Science v religion

By deriving Kepler's laws of planetary motion from his mathematical description of gravity, and then using the same principles to account for the trajectories of comets, the tides, the precession of the equinoxes, and other phenomena, Newton removed the last doubts about the validity of the heliocentric model of the Solar System.

Perhaps the movement which most influenced Isaac Newton was Rosicrucianism. Though the Rosicrucian movement had caused a great deal of excitement within Europe's scholarly community during the early seventeenth century, by the time Newton had reached maturity the movement had become less sensationalized. However, the Rosicrucian movement still would have a profound influence upon Newton, particularly in regard to his alchemical work and philosophical thought.

The Rosicrucian belief in being specially chosen for the ability to communicate with angels or spirits is echoed in Newton's prophetic beliefs. Additionally, the Rosicrucians proclaimed to have the ability to live forever through the use of the elixir vitae and the ability to produce limitless amounts of time and gold from the use of The Philosopher's Stone, which they claimed to have in their possession. Like Newton, the Rosicrucians were deeply religious, avowedly Christian, anti-Catholic, and highly politicised. Isaac Newton would have a deep interest in not just their alchemical pursuits, but also their belief in esoteric truths of the ancient past and the belief in enlightened individuals with the ability to gain insight into nature, the physical universe, and the spiritual realm.

 

As can be seen from the above each of the scientist also had a religious dimension whether that be Catholic, Protestant, or Anglican whilst also being Rosicrucian, Hermetic, or Alchemist. They really don't seem to have suffered any conflict of interests.

 

The occult is that which is left over when science has tried to explain everything. Over the years the amount explained by science has increased but there is still a remainder of wonder.

 

The alchemists laid the ground work but it is interesting that science is selective in it's recognition of those involved. Paracelcus and Dee were rarely mentioned in scientific discussions but perhaps that is beginning to change.

 

What is Alchemy ?

 

The word alchemy was borrowed from Old French alquemie, alkimie, taken from Medieval Latin alchymia, and which is in turn borrowed from Arabic al-kīmiyā’ ‘philosopher's stone’. The Arabic word is borrowed from Late Greek chēmeía, chēmía ‘black magic’ with the agglutination of the Arabic definite article al- . This ancient Greek word was derived from the early Greek name for Egypt, Chēmia, based on the Egyptian name for Egypt, kēme (hieroglyphic khmi, literally ‘black earth’, as opposed to red desert sand).

 

The Medieval Latin form was influenced by Greek chymeia meaning ‘mixture’ and referring to pharmaceutical chemistry.

Defining objectives of alchemy are varied but historically have typically included one or more of the following goals: the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone; the ability to transmute base metals into the noble metals (gold or silver); and development of an elixir of life, which would confer youth and longevity.

 

Though alchemy played a significant role in the development of early modern science, it differs significantly from modern science in its inclusion of Hermetic principles and practices related to mythology, magic, religion, and spirituality.

 

Alchemy covers several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be largely independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centred in China and its zone of cultural influence; Indian alchemy, centred around the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose centre has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt, to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe. Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths, whereas Western alchemy developed its own philosophical system that was largely independent of, but influenced by, various Western religions. It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other.

 

The introduction of alchemy to Latin Europe occurred on 11th February 1144, with the completion of Robert of Chester's translation of the Arabic Book of the Composition of Alchemy.

 

Alchemists contributed distillation to Western Europe, so it wasn't all bad.

 

The attempts of alchemists to arrange information on substances, so as to clarify and anticipate the products of their chemical reactions, resulted in early conceptions of chemical elements and the first rudimentary periodic tables. They learned how to extract metals from ores, and how to compose many types of inorganic acids and bases.

 

During the 17th century, practical alchemy started to disappear in favour of its younger offshoot chemistry, as it was renamed by Robert Boyle, the "father of modern chemistry". In his book, "The Skeptical Chymist", Boyle attacked Paracelsus and the natural philosophy of Aristotle, which was taught at universities. However, Boyle's biographers, in their emphasis that he laid the foundations of modern chemistry, neglect how steadily he clung to the scholastic sciences and to alchemy, in theory, practice and doctrine. The decline of alchemy continued in the 18th century with the birth of modern chemistry, which provided a more precise and reliable framework within a new view of the universe based on rational materialism.

 

In the eyes of a variety of esoteric and Hermetic practitioners, the heart of alchemy is spiritual. Transmutation of lead into gold is presented as an analogy for personal transmutation, purification, and perfection. This approach is often termed 'spiritual', 'esoteric', or 'internal' alchemy.

 

Practitioners and patrons such as Melchior Cibinensis and Pope Innocent VIII existed within the ranks of the church, while Martin Luther applauded alchemy for its consistency with Christian teachings. Both the transmutation of common metals into gold and the universal panacea symbolized evolution from an imperfect, diseased, corruptible, and ephemeral state toward a perfect, healthy, incorruptible, and everlasting state, so the philosopher's stone then represented a mystic key that would make this evolution possible. Applied to the alchemist himself, the twin goal symbolized his evolution from ignorance to enlightenment, and the stone represented a hidden spiritual truth or power that would lead to that goal.

 

How do pagans feel about all of this ?

 

Do pagans accept science and a rational world view ?

 

Does the previous exclude the wonder of nature ?

 

I find science interesting in that the insights provided by science make the universe more fascinating when you discover how it works. The arguments about a hands-on god (determinism vs. free will) went out a long time ago and this removes any contradiction.

 

There are still those on either side who are willing to stir it up for their own purposes.

 

Recent developments :-

 

Placebo effect.

 

Black holes.

 

String theory.

 

Dark energy.

 

Dark matter.

 

Lets face it, when you read about these theories they sound more like mysticism than science. The only proof for the last two would appear to be the requirement to fix an unbalanced equation by creating new but undetectable entities. Perhaps god is composed of dark matter.

 

Scientific method is employed by the chaos magicians. By noting what they set out to achieve, how they went about it, and the actual result, they are applying experimental methodology to magic. On the other hand I still feel uncomfortable when I hear a scientist describing their discovery as a "leap of faith".

 

It looks like ideas continue to flow back and forward between the different subjects.

 

I'm glad about that.

 

Talks