Ales

In Czechia I sometimes hear mentioning Mendel as an example of a "friendship" between church and science. Then I found this in McCabe's A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT, MEDIEVAL, AND MODERN FREETHINKERS (in the Historical Library of II)

Mendel, The Abbot Gregor Johann (1822-1884), monk botanist and one of the founders of Mendelism.

...It is, however, interesting to note that the references one constantly meets in scientific works to "the devout Benedictine abbot" are bunk. The most authoritative biography of him (English version Life of Mendel, 1932) is by a relative of his, N. Iltis, and it shows that Mendel was violently anti-Christian right up to the time when he entered the monastery and wrote a poem of "the gloomy powers of superstition which now oppress the world." He was very poor and he entered the monastery only because it offered a chance to study. As a priest he shirked his functions as far as possible, and even as abbot he bought Darwin's Origin of the Species and accepted evolution, which was then anathema to all Catholics.

lpetrich

Interesting perspective on Gregor Mendel. This reminds me of my sister's account of Yugoslavia's later years; those who joined the Communist Party did so to further their careers, as if the Party was some sort of country club, rather than out of any real belief in Communism.

Ales

It is an interesting parallel. Here, especially after the occupation by Soviets in 1968, which brought about the reinforcement of power of communism only few believed in it. Often it was, however, necessary to join the Party so as no to destroy one’s career. Many were thus taken in the position of a moral dilemma. Recently I read a translation of a book by a British psychiatrist, A. Storr?, Feet of clay: A study of gurus. He mentions an important British church functionary-perhaps a bishop-who, after the question, if he sincerely believes in Virgin Birth, answered no.

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: Ales ]</p>