“A profound source of spirituality”

A Catholic scholar and priest — a convert from Anglicanism who had first converted to Anglicanism from fundamentalist Protestantism — makes an interesting brief argument:

“Yes, Jesus Really Existed and He Was Born on December 25”

I have no doubt whatever about the historical existence of Jesus, but I confess to remaining unpersuaded that 25 December is his actual birthday.

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Here’s a short piece from a prolific Catholic scholar and writer:

“Stephen Hawking’s Surprise: A Christmas meditation”

His doctrine of God isn’t mine, of course, but, in my judgment, we’re less far apart theologically than many would guess at first blush, and closer than I would once have thought.

More importantly, though, I’m strongly inclined to share his optimistic view of the postmortem condition of Stephen Hawking.

I’m reminded of a remark from the prominent astronomer, astrophysicist, public intellectual, and very vocal agnostic Carl Sagan (1934-1996):

“Personally, I would be delighted if there were a life after death, especially if it permitted me to continue to learn about this world and others, if it gave me a chance to discover how history turns out.”

What wonderful good news we have to share with the world!

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I was preoccupied with pressing matters that needed to be taken care of before our departure for Egypt, so I missed this item when it first appeared on 21 December.  But it’s still both interesting and significant, and I think that it’s appropriate reading at Christmas time:

“Apollo 8 and Our Privileged Planet: The first astronauts to the moon saw what astronomers later concluded: that Earth is a life-friendly oasis in the vastness of space.”

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Now that I’m thinking about Carl Sagan, I think that I’ll cite two of my favorite comments from him yet again:

“How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, ‘This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant?’ Instead they say, ‘No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.’ A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths.”

“Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.”

I would love, someday, to convene a conference on the precise subject of that last comment and to hear from faithful scientists about how, for them, science is and has been “a profound source of spirituality.”

Posted from Alexandria, Egypt