Opinion

Science makes no claims of God’s existence because it deals in facts

The pejorative use of the term ‘scientism’ (the excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge) is the latest in the lexicon of those who reject the secular view that the myths of religion have been exposed by a greater understanding of the natural world. This is strange as the religious do not shrink from seizing upon the religiosity of  academics in an absurd attempt to show that science and religion are compatible. T Hardy (March 7) quotes from Prof John Lennox: “If science and God do not mix there would be no Christian Nobel Prize winners.” This lack  of intellectual integrity belies the erudite credentials of its author who has demeaned the very essence of academia, the pursuit of knowledge. Lennox is no educational slouch and  must be aware that an attempt to link science and Christianity to Nobel Laureats is not worthy of serious consideration, and that the religious breakdown of the world’s greatest minds adds nothing to the truth value of a God’s existence.

He is a Christian apologist who attempts to fuse his scientific knowledge with a strong religious belief in an effort to prove that the two are not only compatible but jointly provide proof of God’s existence.

He arbitrarily attributes a strong Christian belief to the success of the great scientists of old, particularily Newton. With Newton this is debatable given his propensity for the unorthodox and a penchant for the occult. Prof Lennox knows that access to education in earlier times was controlled mainly through the various religious orders and not to be seen as religious would have been detrimental to one’s academic advancement – Newton himself being obliged to take Holy Orders (and a vow of chastity) in order to become a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

The lack of evidence forces Lennox to revert to type by quoting from the Bible, abandoning his  professional ethics for the scientifically disproven myths of Genesis. He tells us that “all science started with Genesis” and that the God of the Bible is “the God of the whole show”.


To put this in context we have a professor of science and mathematics telling us that belief in a discrepant and ambivalent Holy Book trumps science.

Mr Hardy is asking us to side with someone who believes that we were created fully formed in a non-existent garden with a talking snake.

Science makes no claim about God’s existence because it deals in facts. Scientists accept there are vast gaps in their knowledge but unlike religion it relishes the search for the evidence to close the gaps.


The brilliant physicist, Richard Feynman, can put it no better: “It doesn’t matter how beautiful your theory is. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. If it doesn’t agree with experiment, it’s wrong”.

DANNY TREACY


Templepatrick, Co Antrim

A smaller scale stadium would sort Casement Park preblems

The proposed redevelopment of Casement Park to a capacity of 34,500 is currently stalled.  The risks are accumulating, to the point where the project as currently proposed is in jeopardy.  

It is now more than two years since UCGAA submitted a planning application for the latest iteration of their aspiration to build a provincial stadium at Casement Park – but no decision yet from the planners. 


That is not simply due to the absence of a minister. There are very real problems around UCGAA’s efforts to shoehorn an over-sized stadium into a constrained site. 

And the costs have escalated, from £77.5 million to the latest estimate of £110m. That leaves UCGAA with a funding shortfall of £32.5m, but no executive in place to decide whether the project deserves a further injection of public funds on top of the £62.5m awarded in March 2011.  

After nearly a decade of austerity, accompanied by swingeing cuts to benefits and reduced public services, would a reformed executive even be willing to pour millions more public money into a stadium that, in reality, would only be filled to capacity once a year, if that? But there is a way forward. That is to scale back the proposed redevelopment.


Precisely that point has been made by Cahir O’Kane, writing in The Irish News on November 13 2018, who concluded that: “A 34,000 capacity stadium [at Casement Park] is not a one-stop fix for Antrim’s problems and it’s not a necessity for the county. Half that would do them.” A smaller scale stadium along the lines suggested by Mr O’Kane would potentially sort both of the main problems currently facing the Casement Park project. 

First, a reduced scale Casement Park that is appropriate to the need and location would be better suited to addressing the planning and safety of sports grounds risks that continue to seriously hamper the proposed 34,500 capacity redevelopment.  That would in turn help to address the uncertainty around whether the planning application requires a minister to make a decision.

Second, the funding shortfall. Around £10m of the £62.5m public grant has already been expended, with nothing yet to show. That leaves £52.5m still available; more than enough to redevelop to a modest scale.

The time has come to refocus the proposed project and aim for a suitably-sized redevelopment of Casement Park which is GAA-orientated (no concerts), fit for purpose (safe) and part of the natural fabric of the community (appropriate mass and scale). 

TONY DIGNAN


Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association

Invite to Stroke event

I’m writing to invite  readers to join us at the Stroke Association’s UK Stroke Assembly on Monday April 8 at the Glenavon House Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

This is the first time this exciting event will take place in Northern Ireland and everyone with an interest in stroke is welcome.

The UK Stroke Assembly is a fun, upbeat and inspirational day, where stroke survivors, carers, volunteers and supporters of stroke groups can all meet to have their say on stroke, share experiences and hear about developments in stroke care and research. Topics include recovery, fatigue, speech therapy, campaigning and much more. We’ll also hear from stroke survivor and campaigner Clodagh Dunlop, who continues to make a remarkable recovery from locked-in syndrome. 

The cost for this event is £10 per person and covers lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Limited spaces are also available for professionals to attend at the cost of £35.

To book a place visit the Stroke Association website at www.stroke.org.uk/uksaireland or call our support team on 028 9050 8021 and we’ll be happy to help.

MARK DYER


Stroke Association, Belfast

Insulting remark

In the not so distant past the English referred to us as pigs. Now it seems that free state government ministers are using similar language to describe someone of a different political party. Maybe the minister who made the remark is of the opinion that a donkey is a step up from a pig. In this day and age his remark is to say the least highly insulting and a disgrace. He most certainly has made an ass of himself.

VAL MORGAN


Newry, Co Down 

Insoluble Irish problem

The mutual benefits of a union with Switzerland are worth considering: a flag combining red and green crosses would alienate nobody; chocolate factories in Connemara and Cushendall; water-ski resorts everywhere; our two and a a half lingos absorbed easily into their four and Swiss cottages in Donegal. Readers will add many others I’m sure. St Gall and James Joyce have already established a foothold in the Alps. Belfast-Berne. Dublin-Geneva – banks for the rich and famous, I envisage it all.

LEN LAVERY


Lisburn, Co Antrim