Vatican astronomer: Science, religion not enemies

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As a Jesuit, Brother Guy Consolmagno is seeking an understanding of God and the universe — through prayer and through his telescope.

Consolmagno is a research astronomer and planetary scientist at the Vatican Observatory. He will speak on “Astronomy, God, and the Search for Elegance” at 7 p.m today in Somsen Auditorium as part of Winona State University’s Big Sky series.

“Most major religions have a concept of ‘the heavens’ … the perfect realm of the gods,” said Jennifer L.B. Anderson, WSU associate professor of geoscience and one of the organizers of the Big Sky series, and Consolmagno’s talk will address the intersection of spiritual and scientific approach to understanding the universe.

She said that within the scientific community the Vatican Observatory is highly respected as “real astrophysicists doing real scientific work.” In fact, Consolmagno said, one of the primary purposes of the observatory is to be an ongoing demonstration that the church is supportive of science and scientific research. He said that upon his appointment to the observatory in 1993, the first instruction he received was, “Guy, do good science.”

lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_a6d7d2a4-38b8-11e0-ac83-001cc4c002e0.html
 
I put my faith in God. I trust science, but without God, life is pretty worthless in my opinion. Who cars about science if there is no God?
 
Last summer 2010 I had the chance to do some sky-watching with one of my brother-in-law’s who happens to be an amateur Astronomer who purchased a powerful telescope.

How can one not be awed by the night stars in the sky. But as incredibly mind-boggling, mystifying and even humbling it is to gaze into the Universe. I am often reminded that this is Gods creation, like a masterpiece painting spread out on a huge canvass.

And more humbling still is that in comparison to the inconceivable size of the universe, its but a small grain of sand before Almighty God.

Peace
Chris
 
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