I think the most notable part of this episode is how reasonable and nuanced Rowan William sounds. Richard may not like the idea of having cake AND eating it, however there is an alternative to both religious and atheist fundamentalism.
The Archbishop of Canterbury never explained why God created diphtheria so that the fittest children could beat that disease and go on to further god's plans for humanity's evolution.
Diphtheria is as much a consequence of evolution as humans are. However humans have greater significance as we are able to transcend the natural. Thus the significance of an individual is not to be judged merely by their apparent earthly achievements. As soon as one falls into the trap of saying that a child who died at birth is less significant than say a great scientist who lived to an old age you are beginning to view people as a means to an end.
Is the double gold-medalist swimmer Rebecca Adlington more significant than a top surgeon, a school teacher or a loving stay-at-home parent? The press may think so but I do not.
The Archbishop of Canterbury never explained why God created diphtheria so that the fittest children could beat that disease and go on to further god's plans for humanity's evolution.
ReplyDeleteDiphtheria is as much a consequence of evolution as humans are. However humans have greater significance as we are able to transcend the natural. Thus the significance of an individual is not to be judged merely by their apparent earthly achievements. As soon as one falls into the trap of saying that a child who died at birth is less significant than say a great scientist who lived to an old age you are beginning to view people as a means to an end.
ReplyDeleteIs the double gold-medalist swimmer Rebecca Adlington more significant than a top surgeon, a school teacher or a loving stay-at-home parent? The press may think so but I do not.