Vatican Astronomer to Discuss Space Exploration at Agnes Scott Tonight
Decatur Metro | February 16, 2010This sounds like pretty compelling stuff. From an Agnes Scott College press release…
Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, SJ, an American research astronomer and planetary scientist at the Vatican Observatory, will discuss “The Ethics of Exploration: Planetary Astronomy” during a lecture at Agnes Scott College Feb. 16. The 7:30 p.m. event is in Evans Hall and is free and open to the public.
A number of ethical issues arise in the field of planetary sciences ranging from the way astronomers do their work to the broader question of the nature of exploration itself. Is the study of astronomy a valid use of scarce resources, or does it make inappropriate demands on money, human talent and scarce environmental settings? Are humans “contaminating” space with their presence? Consolmagno will discuss these and many other questions during his lecture.
More info, including a short bio of Consolmagno can be found HERE.
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“First question, Br. Consolmagno: How come it took the Vatican 359 years to admit Gallileo was right? Second question: when’s the Church going to offer up an official apology for torturing him into recanting his heliocentric theories? Never? Thought not. Proceed.”
Mostly because they were very attched Tycho’s theories–and Kepler was a Protestant, oh, and, since Galileo was good friends with the Pope Urban VIII, he thought he could get away with publishing his work. The Inquisition didn’t warm to it.
I was gonna say… It would be hard for me to take seriously any discussion of astronomy initiated by the Vatican. I’d suspect a pretty fat ulterior motive.
Interesting. What would the ulterior motive be?
“You can trust us now on scientific knowledge.” ???
Stereotyping Asians, bad. Stereotyping Catholics, okay. Got it!
The Vatican’s track record speaks for itself.
Thankfully, everyone else’s history is unblemished.
Most people’s histories, compared to the Vatican, are unblemished, and I will cast stones, first or last, at the church for the rest of my life.
If the shoe fits, wear it. I’m an ex-Catholic.
“Vatican Astronomer” sounds like a really stretchy title to me, being a former student of the history of science. Well, maybe someone can ask him if he considers Pluto a planet, or not. Might as well get some up-to-date Vatican opinion on that subject!
Erm, did you take the time to read his bio?
Of course I did–and it’s stellar…the negativity here is aimed at the Vatican’s track record regarding science. The Brother is a first rate astronomer and, ultimately, being a Jesuit doesn’t hurt either.
Wow. Tough crowd here in Decatur. I think this sounds like an interesting lecture. I hope I can talk my house guest into attending with me.
Tough crowd here. I would consider this a step in the right direction for the vatican. I’m pleased with the idea and he is more than welcome to Decatur.
The problem with that sentiment is it took the Vatican 600-some years to take it.
LOL – but you are naive in you think this is anything other than foolery up their sleeve. I am speaking as an ex-Catholic.
Naivete? Perhaps, but the Brother comes with very good credentials.
He is EMPLOYED by “The Vatican.”
In the interest of full disclosure: I’m a lapsed Catholic. I wasn’t implying that the Br. was unwelcome; however, I’d bet my last nickel that my questions above (only semi-in-jest) would be decidedly unwelcome. I can’t help but find more than a bit of irony in the term “Vatican astronomer”. Even so, I agree that his would be a fascinating viewpoint to hear. I’d probably even refrain from asking those questions to spare poor Mr. Libre the embarrassment of his wife’s “stirrin’ sump’n up”!
I’m looking forward to axing this fellow: exactly what is the pope’s sign anyway?
I believe he is an Aries.
I am currently reading a fictional book called “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell that primarily centers around a space exploration voyage undertaken by Jesuits for the purpose of initiating ET contact. So to see a real-life lecture in my city along the very same theme, Jesuits included, is an unlikely bit of synergy going on here.
I, too, read The Sparrow and thought of it in the context of this visitor’s talk tonight. Funny.
Ditto on The Sparrow link to this- great book. I immediately thought of it when I saw the post title.
Wow, quite the anti catholic vibe going on here. The Vatican actually has a well respected astronomy research program. 600 years ago nearly everyone, not just the Vatican thought Galileo was wrong. The Roman Catholic church promotes all science research and Vatican researchers have made many important discoveries including ones in the field of astronomy.
Wow again. To disagree with a new theory and presentation of evidence supporting it is quite different from imprisonment and insistence on recantation. I am not anti-Catholic, I am anti-Vatican-science-pronouncements.
Anyone read A Canticle for Leibowitz? A good post-apocalyptic Catholic story that resembles Europe’s attempts to come out of the Dark Ages–uhp, excuse me–Middle Ages.
Did anyone attend this? I did not. How was it?
Only in Decatur would a seemingly interesting lecture by a respected person become a thread like this. Well, not only Decatur. Maybe Cambridge, or Eton. Or Mt. Olympus. My horoscope today said: “You will find yourself surrounded by contrarians, pedants, and demagogues.” I thought: “why should today be any different than every other day?” and turned back to my PEOPLE magazine.
So, to riff on Parkers’ post: Does anyone who actually attended the lecture have any comments?
I hope these references to astrology are tongue-in-cheek–if not, oh boy, I believe we are discussing the Vatican’s take on astronomy.
A side note: I don’t think a theological treatment of astronomy is any more interesting than studying astronomy itself. Perhaps that’s just me.
Right ON! Jeanne Dixon would agree! Now back to my STAR! magazine.
Indeed, the thread has been discussing the “vatican’s take on astronomy” — to wit, its treatment of a man who died in 1642.
Well, shall we bring up recent church goings-on?
LOL! I am Catholic and still did a double-take when I saw “Vatican Astronomer”. I thought it must be some kind of Fat Tuesday Fools joke! Perhaps on April 1, we can spread word of the new Hindu Gourmet Burger place to open in the Depeaux building?!?
Now to my fellow non-lapsed Catholics, c’mon folks, if we can’t laugh at ourselves, they are still going to laugh at us anyway!