A Vatican twist on the baseball card
Transcript of today's show: Sound Off: Science & Faith. Our point/counterpoint regulars Shelley (the voice of science) and Peter (the voice of faith), comment on the story.
Rome is swimming this spring in Vatican holy cards, pocket-sized laminated pictures of the Pope complete with an inspiring quotation from the Holy Father himself. The pope card says humans are not a casual and meaningless product of evolution. Hundreds of thousands of these cards have been sold all over Rome. They are available in dozens of languages, and word is, they are very popular with the tourists. [source: Evolution News & Views]
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The Voice of Faith: Peter Williamson, M.Div., comments:
I’m familiar with these pope cards. It’s important to note that any message can be printed upon them; Pope Benedict chose to include a statement on the fallacy of evolution, showing once again that he is a Pope of deep and clear conviction. I’m pleased to see a course correction of the papacy’s position on evolution.
The Voice of Science: Shelley Greene, Ph.D., comments:
The propaganda power of these little cards may or may not be substantial. What we do see here, though, is another example of conservative Christians trying to make their point (ie, proselytize) with the public through slogans that have no scientific basis or context.