Commentary: Galileo and Darwin All Over Again?

Just the other day, I wanted to share some of last year's stuff that I missed during my previous blog.

Then, earlier today, I remembered an article I read a month back that really irritated me. So I'm writing about that instead. It's entitled "Will a New Vatican Document Affect Science and Reproductive Health?" from Scientific American. You can read the full article here.

Now, I honestly haven't read the actual Vatican document. Though as I write this, I think I'll find time to read it.

Now, the Church has a very long history of condemning a lot of activities and a lot people, and later retracting its own accusations, sometimes apologetically, sometimes silently. Statistically, I wouldn't bet the Church is "right" this time around. And yes, I do believe other people should not also. But I also believe that we should let people (or even whole societies) believe what they want.

What really irritates me (and it's irritating me a lot) is how many people still actually believe that the Pope's words are true, and are actually [their] God's word. If I told those same people stock prices will jump 100% upwards tomorrow across the board, they won't believe me and will ask for data. An organization who has never proven any of its theses tells them to believe something, and they immediately swallow it hook, line, and sinker. That's indoctrination for you.

Does that mean I don't think that human dignity, the subject of the document, to be important? Of course I do. I just disagree with the arbitrary way (i.e. the method) the line between dignity and indignity was drawn. Of course, the Church doesn't believe in conducting studies on where the line should really be drawn, much less getting the second opinion from the general populace - it would be more convenient to simply get "divine intervention" - essentially, a system based on faith. Faith in God (which is good), and faith that the Catholic Church is really the God's church (which is hard to swallow). That's asking a lot of faith.

If a company doesn't have the proper systems and processes in place, and a bad track record, would you believe in its declarations to deliver? Because essentially, that is what the Catholic Church seem to be - an organization with one of the worst systems and processes in place when it comes to determining truths. Admittedly, it has good financial and asset management systems, a well-controlled(-oiled) political machinery, and a big charitable arm; but when it comes to systems on finding and identifying truths about reality, it's archaic, outdated, and needs an overhaul. If it's God guiding them, I don't believe they would have taken so many wrong intellectual positions time and time again without fail. After all, God can only make so many mistakes, right?

Now, why does science prove itself time and time again? The answer is simple: systems make an organization work. The systems of science make its entire organization - the whole scientific community - work. Systems embodied by the scientific principle and practiced in peer review. Sure, it may at times fail and falter, but the systems ensure the organization recovers. Does the Catholic Church have the same systems in place, with the same reputation?

Times like these, I just wish people truly understood what Carl Sagan was saying when he titled one of his books as "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark."

お久しぶり！

It's been a long while since I blogged! 5 months and 4 days to be exact. A lot of stuff have happened since my last blog; and one of them is the fact that I've reconciled with my girlfriend! \(^_^)/ I am so glad that I am no longer reading my previous posts with tears in my eyes. A very, very happy reunion, no less, if not for the fact that I was leaving for Japan then. We're now once again happily calling each other with our favorite pet names (which I reserve the right to withhold, as they are private). :P

So what else has transpired? I've finished the magnificent Hyperion cantos! Endymion was a bit slow, but the purpose of the events is revealed in the next and final book, Rise of Endymion. The purpose immediately reminded of two things - Magic: The Gathering (if you're familiar with the series, you'll be reminded of how mana is drawn) and Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination (quite obviously, jaunting). I'm not going to be direct here, as it'll spoil the fun for those who haven't read the book. One more thing - I especially liked the revelation of what was that mysterious medium that can transcend time and space; that medium which the A.I. TechnoCore cannot comprehend and practically abused: The Void which Binds. What a wonderful name. The "nothing" which brings people together; the "nothing" that allows people to live on after death. Go figure. ;) Can't put together what I've been saying? Then read the Hyperion cantos! You won't regret it.

Now, at that point, I wanted to read more of Dan Simmons. So I picked up Ilium and Olympos. Two mighty big novels. A lot has already been said in Amazon.com user reviews about these books - on how highly original and creative Ilium is, and on how Olympos sort of disappointed people. All I can say is: I can attest to the first, and only slightly agree with the second. Suffice to say, the books were great. :)

What else? Well, I finished Old Man's War and its succeeding novels, by John Scalzi. But instead of expounding it here, I think you can just refer to my review of the books.

I'm also done with the first book of John C. Wright's The Golden Age series. This 1st book is so well-written and overflowing with ideas that I have already ordered the the 2nd and 3rd books (The Phoenix Exultant and The Golden Transcendence, respectively) from Amazon.jp and eagerly awaiting their delivery within the next two weeks.

I know that seems to be quite a lot of books within the span of five months - well, my room here in Japan was kinda empty during my first month since I was low on budget, and without an Internet connection, there wasn't much I could do. :)

Although... given that I took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 3 this past December, I think I should have spent more time studying. >p The results won't be out until the middle of Feb '09, but let's just say I'm confident I'll past, but won't be getting a high score (high being greater than 80%).

Other than that, there's just been work, and more work, and still more work - spending late hours in the office, and once in a while, catching the last train home. ;P

Well, that's it for today. I think I'll chronicle other events as I remember them. Just one last thing though: 紀伊国屋 bookstore was having a sale - 20% off - on foreign books last Sunday! Of course, I grabbed at the opportunity! How could I not? Bought some non-fiction books that I'll probably relate some other time. :)