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On 6/12/2012 7:31 PM, Chuck Britton wrote:
At 4:56 PM -0400 6/12/12, Ludwik Kowalski wrote:There is a great deal of scientific work yet to be done concerning Christianity. It will almost certainly require
Anticipating an objection I want emphasize that identifying one similarity is not the same thing as saying that mathematics is the same as theology.
One strong similarity between math and theology is that each is an abstract structure based upon fundamental assumptions which cannot be proven within the given structure.
One DIFFERENCE that that I see is that most professional mathematicians are quite able to accept conflicting postulates and to work within the structure that results. (e.g. Euclid's Fifth Postulate and it's variants.)
I'm not familiar with the Theological equivalent of this ability to grant equal validity to conflicting assumptions.
(But I am quite ready to be set straight is such Theologians exist.)
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the intestinal fortitude of a Galileo, as you will easily see.
First to be able to hold two conflicted concepts in mind before breakfast: for Christianity, this is the Torah and the new Testament.
The former, a distinctly patriarchal reading of Jewish history; the latter, a strongly maternal ethic of unconditional Love and forgiveness for heinous wrongs even until the dying moments in fact.
The scientific basis for Christianity has hardly been touched. The virgin birth for example: this of itself is NOT miraculous; there have been (exceedingly rare) examples of virgin births to women, though other mammals show this unusual outcome more frequently.
The mammals share a common feature here: virgin births are uniformly female: that is the only genotype available.
Exploring the growth to maturity of a girl who passes as a male is curious, but again, of itself, not unknown. I can suppose that a factual obstacle to this scientific investigation is the unrobing to nakedness which would likely be part of the Roman treatment, the most despised punishment for criminals. On the other hand, there is a Biblical record of crowds of women following the Savior's journeys,
and of Jesus' dismay at the death of a male friend - which is insubstantial on its own, but can be taken with other feminine aspects - say the foot-washing of disciples - an act confined to women.
There is a book to be written - quite likely an infamous book - which would shed new light on a person who, with John, was at first unsure who was to be the long-forecast savior of his people, but who grew convinced of his role, and made efforts to fulfill the old testament indications of that great Advent.
Brian Whatcott
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