So I would say in this case that it is particularly important to remember that certainly the theologian and the scientist find themselves in different places in different fields, with different reasons, with different flags, different statutes. But it is important to recall that the frontier line is not a Chinese Wall or an Iron curtain that you can not look through, because you despise the other side or lack desire, but that there be a nobility of distinction, distinction which is not separation, but which is necessary. I often recall a Greek adjective that was invented by a thinker in the Hellenistic period: methorios, which he applied to the wise man. It literally means he who is on the line of the frontier. He has his feet on one side and sees the other. He does not have to cross the frontier. Schelling said that the historian and the philosopher had to safeguard chastely their own frontiers. There is no cause to cross the border, but woe to those who imagine that the world beyond does not exist. So this is why I said that research is important. It is fundamental that it be serious and qualified.
The second virtue is humility. Something which is much forgotten and which means an awareness of one’s own limits. I want to cite here a scientist to whom we all should be thankful, Max Planck, who in his work, Awareness of the Physical World, wrote "science and religion are not in opposition, but need each other to complete each other in the mind of every man who thinks seriously". That is serious thought needs contributions that are different between them. So we can say paradoxically that scientists needs facts, and they need art, poetry, aesthetics, philosophy. And so too the theologian and the artist needs the other. So we overcome on our side as theologians with humility the hubris of certain theologies of the past which penetrated the field of scientific analysis or simply used the language and results of apologetics aiming them at experience. So there is the need for an act of humility by the theologian. At the same time, overcome the arrogance of some scientists who mock those who dare to hang on to the faith which is considered as a mere relic of Palaeolithic man which have been set aside the light of clear pathways laid out by science. So this is an appeal to all, to myself in first place as a theologian and to all who will speak on these matters. Remember Newton who loved to recall that image of himself as a child inspecting the rocks and shells on the seashore but it was when he raised his eyes he saw extend before him the immense ocean of the truth. There exists something more to be conquered! (INTERVENTO DI S.E. MONS. GIANFRANCO RAVASI) --- On Wed, 9/17/08, Joao Marcos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Joao Marcos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Logica-l] um daqueles temas já levantados tantas vezes antes aqui > To: "Lista acadêmica brasileira dos profissionais e estudantes da área de > LOGICA" <[email protected]> > Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 6:34 PM > de tudo um pouco: *teoria da evolução*, *design > inteligente* e *Igreja Católica* > > CONFERENZA STAMPA DI PRESENTAZIONE DEL CONVEGNO > INTERNAZIONALE > "BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION: FACTS AND THEORIES. > A CRITICAL APPRAISAL 150 YEARS AFTER *THE ORIGIN OF > SPECIES*" > (ROMA, 3-7 MARZO 2009 , 16.09.2008) > http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22594.php?index=22594&po_date=16.09.2008&lang=po > > Tradução de um trecho, pela blogueira e divulgadora de > ciência Ísis Diniz: > Papa reconhece a evolução das espécies! > > http://xisxis.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/papa-reconhece-a-evolucao-das-especies/ > "Muitas vezes o tema é discutido de forma mais > ideológica que > científica, como era sua verdadeira face. Muitos têm > gerado confusão, > colocando em oposição frontal o 'evolucionismo' e > o 'criacionismo'. > Essas confusões, também contribuíram para a recente > posição do chamado > 'Design Inteligente' que tem a intenção de tornar > insuficiente as > alavancas da teoria neodarwiniana (…) como se apenas o > 'design > inteligente' de Deus poderia explicar os processos de > evolução. Desta > forma, o divino teria como finalidade substituir o > mecanismo. Enquanto > que eles são, obviamente, dois planos distintos. (…) A > Igreja se > mostra profundamente preocupada com esse diálogo, > respeitando > plenamente, as responsabilidades de cada um". > _______________________________________________ > Logica-l mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.dimap.ufrn.br/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/logica-l _______________________________________________ Logica-l mailing list [email protected] http://www.dimap.ufrn.br/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/logica-l
