tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240377100452054033.post6122366458846199737..comments2008-04-29T23:20:04.276-04:00Comments on Icons, Altars, and Pop Religion: Controversial Art?Andrew W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16231970546346791043noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240377100452054033.post-55290597712798950462008-02-06T00:58:00.000-05:002008-02-06T00:58:00.000-05:00As I’ve reflected more on the idea of juxtaposing ...As I’ve reflected more on the idea of juxtaposing scientific discoveries and biblical miracles, I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with the idea. The installation would potentially support the cliché of the scientist or doctor with the “God complex.” If they are positioned as the miracle worker, we scientific laypeople are then necessarily in awe of the scientist, who potentially becomes a supreme figure, a deity in awe of nothing. This seems to me exactly counter to our project. Our future is marked by tremendously bright technological prospects, but these endeavors are fixed to equally astounding risk. Shouldn’t we focus on humbling the scientist, reminding them of the fragility of humanity?<BR/><BR/>Consider this quote from Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, regarding the success of the Human Genome Project:<BR/><BR/>“It has been a wonderful privilege to be able to unravel the mystery of God's creation, to see things that humans have never seen before and that God knew all along.”<BR/><BR/>(The full article is here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_15_119/ai_90190867)<BR/><BR/>What does everybody think about this quote? Is it pious or blasphemous? I’m not sure. Note that Collins is a devout Christian and a believer of Theistic Evolution—an alternative to Intelligent Design that posits the compatibility of science and religion.Mike Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07740298092370236974noreply@blogger.com