Why Am I Here?
Jan 6th, 2007 by Don Ray
Now if you are a regular reader of Chiriquí Chatter, I am sure that you thought from the title that this post has some relevance to my living in Panama. Sorry, but the title and the content of the post have nothing to do with Panama. Nor does this post contain any attempt at humor or any attempts at poetry. It is not political and has nothing to do with computers. I will tell you, that if it affects you as it did me, it will make you think.
Another Yahoo group I belong to recently had a post written because of several discussions that had been occurring within that group. The poster used as material, a video from the University of Washington TV channel he received on Dish Network. Luckily the University of Washington has the TV broadcast on a file that can be watched via the Internet.
The title of the presentation is “When the Sacred Cows of Science and Religion Meet”. The presenter is George Coyne.
If you were a fan of Carl Sagen, you will probably like it. This is what the poster wrote about George Coyne that drew me to spend 85 minutes watching it.
He was the Director of the Vatican Observatory until August of last year. His presentation includes a scientific view of the universe - dimensions and age, the birth and death of stars, the formation of planets, etc. This is presented in a very interesting way. He then touches on his viewpoints of the relationship of religion and God to this. He has some very thought-provoking perspectives.
It’s 85 minutes long, but it should be engrossing enough to seem much shorter. So, if this sounds like it could be worthwhile, turn on your PC speakers and grab some popcorn. There is an introduction, so don’t give up at least until the guy with the priest’s collar begins his presentation. As with all video presentations, it has the benefit of a pause button.
I did exactly what he suggested. I felt my time was well spent. If you want to watch the presentation, click HERE.
¡ Thanks for stealing my tent, Don Ray !
Allen McDonald, El Galloviejo®
TENT?
My comment was an oblique reference to the Sherlock Holmes/Watson humorous ‘Someone stole the tent’ analogy that George Coyne used in ‘When the Sacred Cows of Science and Religion Meet’.
My intent was to imply that watching the presentation helped to open up my eyes to see more clearly that which I had been nibbling around the edges of for quite a while now.
Sooo, Don Ray, thanks for bringing Coyne’s presentation to my attention.
Allen McDonald, El Galloviejo®
Ahh. It shows how slow I was. I completely missed the connection and it is funny, because , I told myself “I need to remember that Holmes’ story.”
Glad you enjoyed it.