“Now, faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.” Hebrews 11:1 (Douay-Rheims)
My good lady and I are following Babylon 5, a story of the future, which she claims as epic, more so than the Lord of the Rings—me…maybe. A few days ago we watched the last episode of Season 4, a season that Michael Straczynski (the author) thought would be the last, up to the last moment before he began writing episode 22. In that episode the computer gives glimpses of the future (the future projected for the universe of Babylon 5).  One of these glimpses, set 500 years from the current period of Babylon 5, deals with the “Burning of Earth.”
In this Burning the earth is almost destroyed by nuclear war devastation. The survivors blame science for the destruction and detest all that comes from technology and learning. Catholic monks secretly try to rediscover those scientific principles and the associated technology. (Those who have read “A Canticle for Leibowitz” will note the parallel—and I’m sure it’s a “great minds thinking the same,” not plagiarism.)
In the video clip, two monks, a younger and an elder, discuss whether in fact there was an age in which men did such wondrous things. What evidence is there, and if the stories are but legend, why should one attempt to rediscover the non-existent? And so the argument comes to faith versus reason, even as we, the observers, know that faith should win. Moreover, as the elder monk observes, both faith and reason are required. His homely paraphrase of Pope St. John Paul II’s aphorism sets the younger monk straight:
“Faith and Reason are the shoes on your feet. You can travel further on both than you can on just one.”
And that’s our thought for today.
Yes faith and reason cannot be divided just as God (faith) and man (reason) cannot be divided.
And speaking of division here is Mark Mallett on The Great Division Posted on March 29, 2021.
https://www.markmallett.com/blog/the-great-division/
Thank you for the link, Michael. That priest in NJ who told his congregation that only those vaccinated could receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (if that was indeed the meaning of his notice) is off base, not only theologically but scientifically. There is no evidence that vaccination does not make one a carrier; it only protects one from being very sick if one is infected. And that’s one more indicator that one should use both faith and reason to act correctly.
Thanks for this–I had forgotten that episode.
Straczynski is an atheist, but he is one with a Catholic background. And from the writing in the series, he is not one with animosity toward his cradle.
I’ll have to correct the statement about vaccination not preventing transmission of the Wuhan flu. I just read an article citing studies where and 80 to 90% reduction of transmission occurs after vaccination by the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, 50% after the Astra Zeneca. A lesson for me…look it up before making obvious statements.
Well that’s hardly fair because JMS is a big LotR fan and B5 is FILLED with references to it. Heck I’ve only ever watched SFDebris’ reviews of the show and even I spot plenty. (I mean Z’ha’dum – vs Khazad-dûm is so obvious i facepalmed.)
So which is more epic? The epic or the epic which spawned it? 😉 😉