Bishop of Bath and Wells Darwin Debate

[swallow]

 http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/bishops_message/documents/025Darwindebate20-03-09.doc
I thought this was a good speech - it was the last bit about accepting integrity vs belief that worked for me

The celebration of Darwin's bicentenary would be deeply enriched by a common commitment to cosmic peace. For those of us who believe that in the end everything both comes from and goes back to God, that can be our contribution; for those whose integrity does not let them make that step, then our common journey must be one of wonder, respect for mystery and a commitment to the welfare of the planet and its future. If that were to happen, this celebration would be truly valuable for the future of humanity.

[The Brain]

Sorry, Blackadder ruined the bishop of Bath and Wells for me. 

[Eddie Teach]

What the fuck does integrity have to do with whether one believes in God or not?

[swallow]

Its not believing in something just because you're told by someone it exists.  He's not trying to alienate his own, he's trying his best here.

[swallow]

Sorry, Blackadder ruined the bishop of Bath and Wells for me. 

I'm told (by an unreliable source) that he is often followed round by that music

[Solmyr]

[alfred russel]

It sounds like a plea for mercy from the bishop in the religion vs. science culture war.

[Sheilbh]

It sounds like a plea for mercy from the bishop in the religion vs. science culture war.

The CofE don't really have any part in that culture war.  They're entirely comfortable with most science.

[Mr.Penguin]

The only Bishop of Bath and Wells, there is...

[The Brain]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/3660275/Bishop-of-Bath-and-Wells-Lingering-torment-of-Blackadder.html

[Mr.Penguin]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/3660275/Bishop-of-Bath-and-Wells-Lingering-torment-of-Blackadder.html

[alfred russel]

It sounds like a plea for mercy from the bishop in the religion vs. science culture war.

The CofE don't really have any part in that culture war.  They're entirely comfortable with most science.

They did at one point. They just lost their battle and were reduced to comments like those starting this thread earlier than other locales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_Oxford_evolution_debate

[Octavian]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/3660275/Bishop-of-Bath-and-Wells-Lingering-torment-of-Blackadder.html

[Valmy]

What the fuck does integrity have to do with whether one believes in God or not?

If you are convinced there is no God, you believing in God anyway, for whatever reason, wouldn't have much integrity to it.  I think that is what he is getting at.

I hear people say alot something like 'I wish there was a God but I just do not see the evidence that can support it' or some such.

[Sheilbh]

They did at one point. They just lost their battle and were reduced to comments like those starting this thread earlier than other locales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_Oxford_evolution_debate

Oh yeah, that debate's famous.  But the modern CofE has no issue with science and hasn't for a very long time.  There really is no science vs religion culture war in this country in terms of what science and religion think.  The only conflict is on certain ethical/moral issues, even then it's generally a pretty elevated debate with Bishops and Professors sparring through lectures and letters to the Times.