John William Draper Quotes
So great was the preference given to sacred over profane learning that Christianity had been in existence fifteen hundred years, and had not produced a single astronomer.
John William Draper, 1811-1882, Chemist and Historian, History of the Conflict between Religion and Science, 1910
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Most scientists do not have the skill or the totality of knowledge to accurately predict the effect of scientific research and learning on society. Many are not interested. Those who try to communicate with politicians and the public are usually met with indifference or suspicion. Above all, the scientific and mathematical literacy of the public is so weak, that it is impossible in much of science to even explain the science to the lay public much less explain its implications. Soddy was a bit of an idealist from a class society and he felt the upper classes should be better informed by scientists.
Christians of 1 thousand years ago were barbarous and immoral compared to Christians of today, even though their Bible is the same. He argued that Islam may well also reform. In looking at Islam compared with Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, it is useful to remember that these are much older religions than Islam. They have had more time to reform and develop. Compare Christians 700 years ago to Christians today. They were pretty barbaric in comparison. They burned heretics at the stake and "witches" also. But Islam is 700 years younger than Christianity and thousands of years younger than the other 3 religions mentioned. It may well need more time to develop and reform.
Jefferson’s concern over issues of church state separation and independence was expressed early when he was a young lawyer.
The institution to which he was referring was the University of Virginia which Jefferson founded. This letter shows Jefferson’s personal antipathy to the theologians of the day. It is uncharacteristically not as tolerant as most of us would associate with Jefferson. However, by this time in his career, he had become used to being the major political enemy of most orthodox clerics. He didn’t want them in his beloved university.
Basil the Great
John William Draper was an English-born American scientist, philosopher, physician, chemist, historian and photographer. He is credited with producing the first clear photograph of a female face (1839–40) and the first detailed photograph of the moon in 1840. He was also the first president of the American Chemical Society (1876–77) and a founder of the New York University School of Medicine.
