The schism never really existed anyway. Scientific investigation was considered the search for God's plan for the universe and consequently us. The Jesuits were entrusted with much of that part of the Church's functions.

The Galileo incident, that has been used by secularists and atheists to discredit the Church & hence religion in general, was not handled well by the Church and has played into opponents' hands. What has been ignored is that the Jesuits had more accurate measurements that pointed to a terracentric universe while Galileo's pointed to solacentrism. As time has shown, both were wrong and our planet, solar system & galaxy, the Milky Way, are hurtling together toward some other place. Along the way we are likely to pass through another galaxy.

It is important to realize that the Church, along with the Jesuits, monks and other of its groups, have had a hand in much scientific discoverery. Among the most important is the work of Grigor Mendel who laid the foundation for inheritance. And no matter what else, everyone should realize that as he hoists to enjoy a glass of champagne or other sparkling wine, Grand Marnier or other liqueur and many beers & ales, that his imbibing is a result of work of innumerable and unheralded monks.

Even Richard Dawkins can't deny that. And maybe all of you readers of this who are atheists and anti-theists should cease and desist in such joie de vivre.

That doesn't explain the universe though and that's what I was alluding to. Consider this--if we just had a planet, a moon to provide the seasons, a sun to provide light and warmth, than all else necessary is a god to provide the elements to make up life. Instead we have a universe that contains all the same elements that we need in order to be alive. There would be no reason to believe that we are creations of the universe unless it could provide all we needed for life.

It seems all god did in creating a universe was to confuse how life could have begun on this planet. He provided us with the reason to doubt his existence and for a loving god that seems a most curious thing to do...

Well, I don't think that is all that science can do. But one of the true "miracles" of the universe is that it is just complicated enough that it isn't easy to understand the fundamental principles on which it operates, but it is not too complicated for us to gradually unravel its mysteries.

If a conclusion is based on solid evidence and good logic, it does not require any faith to accept it, just reasonable intelligence. Here's ore of my favorite quotes from Bill Maher: "I don't BELIEVE that water boils at 212 degrees, that's just how hot it is when it happens. It's not ideology, it's soup." And I might add that all that should be needed to convince any doubters is a pot of water, a stove, and a thermometer.

Unfortunately, I think the schism did exist and still exists. Galileo was right, within his frame of reference, which was the solar system. The Jesuits were not. Future advances in astronomy have shown our planet is in orbit around an insignificant star that is embedded in one of the spiral arms of a typical galaxy in a rapidly expanding universe.

We see the schism every time a religious group tries to ban a science text that says the earth is more than 6,000 years old or that life as we know it has evolved over hundreds of millions of years or that dinosaurs did not coexist with humans.

I have no problem with intelligent design as long as it doesn't interfere with science's attempt to expand our understanding of natural phenomena and natural forces.

Well, I don't think that is all that science can do. But one of the true "miracles" of the universe is that it is just complicated enough that it isn't easy to understand the fundamental principles on which it operates, but it is not too complicated for us to gradually unravel its mysteries.

If a conclusion is based on solid evidence and good logic, it does not require any faith to accept it, just reasonable intelligence. Here's ore of my favorite quotes from Bill Maher: "I don't BELIEVE that water boils at 212 degrees, that's just how hot it is when it happens. It's not ideology, it's soup." And I might add that all that should be needed to convince any doubters is a pot of water, a stove, and a thermometer.