Why the Pope Is So Smart

Because he takes science seriously. More specifically (as discussed in the post at LDS Science Review) it is because the Catholic Church appears to have institutionalized a scientific advisory role that informs and educates senior Catholic leaders about various scientific concepts. Now I know that senior LDS leaders sometimes engage in individual conversations with LDS scientists, but imagine how much more effectively this process would work if it were similarly institutionalized. It wouldn't take much, and it would help overcome the wounds inflicted on LDS thinking by decades of CES-sponsored anti-intellectualism.

Comments

[Lincoln Cannon]

Amen

[SteveP]

And, John Paul II wrote an encyclical that I think is one of the finest statements on Faith and Reason I've read. I make all my students read portions of it in my Philosophy of Biology Class:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html

[Jared*]

As always, thanks for the nod.

[Hellmut]

It seems to me that a scientific advisory board would be compatible with D&C 9.

[NorthboundZax]

Sounds like a great idea to me. I am sure it would help harness a tremendous amount of wisdom within the institutional church that is currently ignored and/or derided. However, I suspect it will make many people uneasy to have such an obvious working process that actively draws from the philosophies of men mingled with scripture.

[DT]

I definitely agree. I've been reading quite a bit on this topic lately, most recently the book Mormon Scientist. And it's stuff like this that I think Henry Eyring (the chemist) would wholeheartedly accept- and participate in. Back in the 60's and 70's, the whole battle over faith and science was something that the Church really had a hand in and General Authorities openly sponsored the efforts of LDS scientists to educate the Saints in relation to both areas and help them accept a broader, more enlightened view of the world. Of course, I think ideas like this naturally will cause some strife amongst members who feel threatened by what is unknown (which is a lot more than we tend to think think). Yet still, ideas like this are most assuredly in compliance with the scriptures, for it was the Lord himself who once said to the Elders, "let us reason together, that ye may understand." (D&C 50:10)

Great post.