Albert Einstein may have helped to pave the path for modern civilization with his theory of relativity, however, there was more to this man than mere physics and science (Franklin, 2007, para. 2). He was awarded Time Magazine’s “Person of the Century” in 2000 as just one of the many recognitions he has received beyond his intellectual accomplishments (Lanouette, 2008, para. 1). In fact, the work in which he partook, combined with his just priorities and beliefs, fell clearly in line with the teachings the Catholic church strives to encourage. The following paper will prove how Albert Einstein’s ethic and moral actions clearly promoted three of the ten principles of Catholic social teachings. The Catholic Church teaches that one’s morality …show more content…
25). Albert Einstein was not a stranger to this type of treatment as he stood up for the oppressed and loudly encouraged the rest of the world to do the same. For example, during the 1920s as anti-Semitic views began to strengthen in Germany, Einstein vocally opposed the racist and violent behaviour and also supported multiple organizations who intended to protect Jewish people (Simon, 2005, para. 7). He strived to end the violence and exclusion from basic rights Jewish people faced and treated them like his brothers and sisters. This is exactly in line with the Catholic social teaching on the topic that states that “every social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of…religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design” (CCC, 1993, para. 1935). The Jewish people were facing racial discrimination in the highest degree and Einstein did not follow the popular opinion to remain quiet through this, even though he could have. Catholicism teaches humanity to put aside one’s differences and love one’s neighbour and this is exactly what Einstein did. In addition, Albert Einstein promoted solidarity during his speech in 1946, titled The Negro Question, when, as Simon (2005) points out, he said, “the social outlook of Americans…their sense of equality... is limited to men of white skins... I can escape complicity in it only by speaking out” (para. 17). Einstein had established a powerful voice and so he used this leverage to promote equality in America. In the encyclical, Pacem In Terris, Pope John XXII (1963) suggests that this is just as Catholicism teaches people to do: all men have intrinsic value and so racial discrimination is intolerable and must end (para. 44). One must treat
Elected in 1958 as a ‘caretaker Pope’, Pope John XXIII implemented the greatest reforms in the Church’s history. His involvement within the Church had played a significant contribution to the reforming of social, political and liturgical Christian traditions. During the early twentieth century, the Catholic Church still held the century old conservative beliefs and traditions as they continued to separate the Church from the secular world, therefore, disadvantaging the Church to a world that was modernising. In addition to this, the Church restricted modernist thoughts due to the belief that new theologies would threaten the power and authority of the Church, but ...
Within mainstream society it seems as if there is not a great deal of emphasis on the contributions made by theologians in society, as well as contributions by theologians to religious thought. Particularly in Christendom, ecclesiastical assemblies are so consumed with vain ideas of worship, and content on hearing biblical messages that capitulate to their personal desires, that theological studies are often neglected. Yet the contributions theologians have made in society, and the impact these contributions have had on religious assemblies have been pivotal in guiding religious discourse on subjects such as ethics, morality, and social transformation. It is for this reason, that in this essay an attempt will be made to analyze three essays from three world-renowned theologians of the 20th century. The theologians are Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Walter Wink, all of which have produced the essays used for this analysis, and have written works that have completely challenged status quo religion, and changed the landscape of Christendom forever.
Mere Christianity is divided into four books or sections that build and expand off of the prior. The first book is entitled “Right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe” and he examines the common understanding among all men of a universal moral law hardwired in the minds of men. He begins this examination with a presentation of man’s concept of right and wrong. The simplest understanding among all men is the concept of fairness. This fair play points to a law and can be seen in the reactions of mankind to justice and injustice. He contrasts this moral law, the Law of Human Nature, with the law of nature found in the world. The mind of the moral relativist denies such standards yet fail to recognize their call for fairness as a fatal flaw in their reasoning.
In papal Rome in the early 16th century the “Good Book” was the reference book for all scientists. If a theory was supported in its holy pages, or at the very least not contradicted, then the idea had a chance of find acceptance outside the laboratory. Likewise, no theory no matter how well documented could be viewed with anything but disdain if it contradicted with the written word of, or the Church’s official interpretation of scripture. For these reasons the Church suppressed helio-centric thinking to the point of making it a hiss and a byword. However, this did not keep brave men from exploring scientific reason outside the canonical doctrine of the papal throne, sometimes at the risk of losing their own lives. While the Vatican was able to control the universities and even most of the professors, it could not control the mind of one man known to the modern world as Galileo Galilei. Despite a wide array of enemies, Galileo embarked on a quest, it seems almost from the beginning of his academic career, to defend the Copernican idea of a helio-centric universe by challenging the authority of the church in matters of science. Galileo‘s willingness to stand up for what he held to be right in the face of opposition from Bible-driven science advocates set him apart as one of the key players in the movement to separate Church authority from scientific discovery, and consequently paved the way for future scientific achievement.
Einstein’s education was unconventional for a person who was to become a success. Early on, he was failing a large number of his courses; and he transferred from a German school at age fifteen to a Swiss school, so that he could avoid compulsive military service in the German armed forces. By the age of sixteen, he officially became a school dropout. His grade school principle made the statement to his parents, “it didn’t matter what profession the boy prepared for because he wo...
After reading this letter I feel that Galileo had a very opinionated outlook on life and was heavily involved in a struggle for freedom of inquiry. Galileo was a person who had many strong beliefs and would not let people or a document have a say in what he believes.
Karl Rahner’s life was dedicated to his writings and teachings. From a young age he knew his calling for religion and until his death in nineteen eighty-four he did not stop doing what he loved. Because of his devotion to work and the many years he spent studying, he was able to be inspired by several different philosophers and theologians. Putting together the knowledge from both of these realms we have the modernist philosopher and the Catholic theologian Karl Rahner. His philosophical influence changed the Catholic church of the twentieth century and continues to have an influence on modern Christian thought.
In the history of the Catholic Church, no episode is so contested by so many viewpoints as the condemnation of Galileo. The Galileo case, for many, proves the Church abhors science, refuses to abandon outdated teachings, and is clearly not infallible. For staunch Catholics the episode is often a source of embarrassment and frustration. Either way it is undeniable that Galileo’s life sparked a definite change in scientific thought all across Europe and symbolised the struggle between science and the Catholic Church.
Roles of the Catholic Church in Western civilization has been scrambled with the times past and development of Western society. Regardless of the fact that the West is no longer entirely Catholic, the Catholic tradition is still strong in Western countries. The church has been a very important foundation of public facilities like schooling, Western art, culture and philosophy; and influential player in religion. In many ways it has wanted to have an impact on Western approaches to pros and cons in numerous areas. It has over many periods of time, spread the teachings of Jesus within the Western World and remains a foundation of continuousness connecting recent Western culture to old Western culture.-
To begin, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition is known as a 2000 year conversation between the church and the world. When the age of the Enlightenment captivated Europe and other parts of the world, intellectuals and philosophers focused their attention to only reason and away from faith. In fact, many Enlightenment philosophers argued faith and reason could never be compatible. On the other, from the perspective of a Catholic Intellectual, many would oppose this way of thinking and argues a Catholic can most certainly promote both faith and reason.
In his response to a question asked by sixth grade student Phyllis regarding “Whether or not scientists pray?”, Einstein successfully employs rhetorical methods such as tone, diction, ethos, and logos to support and make the claim that scientists do not pray. By doing so he makes for a well written and rhetorically effective response. Einstein effectively utilizes logos in his writing by stating facts and calling upon logical reasoning to support his claim: that scientists do not pray. An example of this can be found in the first paragraph, where he writes, “... a research scientist will hardly be inclined to believe that events could be influenced by a prayer”. He backs up this claim using logical reasoning, “Scientific research is based on the idea that everything takes place is determined by laws of nature”.
Albert Einstein was undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest physicians and mathematicians of all time. Einstein’s theories of relativity completely changed the world and have had a huge impact on how we currently live our lives. From how we heat our homes to how we are able to use GPS navigation systems. His theories have greatly changed how we must view the world around us. His theories of relativity and his works during the world wars earned him a Nobel Prize in physics, to name one of the many he deservingly received.
“Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think,” this is one of famous quotes from the Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha. Siddhārtha Gautama was born in Lumbini, Nepal and is a famous philosopher, and religious practitioner. He was born and raised for ,much of his life as a prince that was sheltered ad shielded from the harshness of the outside world to ensure that he would not think unfavorably about the world and have it affect his decision and responsibilities once he would take over the throne. In addition, he was raised to be materialistic and felt entitled to his workers, slaves, and prostitutes with little to no respect for their wellbeing. The Buddha felt emptiness and confused after he married his cousin and had a child with her. Therefore, he secretly snuck out of the palace to search for in the villages, there he saw four different hardships that opened his eyes. One being an old man representing aging, a terminally ill man representing sickness, unidentified dead body representing death, and finally the Buddha saw a spiritual seeker that lead him to wanting to
Have you ever wondered how science and Christianity don't constantly contradict each other? Well, before Albertus Magnus, a German philosopher, scientist, bishop, and teacher, they were thought to be contradictory. People believed that science and religion were binary, that one was true and the other false. Albertus helped draw the line connecting faith and reason. I chose Albertus because of this very reason.
Humans have a natural sense of curiosity. How does this work? Why does that happen? What makes this do that? Among us, there will always be those who strive to find the answers to questions like these and more. One of these people was Albert Einstein, perhaps one of the greatest human minds this world has ever known.