Rich Lowry on Neil deGrasse Tyson's accolytes

Note:  citations are in this color.  Links are in light blue.  My words are in white.


Over at National Review Online, Rich Lowry has a post about a recent skirmish between Sean Davis of the Federalist and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Lowry summarizes:

The problem is the belief of his (Tyson's) fans — encouraged by him — that science has all the answers; that anyone who believes in physics must adhere to a progressive secularism; that anyone not on board is guilty of rank anti-intellectualism.

Properly understood, science is a tool, an incredibly powerful one, but still just a tool. G. K. Chesterton wrote long ago, “Science must not impose any philosophy, any more than the telephone must tell us what to say.

The Bush-quote controversy reminds us that the self-styled champions of science are, like anyone else, prone to sloppiness, pomposity, and error. Just don’t tell the adherents of the Tyson cult. It’s not polite to scandalize the faithful.

One important thing to remember is that scientists are like everybody else.  They can be egocentric, self aggrandizing, petty, and vindictive as well as "prone to sloppiness, pomposity, and error."

In other words they are sinners like the rest of us, in desperate need of the mercy of God.

The words from the book of Job, in the readings from Mass today come to mind:

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.

Some humility in the presence of God is a good thing.