The Pope and the Dalai Lama on Science

MSNBC:

Pope Benedict XVI has waded into the evolution debate in the United States, saying the universe was made by an "intelligent project" and criticizing those who in the name of science say its creation was without direction or order.

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"How many of these people are there today? These people, 'fooled by atheism,' believe and try to demonstrate that it’s scientific to think that everything is free of direction and order," Benedict said.

I don't know why proponents of intelligent design would applaud statements like this when it effectively weakens their position that ID is not creationism in disguise.High profile pronouncements from religious figures, whether from the Pope or Pat Robertson, only highlights the fact that intelligent design has no empirical basis and is therefore not science.

The more closely ID is identified with creationism, the less its chances of withstanding challenge from the principle of separation of church and state as supported by the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Meanwhile, contrast the Pope's statement with the Dalai Lama's in a New York Times editorial:

If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview.

I'm just saying.

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