30th December 2007
“A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism.”
Carl Sagan1934 – 1996
“A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism.”
Carl Sagan1934 – 1996
December 30th, 2007 at 1:14
That is just as prejudicial a statment as a red neck saying that homosexuality is destined to disappear. I always thought he was a fraud but for purposes of this point I`ll say it shows that prejudice is not limited to laity.
December 30th, 2007 at 13:01
I don’t think Carl was being serious…
He would be aware that priestly “celibacy” has so often resulted in illegitimate offspring. Until recently all the stigma for this would fall on the women and the child involved, the clergy being virtually untouchable behind a wall of silence and misplaced solidarity.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:53
I do not think that his thoughts are in the off spring that would not be born, But of another manifestation of the falsehood of religion that would lead people to question of faith. It is hard to breed fanatics when they see the fruit religion bears . This can’t help but to create doubt.
The closer you are to the fruit the easier to see the rot.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:54
if you look for it.
December 31st, 2007 at 18:47
* He would be aware that priestly “celibacy” has so often resulted in illegitimate offspring. Until recently all the stigma for this would fall on the women and the child involved, the clergy being virtually untouchable behind a wall of silence and misplaced solidarity. *
You aren`t still laboring under the assumption that I am catholic? I`m not going to defend the concept of clerical celebacy which has its root more in an attempt to vest credibility than it does in obedience to scripture. They certainly aren`t credible when they only feign celebacy. They might as well stop trying to pretend since there is no scriptural edict for them to remain celebate.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:10
* I do not think that his thoughts are in the off spring that would not be born *
I beg your pardon about that but when he mentions the word heredity that is exactly what he refers to.