Is nature always there? Part 3

3

  We used to say that nature is “always” there. Here the word “always” has quotes because the parameters of measurements have been changing fast through the scientific endeavor.

Some centuries ago, when the religious vision of the world was predominant “always” meant eternal, everlasting, infinite, timeless. Later on with the advent of science and technological feat nature became increasingly re-interpreted; this means discussed, and looked upon with different “eyes”. More practical vision certainly, more secular and less dogmatic. Modern science begun to date everything: stones, rock, ancient dwellings, fossils, human remains, and so forth.  Top research tools such ad radioisotopes were employed to do this.  So the Bible “six days” were now dated as millions or thousand million years. The old traditional western story of creating had been taken for granted naively by generations as a factual—instead of a metaphorical—account of the universe and life on earth, This was done in almost half a century by a mass of scientist, technicians, observers and scholars that reasoned deeply into the mysteries of how the universe and the Earth came to be. Of course many clerics, bishops, Imams and high ranking clergy felt sort of a shiver in their backs, at least a slight uncomfortable uneasiness of how this could be possible. Astronomically speaking this account started in the renaissance with Copernicus in 1554, but extended for centuries as a reasoned assault of age old Church’s  beliefs were “demolished” by facts, of precise observations of the stars,  and the heavens and nature.  All this was done mainly during the Illustration period. It may seem it took everyone by surprise. It did, and then all research and science progressed at a breathtaking speed. 

To be continued next week