I'm not showing an anti-religion bias at all. The fact that Newton felt his greatest work was his commentary on the Bible in no wise shows that thoughtful theologians are responsible for the development of science -- it merely shows that Newton was religious (he was also, btw, something of an occultist).
The original contention was that "thoughtful theologians" were responsible for modern science, not that the collection of people who invented science were religious. I don't doubt that they were. Galileo, Brahe, Bacon, Kepler, Copernicus, Newton: all of them were religious, but they weren't theologians. Reflection on the world and the human condition led to the development of science, not reflection on the existence or characteristics of gods -- which is what theologians do. Reed Gleick or Michael White on Newton. His Christianity didn't make him a scientist, and his commentary on the Bible didn't make him a theologian. m -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts & Sciences Baker University -- ________________________________ From: Louis E. Schmier [mailto:lschm...@valdosta.edu] Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 9:26 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] Galileo Was Wrong? As an historian, I'll attest that Michael Smith is right. Some of you are showing your anti-religion bias. Newton, for example, felt that his greatest work was not the Mathamatica Principia, but his commentary on the Bible. So, if you think Michael's explanation is "shallow," for starters, I would send you to Majorie Nicolson, Breaking the Circle and Moutain Gloom, Mountain Glory, Alexandre Koyre, From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe, and Arthur Koestler, Sleepwalkers. Make it a good day -Louis- Louis Schmier http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org Department of History http://www.therandomthoughts.com Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ (O) 229-333-5947 /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__ / \ / \ (C) 229-630-0821 / \/ \_ \/ / \/ /\/ / \ /\ \ //\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\/ \_/__\ \ /\"If you want to climb mountains,\ /\ _ / \ don't practice on mole hills" - / \_ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: marc.car...@bakeru.edu<mailto:marc.car...@bakeru.edu>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13029.76c7c563b32ad9d8d09c72a2d17c90e1&n=T&l=tips&o=4929 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-4929-13029.76c7c563b32ad9d8d09c72a2d17c9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-4929-13029.76c7c563b32ad9d8d09c72a2d17c9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> ________________________________ The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail") is sent by Baker University ("BU") and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=4936 or send a blank email to leave-4936-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
