NewDawn wrote:
pawelk1986 wrote:
He has also shown that faith and science are not mutually exclusive and that they may even work together.
If you want to honour Lemaitre, bringing up faith and science is a very bad idea. He himself has stressed many times that his scientific theory shouldn´t be associated (or even mentioned in the same sentence) with the catholic notion of creation. Lemaitre was a Jesuit, and a Belgian one at that. Belgian and Dutch Jesuits teach the allegorical interpretation of the bible, which is perfectly legitimate within catholic dogma.
When Pope Pius XII publically expressed approval for Lemaitre's theory, Lemaitre wrote a letter to Pope saying that the Bible and theoretical physics have nothing to do with each other. Lemaitre was extremely touchy about anyone thinking his physics was in anyway influenced by his religious beliefs. Lemaitre was a pro.
In effect he told the Pope: "Cool it, Your Eminence"
ruveyn