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An old question There is a story, possibly apocryphal, of the distinguished British biologist, J.B.S. Haldane, who found himself in the company of a group
by anotherhue 3y ago
An old question
There is a story, possibly apocryphal, of the distinguished British biologist,
J.B.S. Haldane, who found himself in the company of a group of theologians. On
being asked what one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a
study of his creation, Haldane is said to have answered, “An inordinate
fondness for beetles.”
- MichaelZuo 3y agoI wonder how the theologians responded...
- gweinberg 3y agoAlmost certainly never really happened. Haldane wasn't shy about his atheism.
- ethbr1 3y agoI mean, it is the sort of barb a witty atheist might respond with in the company of theologians.
- olddustytrail 3y agoThey probably laughed and enjoyed the meal
- 7952 3y agoHistorically it was very common for the clergy in Britain to have nerdy/scientific hobbies and collections.
- Amorymeltzer 3y agoHaldane's friend Kenneth Kermack, who says the quote is real, said on the matter: >Haldane was making a theological point: God is most likely to take trouble over reproducing his own image, and his 400,000 attempts at the perfect beetle contrast with his slipshod creation of man. When we meet the Almighty face to face he will resemble a beetle (or a star) and not Dr. Carey [the archbishop of Canterbury].