Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property wpdb::$categories is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 668

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property wpdb::$post2cat is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 668

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property wpdb::$link2cat is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 668

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetExists($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 554

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 595

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 535

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 544

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/comment-template.php on line 1739

Deprecated: wp_getimagesize(): Implicitly marking parameter $image_info as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/media.php on line 5006

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetExists($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 960

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 980

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 992

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 1003

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 151

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 175

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 164

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 186

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 138

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetExists($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 75

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetGet($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 89

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetSet($index, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 110

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetUnset($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 127

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::count() should either be compatible with Countable::count(): int, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 199

Deprecated: Jetpack::setup_xmlrpc_handlers(): Implicitly marking parameter $xmlrpc_server as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/class.jetpack.php on line 939

Deprecated: Automattic\Jetpack\Connection\Manager::setup_xmlrpc_handlers(): Implicitly marking parameter $xmlrpc_server as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-connection/src/class-manager.php on line 110

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Automattic\Jetpack\Connection\Manager::$error_handler is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-connection/src/class-manager.php on line 80

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Instagram_Gallery::$is_wpcom is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-instagram-gallery.php on line 23

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Mailchimp::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-mailchimp.php on line 17

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Tweetstorm_Gather::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-tweetstorm-gather.php on line 21

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Tweetstorm_Gather::$is_wpcom is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/class-wpcom-rest-api-v2-endpoint-tweetstorm-gather.php on line 22

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Gutenberg_Available_Extensions::$wpcom_is_site_specific_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/gutenberg-available-extensions.php on line 20

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Memberships::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/memberships.php on line 23

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Memberships::$wpcom_is_site_specific_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/memberships.php on line 24

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_REST_API_V2_Endpoint_Subscribers::$wpcom_is_wpcom_only_endpoint is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/lib/core-api/wpcom-endpoints/subscribers.php on line 15

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/extensions/blocks/podcast-player/podcast-player.php on line 157

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/extensions/blocks/podcast-player/podcast-player.php on line 157

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Automattic\Jetpack\Sync\Queue::$random_int is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-sync/src/class-queue.php on line 38

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Automattic\Jetpack\Sync\Queue::$random_int is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/vendor/automattic/jetpack-sync/src/class-queue.php on line 38

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/widgets/migrate-to-core/image-widget.php on line 195

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/widgets/migrate-to-core/gallery-widget.php on line 56

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Publicize_UI::$in_jetpack is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/publicize.php on line 53

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 128

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 129

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 133

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 134

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/calypsoify/class-jetpack-calypsoify.php on line 135

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 219

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 220

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 227

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 229

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 231

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 248

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 249

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 267

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 268

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 270

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 271

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 273

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/simple-payments/simple-payments.php on line 275

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WPCOM_Widget_Goodreads::$shelves is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/widgets/goodreads.php on line 33

Deprecated: DateTime::__construct(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($datetime) of type string is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/script-loader.php on line 348

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property WP_Block_Type::$plan_check is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/class-wp-block-type.php on line 333

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property Jetpack_Shortcode_Unavailable::$shortcodes is deprecated in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/shortcodes/unavailable.php on line 19

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/wp-db.php:668) in /homepages/34/d43362328/htdocs/ydontu/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1648
{"id":1096,"date":"2007-07-24T21:47:51","date_gmt":"2007-07-24T20:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whydontyou.org.uk\/blog\/2007\/07\/24\/fundamentalist-newton\/"},"modified":"2007-07-26T18:32:26","modified_gmt":"2007-07-26T17:32:26","slug":"fundamentalist-newton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.whydontyou.org.uk\/blog\/2007\/07\/24\/fundamentalist-newton\/","title":{"rendered":"Fundamentalist Newton?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Globe has an article purporting to show that Newton believed in Intelligent design<\/a> so he couldn’t possibly get a decent post in a modern university.<\/p>\n

They reach this conclusion via a mode of rhetoric that makes you want to chew your own arm off. It’s like one of those long drawn out jokes in which the punchline is supposed to come as shock.<\/p>\n

That is, they characterise the beliefs of an unknown professor in a succession of paragraphs that are supposed to make you think he’s a real extremist fundamentalist.<\/p>\n

Not many modern universities are prepared to employ a science professor who espouses not merely “intelligent design” but out-and-out divine creation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course, Dawkins’s name gets drawn in, Dawkins somehow having the ultimate say over all academic appointments in the fundy worldview.<\/p>\n

Then, the punchline. Like a wet sock in the face. Blimey, it was Newton all along.<\/p>\n

And he’s so religious, Dawkins and Sam Harris would never let him get tenure today…..<\/p>\n

But such considerations didn’t keep Cambridge from hiring the theology- and Bible-drenched individual described above. Indeed, it named him to the prestigious Lucasian Chair of Mathematics — in 1668. A good thing too, since Isaac Newton — notwithstanding his religious fervor and intense interest in Biblical interpretation — went on to become the most renowned scientist of his age, and arguably the most influential in history.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, you don’t need this spelling out, but, all the same, 1688 was so long before Darwin and palaeontology and carbon dating that – unless Newton had really amazing powers of prescience – there was nothing else to believe in except for religious explanations of the origin of life and the Biblical dates for the creation of Earth.<\/p>\n

It was also so long ago that Intelligent Design wasn’t even a twinkle in its daddies’ eyes, either. So, is this accidentally dropping the pseudoscientific subterfuge and revealing that ID is just plain old religion?<\/p>\n

And Newton wasn’t just a religious man. He was also an astrologer and an alchemist<\/a> The religion and astrology and alchemy were par for the course for scientists at the time. They were interested in investigating everything.<\/p>\n

Newton had an infinitely enquiring mind and was a true genius. But he lived over 300 years ago. He didn’t invent every idea that’s credited to him by himself. He was involved in the scientific “community” of his time. He was, like all of us, immersed in his culture. His culture had certain values – including beliefs in religion and astrology and alchemy. How could he not express himself through that language?<\/p>\n

The implications of this article seem to be:<\/p>\n