The Rabbi

Grayling provides a biographically focused look at Descartes (1596-1650), who as much as anyone, introduced modernity to a dying medieval world hanging onto its classical roots. Somewhat surprisingly Descartes (dakart) remained a Jesuit, who attempted to have his natural history and philosophical works used as text books in Jesuit schools.
I was impressed with the similarity between the scholarly community's (read church's) reluctance to adopt his thought and the same body's animosity toward post-modern thought today. In a letter Descartes describes why his theories were rejected: (1) they opposed traditional philosophy, (2) it turns the young away from traditional thinking and the technical vocabulary commonly used in arguments and lectures, and (3) new opinions result which conflict with orthodox theology (pp. 182-83).
Wow! Haven't I heard those same arguments applied to the church's place today. As then, so now: tradition rules. I find myself sitting in the audience listening to Descartes debate the theologians of his day: yes, God is sovereign, but that does not mean that the biblical text waxes control over all aspects of science. For them the issue was helio- versus geocentricity. Descartes was a man of faith, we, I am sorry to say, claim to be but evidence demonstrates that we live by sight: doesn't the need to prove the miracles of the bible, somewhat negate their miraculousness?
An interesting read for a somewhat similar time. History in the eyes of Qohelet ever repeats. What a waste!