Religion and Science Don’t Always Agree, But It Doesn’t Have To Be This Crazy
I get that there are religious people, and that they often have viewpoints that fly in the teeth of science. No problem there. Scott Pruitt, who resigned in disgrace from his position atop the EPA, was apparently motivated in his planet-destroying policies by religion, i.e., the lines in Genesis that provide believers the notion man has dominion over the Earth and the animals that live on it.
No one expects religion and science to agree; in fact, when you think about it, that’s impossible by definition. Religion means having faith in matters beyond our knowledge, and science is the precise opposite; the word itself comes from the Latin verb scire, “to know.”
I once helped one of my nephews write a paper in college on the Pope’s project of reconciling faith and reason. I explained, “To me, this is a non-starter. You either believe in things for which there’s empirical evidence or you don’t. You can’t have your metaphysical cake and eat it too.”
Having said that, this matter doesn’t have to be as insane as it is in the mind of Ben Carson (see meme above), current U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Carson is a former neurosurgeon. I wouldn’t let him operate on my daughter’s hamster.
Craig,
You appear to have invented a new religion, “Science” as interpreted though the prism of your personal political/ideological structure.
That’s okay, but what’s with all the gratuitous abuse and derision of anyone who doesn’t share your particular point of view.
You comment implies that because Dr Carson doesn’t share your beliefs, he is an incompetent Surgeon !
In fact, Dr Carson has an outstanding record as Surgeon and medical professional.
In his career GR Carson has been awarded more than 70 honorary doctorate degrees and hundreds of national and international, merit citations, honours and awards.
He’s a recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, in addition to the American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged.
The Library of Congress awarded Dr Carson as US Library of Congress Living Legend.
Dr Carson was the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland from 1984 until his retirement in 2013.
He’s considered a world renowned pioneer in neurosurgery, with countless achievements including performing the only successful separation of conjoined twins joined at the back of the head.
He pioneere the first successful neurosurgical procedure on a fetus inside the womb, the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins, developing new methods to treat brain-stem tumors, and reviving hemispherectomy techniques for controlling seizures.
Along the way he became the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery in the country at age 33.
The Detroit based Dr. Benjamin Carson High School of Science and Medicine, for students interested in pursuing healthcare careers is named in his honour.
In 2010, he was the youngest person ever elected to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.
Hmmmm,…but then again, what do I know, maybe the guy is as you say, just a bum !
I’m sure you’re in a better position to judge Dr Carson’s abilities as a medical professional and neurosurgeon, because you’re are a qualified,….er,…remind me again of why you are qualified to judge his abilities… ?