Is it ok to admire non-Catholic scientists?

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Is it ok to admire non-Catholic scientists? like Einstein, for instance. The ability to ‘see’ the natural world in a different view and share that information to the rest of the world is a great gift.

But so many of these ‘revolutionary’ scientists are non-Catholics. How can those who have such abilities fail to seek the Church and enter? And on the other side, why haven’t Catholics made such ‘revolutionary’ discoveries on their part (at least recently)? Does science and that line of thinking and searching contradict the Faith? I feel many Catholics are science-illiterate and thus science-suspicious 😦 …!
 
Welcome to the forums!~ I’ll let someone more knowledgeable answer your question.

Mary.
 
Is it ok to admire non-Catholic scientists? like Einstein, for instance. The ability to ‘see’ the natural world in a different view and share that information to the rest of the world is a great gift.
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I would say it’s fine as long as you are not admiring them for some ill reason. Remember that a lot of sinning has to do with one’s intention.
But so many of these ‘revolutionary’ scientists are non-Catholics.
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Depending on what you mean by ‘revolutionary’…that could be a good thing or a bad thing.
How can those who have such abilities fail to seek the Church and enter?
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Well, look all those scribes, Pharisees and elites back in the days of Christ. Those were supposed to be all the smart people, and they not only rejected Jesus but they tried to trap him as well.

Sometimes it’s not as nefarious. Sometimes, it’s just plain old one dimensional thinking, which I’m sorry to say is all to common in science these days.
And on the other side, why haven’t Catholics made such ‘revolutionary’ discoveries on their part (at least recently)?
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🤷
Does science and that line of thinking and searching contradict the Faith?
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No, because Catholicism is firmly rooted in natural law and scholars and leaders have spent over 1900 years examining the ins and outs of this. If you really looked at hard science, you would it supports core Catholic teaching through and through.
I feel many Catholics are science-illiterate and thus science-suspicious …!
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Maybe. To take the prior comment literally, many if not most of the world’s Catholic are poor and illiterate.

But I think that many people in general are just poorly educated in science for a variety of reasons and don’t connect natural law with the Catholic Church.

Some of that is just poor catechism as well.

There seems to be the prevalence of this false-choice question that either one is an enlightened person of science or a backwards worshiper of an out-dated religion that oppresses people and ruins their fun.
 
I don’t think that Shakespeare was a Catholic. Or Bach. Or Rembrandt. Or Martin Luthor King. Or Michelangelo.

Should I go on?
 
I think your question could be restated as follows: Is it okay to admire someone for reasons other than their faith? Is it okay to admire an excellent pianist, architect, or cook, even if he/she is not Catholic?

I think it is okay.

Could you (or anyone else who cares to answer) explain how it can be a problem to admire non-Catholics for their excellence in other aspects of life? Do you feel that you would be approving or supporting their non-Catholic beliefs and values? Would it weaken your own faith, or the faith of others?
 
tonyrey said:
Evidence that Shakespeare and Michaelangelo were not Catholics…
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Publicly? Since Shakespeare was understand Elizabeth I rule, he would probably have said he was Anglican. I don’t know if it could be proven one way or the other.

Didn’t Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel? I would just assume he was Catholic. Lol.
 
Yes, of course. Why not? You don’t have to be Catholic to have admirable traits, skills or knowledge etc.
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
Didn’t Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel? I would just assume he was Catholic. Lol.
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I wasn’t talking about that Michelangelo. I meant the one who fitted my kitchen out last year. He’s a Raelian.
 
Soletluna said:
Is it ok to admire non-Catholic scientists? like Einstein, for instance. The ability to ‘see’ the natural world in a different view and share that information to the rest of the world is a great gift.

But so many of these ‘revolutionary’ scientists are non-Catholics.
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Of course! Just because they’re not Catholic doesn’t make them evil.
 
So long as you’re admiring them for their positive contributions to our knowledge and society then 'd say you’re fine. Einstein did great things to further our understanding of the universe and its workings, Shakespeare wrote amazing stories that continue to entertain and educate us to this day. C.S. Lewis wasn’t a Catholic, but I think you’d be hard pressed to find a Catholic who doesn’t admire his writings on God. I think it’d be fine to admire all of these people for their work, though not necessarily for their personal life.
 
Soletluna said:
Is it ok to admire non-Catholic scientists? like Einstein, for instance. The ability to ‘see’ the natural world in a different view and share that information to the rest of the world is a great gift.

But so many of these ‘revolutionary’ scientists are non-Catholics. How can those who have such abilities fail to seek the Church and enter? And on the other side, why haven’t Catholics made such ‘revolutionary’ discoveries on their part (at least recently)? Does science and that line of thinking and searching contradict the Faith? I feel many Catholics are science-illiterate and thus science-suspicious 😦 …!
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I really admire Einstein. Yeah, I’d say it’d be fine to admire non-Catholic scientists and non-Catholics, in general, for their very legitimate contributions, achievements, and more.
 
Frankly I would rather admire Einstein (Jewish) than Hitler (Catholic).
 
Sarcelle said:
Frankly I would rather admire Einstein (Jewish) than Hitler (Catholic).
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Ouch!

What a great reminder of the limited usefulness of the term “Catholic” to label or sort out others (us vs. them, naughty vs. nice, saved vs. condemned).

A better criterion might be John 13:35: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 
I think what I admire most about scientists like Einstein is that he ISN’T one-dimensional, he seeks to understand outside of conventional thinking, like the ‘next step’ of conceptualizing ideas - sort of like how thinking develops going from a child to an adult. But yes, there are a lot of scientists who are arrogant jerks, and those are usually the ones who get heard the most.

Having been trained in the sciences, however, I’ve also seen some of the most humblest and dedicated individuals I’ve known - they are not working for their own ends, but are sacrificing time, having a family, wealth, etc to reach depths and heights that most people are not willing to pursue. Seeking universal truths in the natural world seems very Catholic to me - it’s just a bummer trying to find research labs that are at the forefront of discovery and at the same time solid in the Catholic faith.
 
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