FRANK MURRAY,
Madam, - I enjoy William Reville's occasional comments on the interface between science and religion. They are valuable insights into a subject that is of special interest in Ireland at present. As a country with a history of faith and religious practice, coming to grips with the benefits and challenges of science and technology, we need commentators who respect both science and religion.
In your edition of November 7th Dr Reville addressed some of the confrontational statements of Prof Richard Dawkins. I think the professor is also well met by G.K. Chesterton's remark, "Neither modern science nor ancient religion believes in complete free thought. Theology rebukes certain thoughts by calling them blasphemous. Science rebukes certain thoughts by calling them morbid."
We are always at risk of taking scientists too seriously - particularly those, such Dawkins, who seem to feel they have a mission to the backward. I sometimes think the beauty of salvation through faith is that it is so democratic. It would be a great pity if we all had to be as clever as Prof Dawkins in order to know the truth about life. It also seems to me that when the professor reduces mankind to nothing more than a transient organism, he devalues himself and the counter-faith he offers. One surely speaks from a logical black hole when proclaiming nihilism on behalf of the insignificant.
At the same time, Prof Dawkins's insights into the working of genes are so clever and thought provoking I think he displays a spark of the divine in spite of himself. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK MURRAY, Arnold Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.