In All Things

Jesuit Astronomers on the Stars, the Universe and God

James Martin, S.J. May 21, 2010

Jesuit Astronomers on the Stars, the Universe and God

Here, on one of my favorite shows "Speaking of Faith" with Krista Tippett (carried on NPR) are two of my favorite Jesuits (and two friends) George Coyne, S.J., and Guy Consolmagno, S.J., both astronomers working at the Vatican Observatory (in Rome and in Tucson).  Just one is fun enough; two is, well, galactically fun.  Listen here.

James Martin, SJ

Advertisement
Show Comments (
1
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
JOHN METZLER
8 years 5 months ago
What a fun interview!  Both captured the fun and wonder of Science, which now understands Nature across 60 orders of magnitude.  (God is clearly comfortable with really large numbers.) Coyne and Consolmagno work on the large scales; Dr. Tim Toohig, S.J. (and RIP) perhaps could have explained the wonder and fun on the small scale.  Does such a Jesuit particle physicist exist today, and willing to be interviewed, who could do for the quantum world what Coyne and Consolmagno did for cosmology?
My personal opinion is that two very bright Signs of the Times are the new understandings in Cosmology - e.g. the results of the Hubble Deep Space Probe - and in Biology - e.g. the Human Genome, DNA mapping, life from laboratory chemicals.  Could America address in some future issue what the Sciences are saying today to Theologians?
 

Advertisement

Marketplace

Upcoming Ignatian Women’s Retreat: Finding My Inner Compass
Retreats
Sacramental Letters
Books
Incarnate Word Academy: President
Jobs
Monastery of Mount Carmel: An Ecumenical Retreat Centre
Retreat Houses
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House: Executive Director
Jobs
See more listings

The latest from america

The tête-à-tête between Paul Krugman and Nancy Pelosi in Manhattan was like a documentary about a once-popular rock band. (Rod Morata/Michael Priest Photography)
Back to the future with Nancy Pelosi and Paul Krugman
Speaking in a deep blue stronghold, the Democratic leader of the House calls for “civility” and cautiously hopes that she will again wield the speaker’s gavel in January.
Brandon SanchezOctober 16, 2018
Can a pro-life scholar survive in academia?
The lecture provoked no hostile reaction from the students who heard it. But a media firestorm erupted.
John J. ConleyOctober 16, 2018
Catholic teaching on conscience is (again) topic of discussion at synod
Though the current synod appears to lack the sort of drama and high-stakes debates of the previous two, the role of conscience appears to be a common thread.
Michael J. O’LoughlinOctober 16, 2018
An Olympic salute to black power: what it means 50 years later
When Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the Olympic podium, their act drew widespread criticism. Now Colin Kaepernick is the face of Nike.
Michael McKinleyOctober 16, 2018