From Galileo Galilei to Stephen Hawking 【原创】

In 1616, the Catholic Church condemned Galileo for his heliocentric theory of the Solar System. When it comes to religious edicts, the Pope is infallible as he is the mouthpiece of God. In 1992, Pope John Paul II finally admitted that the Church was wrong. This begs the question, “Since God was giving judgement through the Church, was God mistaken in how the Solar System worked? And why has it taken close to 400 years to realize he was wrong.”
Of course, God cannot be wrong, so the Pope must be the one, which means Popes are not infallible as claimed. If Popes are not infallible, what other Church doctrines have actually been man-made instead of from divine revelation?
Stephen Hawking’s reiteration of God is not a necessary component in the Grand Design has once again raised the ire of the religious community. Fortunately, he is now in the 21st century, and is unlikely to be burned at the stake as a heretic.
Personally, I am more worry about the rising tide of religious fundamentalism and the polarization of religions. Will a new Dark Age come and sweep away the hard won Age of Reason? I dearly hope not1
JWC/DS/YHS Oct 26, 2010.