Re: [asa] On Darwin the secular saint

Agreed. An interesting view to consider this is found in the paper "Science as a Vocation" by Max Weber (1919). As a note of curiosity, I wonder how many people who are reading this list have already read it?
 
In case anyone is impatient, the speech/article starts out slowly, speaking about the university, but gets more interesting by page four (link below), eventually considering the meaning of science and theology and the so-called 'disenchantment of the world.' http://www.ims.demokritos.gr/people/tbou/Weber_Science_as_Vocation.pdf.

"Science today is a 'vocation' organized in special disciplines in the service of self-clarification and knowledge of interrelated facts. It is not the gift of grace of seers and prophets dispensing sacred values and revelations, nor does it partake of the contemplation of sages and philosophers about the meaning of the universe. This, to be sure, is the inescapable condition of our historical situation." - Weber

--- On Sat, 2/14/09, Jim Armstrong <jarmstro@qwest.net> wrote:

From: Jim Armstrong <jarmstro@qwest.net>
Subject: Re: [asa] On Darwin the secular saint
To: "ASA" <asa@calvin.edu>, "Bill Williams" <winnfam@cox.net>
Received: Saturday, February 14, 2009, 2:04 AM

I really like this idea. It provides validation to these vocations, without broaching any controversy. It gives a stronger foundation to those who might have anything to contribute in one of these contentious areas. It also points to them providing some visual identification which might be lacking in a large congregation. Nice thought! Really nice thought!!

JimA [Friend of ASA]

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 Sat Feb 14 03:16:34 2009