Pope's visit: 'Science cannot explain human existence'

Guardian ^ | September 17, 2010 | Riazat Butt and John Hooper

[NYer]

The pope intervened in the debate over the origins of the universe today by claiming that science could not explain the "ultimate meaning" of human existence.

Speaking at St Mary's University College in Strawberry Hill, south-west London, Benedict told an audience of religious leaders from different faiths that the human and natural sciences provided us with an "invaluable understanding" of aspects of our existence.

But he said science could not satisfy the "fundamental" question about why we exist.

"They cannot satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart, they cannot fully explain to us our origin and our destiny, why and for what purpose we exist, nor indeed can they provide us with an exhaustive answer to the question 'Why is there something rather than nothing?'"

He may well have been referring to Stephen Hawking, who writes in his latest book that no divine force is needed to explain why the universe was formed. He argued in The Grand Design that physics, and not a creator, was responsible for the Big Bang.

The pope warned against rejecting religion in favour of a purely scientific outlook. "Never allow yourselves to become narrow. The world needs good scientists, but a scientific outlook becomes dangerous and narrow if it ignores the riches or ethical dimensions of life. Just as religion becomes narrow if it rejects the legitimate contribution of science to our understanding of the world."

He added: "We need good historians, and philosophers and economists but if the accounts they give of human life is too narrowly focused they can lead us seriously astray."

The pope also used his wide-ranging speech – made before the revelation that five men had been arrested in connection with an alleged threat against him – to reiterate his opposition to the persecution of Christian minorities.

[NYer]

Pope Benedict at a meeting of religious leaders at St Mary's University College in Strawberry Hill, south-west London. Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
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[Mrs. Don-o]

"...[The pope] said science could not satisfy the 'fundamental' question about why we exist."

Science, per se, can't answer any of the "why" quesions. Not with regard to primary or final cause.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

They will eventually discover that they cannot discover what they cannot comprehend.

Then they will understand.

[ex-snook]

"He argued in The Grand Design that physics, and not a creator, was responsible for the Big Bang."

But what[who] was responsible for physics?

[SunkenCiv]

· GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach · · join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
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[the invisib1e hand]

Heresy!

/s

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"Never allow yourselves to become narrow."

The cosmos is about the smallest hole a man can hide his head in.

G. K. Chesterton

[D-fendr]

Hawking may be a decent physicist, but the Pope could run rings around him in a philosophical or theological debate.