Grand Paradigms

Grand Paradigms

Basic western model, 500 BC – 1543 AD Humans are the centre of the Universe Humans were placed here by God/Gods Human purpose is the worship of

God/Gods Religion is the path of truth

Model of the universe

GodHumansAnimals

Anything else

Which God ?

Nicolaus Copernicus

Geocentric model, Ptolemy

1543…

Paradigm shift A huge change in thinking… Catholic Church violently opposed this shift Copernicus, Galileo & Kepler persecuted In 1633 Galileo was convicted of grave

suspicion of heresy for "following the position of Copernicus, which is contrary to the true sense and authority of Holy Scripture"

In 1758 the general prohibition against works advocating heliocentrism was removed from the Index of prohibited books, although the specific ban on uncensored versions of the

Dialogue and Copernicus's De Revolutionibus remained.[92] All traces of official opposition to heliocentrism by the Church disappeared in 1835 when these

works were finally dropped from the Index.

On 15 February 1990, in a speech delivered at the Sapienza University of Rome, Cardinal Ratzinger cited some current views on the Galileo affair as forming what he called "a symptomatic case that permits us to see how deep the self-doubt of the modern age, of science and technology goes today."[

On 31 October 1992, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for how the Galileo affair was handled, and officially conceded that the Earth was not stationary, as the result of a study conducted by the Pontifical Council for Culture

Enlightenment Paradigm Man is rational & superior to all

things Reason is the gift of God Man’s purpose is to investigate the

universe Science is the source of truth

New Celestial pyramidGodMindDesignOrderChaosNothing

More Paradigms Atheism develops post 1543 Darwin’s paradigm, evolution We are not created by God Freud showed we are not in control of our

behaviour…sex…sub-conscious Are we rational, self controlled ? Einstein…space & time not fixed Heisenburg, particles positions can never be known

Modern Paradigm…Humans are random evolutionary accidents

Humans are one of billions of speciesProbably other planets with life

There is no GodThere is no purpose to lifeThere is no path to truth

« Oh my Gawd…Whats the point !»

Why are we here ?How did we get here ?What is the point of life ?