Re: [asa] On Darwin the secular saint

Keith's suggestion is good. Unfortunately most Protestants have been hampered by the notion that remembering the saints of the past is "too catholic." (Of course one has to make an appropriate distinction between (a) remembering their lives as examples of God's grace & living out their their faith and (b) praying to saints &c.) Even churches that do commemorate specific saints - RC & Orthodox of course but also Lutheran & Episcopal - those who are remembered are usually only "churchy" types - apostles of course but also martyrs, clergy, monastics, missionaries, theologians &c. There are relatively few Christians on church calendars who were prominent for "secular" vocations. Scientists, engineers, medical personnel &c would be appropriate additions.

The calendar of the ELCA includes Copernicus and Euler on 24 May & that of the American Book of Common Prayer Robert Grosseteste (13th century bishop of Lincoln who did significant theoretical & practical work in optics, among other things) on - I think - 9 October. There are plenty of others who could be included - Pascal, Faraday & Maxwell for starters.

Shalom,
George

---- kbmill@ksu.edu wrote:
> Quoting Douglas Hayworth:
>
> > I agree. As you said in a previous post, Darwin deserves recognition
> > as one of the finest scientists ever, and I think he is also a good
> > example of humility with regard to science/religion issues. But that
> > is no reason to venerate him in church. The church has never given
> > that sort of special honor to other men, and to do so in this case is
> > more likely to confirm to conservative Christians that liberal
> > churches have compromised on faith in Christ alone than it is to
> > build
> > bridges of understanding.
>
> Here is another angle on this topic. Perhaps the church should make a
> concerted effort to honor fellow believers in the sciences (from their
> own congregations as well as more broadly). Perhaps the church has
> failed to affirm vocations in the sciences. Perhaps the church needs
> to recognize and honor all vocational service (sciences, arts,
> humanities, engineering, etc, etc) as divine callings. We do so honor
> pastors and missionaries -- why no others?
>
> Keith
>
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Received on Fri Feb 13 18:29:22 2009