RCL had a comment he was unable to post for some reason. It follows:
...for two centuries religion has been gradually giving way...
Men have been giving way true. On this day that Cardinal Newman is beatified I am confident that his Church is not giving way. Like Scruton's quote, Newman also felt there was no conflict, nor could there be, between theology and science.
Theology begins, as its name denotes, not with any sensible facts, phenomena, or results, not with nature at all, but with the Author of nature - with the one invisible, unapproachable Cause and Source of all things... As far as it approaches towards Physics, it takes just the counterpart of the questions which occupy the physical philosopher. He contemplates facts before him; the theologian gives the reasons of those facts.
In posing the various positions Grim you are scrupulously unbiased. The most blatant problem with "science" is that it is not unbiased. It is an activity of men and in every time, not just our own, what was set forth as "settled science" was sometimes falsehoods or errors favored and defended by those who profited from their acceptance. "Religion" has had a role in that game as well, of course. Where men go lies follow.
The "animal" as you've used it in this post for carnal nature can be countered with “Animal” as in the Magic post from a couple days before. There's actually more than animal to even animals. Most people know that intuitively. Similar to when Dr. Jung was asked if he believed in God, "I don't believe. I know." Materialism in politics or science is a perversion of the Nature of Man and Life. Neolithic magic, Augustine's longing heart, Arthur's quest for the Right, Tolkien's vision of Virtue, Love and Beauty are proofs of our highest nature.
"By their fruits you shall know them".
The fruit that fell from Cardinal Newman's tree was the great Catholic literary revival in 20th century England. Chesterton, Belloc, Waugh, Graham Greene and J.R.R. Tolkien. Especially Tolkien. The beatification today was celebrated in Rednall, the countryside popularly regarded as The Shire, rolling hills and woods near Birmingham. Tolkien and his brother would go with their guardian, Fr. Francis Morgan, a priest of Cardinal Newman's Oratory to visit his mother and get away from the city of Birmingham. Fr. Morgan supported their mother in her illness and she appointed him guardian upon her death. Their story is very romantic and tragic, but the outcome of the love and faith invested by a mother and a priest was Magic.
Let the scientists proceed but a man's got to know his limitations.
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