contribution to our understanding of biology. But somehow I feel overtones
>> that serve to be a slap in the face to our Christian beliefs. Maybe I'm
>> just being over sensitive but if I were a pastor and Darwin Week was coming
>> up (it is) I don't think I would prepare a special sermon to mark the
>> occasion. I would prefer a science week to honor great scientists and group
>> Darwin in with Kepler, Newton, Einstein and others. I would rather
>> celebrate science than just Darwin. I think it has the unfortunate
>> ramification of sending the wrong message or at the very least a mixed
>> message.
>>
>> Dick Fischer, GPA president
>> Genesis Proclaimed Association
>> "Finding Harmony in Bible, Science and History"
>> www.genesisproclaimed.org
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> *From:* asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] *On
>> Behalf Of *George Cooper
>> *Sent:* Monday, February 02, 2009 10:43 AM
>> *To:* asa@calvin.edu
>> *Subject:* RE: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
>>
>> Hi Dick,
>>
>> Perhaps the sting of the Galileo affair will heal itself given more time.
>> **wink**
>>
>> The Galileo lesson is quite important in our day, too. There were
>> mistakes made by both sides. One year ago, the Pope was forced to cancel
>> his trip to La Sapienza due to the protests from students and numerous
>> faculty over a statement made by the Pope (while a Cardinal) 18 years
>> earlier that condoned the Church's judgement upon Galileo. It will be
>> helpful for the Church to erect the statute.
>>
>> Coope
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] *On
>> Behalf Of *Dick Fischer
>> *Sent:* Saturday, January 31, 2009 3:43 PM
>> *To:* ASA
>> *Subject:* [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
>>
>> Galileo statue nixed. (He doesn't look happy about it.)
>>
>>
>> http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2009/01/galileo-wont-get-vatican-statue-anytime.html
>>
>>
>> Galileo Won't Get Vatican Statue Anytime Soon<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2009/01/galileo-wont-get-vatican-statue-anytime.html>
>>
>> Posted: 30 Jan 2009 07:02 PM CST
>>
>>
>> <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4yND9fPzue0/SYN7YgYl0rI/AAAAAAAABbQ/A7v983qgU2Q/s1600-h/galileo_hist_big%5B1%5D.png>Back
>> in March<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2008/03/galileo-gets-statute-in-vatican.html>,
>> we told you about the Vatican's plans to erect a statue of Galileo in its
>> gardens—both to mark the 400th anniversary of his telescope<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-international-year-of-astronomy.html>and to help fully
>> rehabilitate his image<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2008/12/vaticans-extreme-galileo-makeover.html>.
>> (After the Catholic Church charged the astronomer with heresy, he was forced
>> to recant his scientific view of heliocentrism—the idea that the Earth
>> revolved around the sun—during his 1633 trial.)
>> Now, it seems the plan for the statue is on hold, indefinitely. Monsignor
>> Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, told *The
>> Times*<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5612996.ece>that the statue had "only been an idea," which is now "suspended"—though
>> Galileo "deserves all our appreciation and gratitude."<http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900440.htm>
>> Galileo, Ravasi said in a statement, can now be recognized "as a believer
>> who, in the context of his time, sought to reconcile the results of his
>> scientific researches with his Christian faith." And "the church wishes to
>> honor the figure of Galileo—innovative genius and son of the church," with a
>> number of initiatives this year.
>> But the statue is no longer one of them. According to Ravasi, the statue
>> had been designed, and a mold had been made, but the Vatican asked the
>> project's sponsor to divert the funds to projects in Nigeria and other
>> places "to foster a better understanding of the relationship between science
>> and religion." —*Heather Wax*
>>
>>
>
>
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