Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 16:10:01 -0500
Subject: PKF: God's Will and Science
From: robasso2-AT-juno.com (Robert Basso)


David,

Thanks for  the warm welcome, and top of the mornin' to ya--even tho it's
now afternoon.

Thanks also for the reading suggestions.

re "Apropos of 'The Jesus Zygote', I've often wondered myself whether the
half of Jesus' DNA from Mary was visible, and the half from the Holy
Spirit invisible! "

I explain this in the book, illustrating a non-reductionist approach or
method...


I don't know if PKF members discuss topical news issues that have some
bearing on philosophical issues, particularly regarding science and
technology, one of which interestingly relates to the central issue of
The Jesus Zygote.

This morning on Fox News Sunday Dr. Laura, Stephen Covey, and Bishop
James T. McHugh were arguing about the moral and ethical implications of
the McCaughey septuplets.  I agreed with Dr. Laura that the fruits of
artificial fertility drugs don't represent "God's Will", any more than
the non-fruits of artificial birth control or abortion do.

 I was a little shocked that Bishop McHugh was adamant in his defense of
the blessed event having positive divine sanction and significance.  I
don't know if he's speaking the official RCC line on this issue; if he
his, it's a huge departure from the traditional naturalistic RCC view
about childbirth.

If it's all right to induce childbirth with drugs, why wouldn't it be all
right to induce non-births by any artificial means, including
partial-birth abortions?  I always thought that regarding birthing  the
RCC principled position is God's will is only ever in concert with
Nature's way.  Who will decide what forms or methods of technology
represent God's will in situations and which ones don't?  God isn't
currently around to tell us.

It appears to me it was much more God's will for the McCaugheys not to
have any more children before this utilitarian intervention that has
effectively subverted God's will, or original intent, regarding the fate
of this couple.

As a result, is the Catholic church now calling God's will Science?  I
won't say it was Satan's will because all human social activity since the
Garden's disappearance has been Satan's will.  Anyway, Bishop McHugh is
Calvinizing Catholicism if he thinks utilitarian science spells God's
Will.


If man could scientifically induce a divine birth with the exact genetic
characteristics or traits Jesus must have had, would this be God's
will....?

Robert Basso.


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