This post is a brief reflection on the interpretation of significant events in the lives of two important figures in Western history, both of whom have African backgrounds - the influential Christian theologian from Algeria, St. Augustine, and the influential scientist from New York, Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. St. Augustine is in fact an ancient figure who became a Christian in part because he thought that his Christian faith could enable him to have a better understanding of the best science of his age. He deplored religious explanations of the universe that did not take into account the best available science. He rejected the first religion to which he belonged, Manichaeism, because a respected Manichaean representative lacked understanding of the best science available in his time. Thus, St. Augustine never tired of encouraging Christians to be abreast with the best science of their time in order not to look foolish to the secular world.
St. Augustine's tendency to take into consideration the best available science of his time in his Christian thinking is however not the point I want to emphasize in this brief post. The point of comparing him to Dr. Tyson deals with how they interpret key moments in the narrative of their lives. Recently, Dr. Tyson has been propagating the scientific worldview through his program called "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey." I watched the first episode and was quite intrigued by the story which Dr. Tyson told of his encounter with the famous American scientist, Carl Sagan. He talked about how the cordiality with which he was treated by Dr. Sagan contributed significantly in his wanting to become a scientist. In fact, one of the most treasured possessions of Dr. Tyson's is a signed copy of Dr. Sagan's book.
Recently I have been thinking of the way science is propagated as being similar to the way religion is propagated and I found it quite interesting that the attachment which Dr. Tyson demonstrates towards the book Carl Sagan gave him can also be described as a religious attachment. Many people who tell the story of how they joined a particular religion often include stories of kindness showed to them by members of that particular religion. Such kindness is often similar to that which Dr. Tyson received from Sagan. However, the interpretation which Dr. Tyson gives of his encounter with Dr. Sagan does not appeal to any religion. That encounter led him to embrace science at to be suspicious of religion and the religious imagination.
On turning to St. Augustine, however, we see that he interprets his story differently. When he became the Bishop of Hippo (in Algeria) in the last decade of the fourth century, many Christians did not trust him. He had been a member of a religious group which Christians feared (Manicheans), he was baptized in Italy rather than in Africa, and he was ordained Bishop by only two Bishops rather than the twelve required. Augustine had to justify his position and even his Christian faith. That is a major motivation for why he wrote his famous book, Confessions. In his narrative of his life in the book, he interprets the various points of his life as providential, as moving him towards God. An important point in this narrative is the availability of a manuscript of Paul's Letter to the Romans, and it is after Augustine reads a portion of this letter that he converts to the Christian faith.
Two stories, both including encounters with books, both leading to different directions - or do they?
St. Augustine's tendency to take into consideration the best available science of his time in his Christian thinking is however not the point I want to emphasize in this brief post. The point of comparing him to Dr. Tyson deals with how they interpret key moments in the narrative of their lives. Recently, Dr. Tyson has been propagating the scientific worldview through his program called "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey." I watched the first episode and was quite intrigued by the story which Dr. Tyson told of his encounter with the famous American scientist, Carl Sagan. He talked about how the cordiality with which he was treated by Dr. Sagan contributed significantly in his wanting to become a scientist. In fact, one of the most treasured possessions of Dr. Tyson's is a signed copy of Dr. Sagan's book.
Recently I have been thinking of the way science is propagated as being similar to the way religion is propagated and I found it quite interesting that the attachment which Dr. Tyson demonstrates towards the book Carl Sagan gave him can also be described as a religious attachment. Many people who tell the story of how they joined a particular religion often include stories of kindness showed to them by members of that particular religion. Such kindness is often similar to that which Dr. Tyson received from Sagan. However, the interpretation which Dr. Tyson gives of his encounter with Dr. Sagan does not appeal to any religion. That encounter led him to embrace science at to be suspicious of religion and the religious imagination.
On turning to St. Augustine, however, we see that he interprets his story differently. When he became the Bishop of Hippo (in Algeria) in the last decade of the fourth century, many Christians did not trust him. He had been a member of a religious group which Christians feared (Manicheans), he was baptized in Italy rather than in Africa, and he was ordained Bishop by only two Bishops rather than the twelve required. Augustine had to justify his position and even his Christian faith. That is a major motivation for why he wrote his famous book, Confessions. In his narrative of his life in the book, he interprets the various points of his life as providential, as moving him towards God. An important point in this narrative is the availability of a manuscript of Paul's Letter to the Romans, and it is after Augustine reads a portion of this letter that he converts to the Christian faith.
Two stories, both including encounters with books, both leading to different directions - or do they?
No comments:
Post a Comment