Vatican & Italian Space Agency Combine Science and Spirituality

Posted by Heartmind _Featured_, Space Friday, February 25th, 2011

A new website is being created in a joint venture between the Vatican and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). In an effort for science and spirituality to both understand a full view of reality, the website will explore the often separate subjects of astronomy, theology, space, philosophy, and art. It will present the information in both the English and Italian language, and will have three separate portals for students and teachers, scholars, and the general population.

Monsignor Gianfranco Basti, the dean of the Pontifical Lateran University’s philosophy department, stated:

“From the Church’s point of view, this is about getting religious people to see that scientists are not the enemy and getting scientists to see that religious people are not the enemy,” said Msgr Basti. “The aim is for both sides to come together for the good of humanity.”

“What we are doing is to try to understand reality,” said Piero Benvenuti, from the ASI. According to Benvenuti, “Science can help in that, but it doesn’t have all the answers, and we must accept that.”

The Vatican will run the site’s theological sections, and ASI will maintain the scientific information, which will include the latest data collected by satellites, unmanned probes, and European and American space flights.

Both Msgr Basti and professor Benvenuti commented on the conceptual union of science and spirituality.

“I can believe in God and at the same time accept Einstein’s theory that time has not always existed,” said Msgr Basti.

Benvenuti commented, “I cannot, as a scientist, prove love exists, but I know it’s there.”

Full artice: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12244279

Photo: Hubble Space Telescope