Robert ASF. wrote:

Michael Davis wrote:

snip

Newton lived in a theocracy where you couldn't move in the sort of circles necessary to make a difference in society unless you were a practicing member of the Anglican Church at least affected a a devout belief in the Christian God. Study the man though, and you will find that he was no religious fanatic.

snipo


    Actually Mike, Newton was a religious fanatic, yet dispite this he made great strides in science. Heck even his science was to better understand the mind of G*d... He even predicted the end of the world in a letter released earlier this year. We tend to gloss over most of his history and study his work in science but he was as religious as anyone who lived in that time period if not more so since he wrote a large number of books on religious themes. More so then he did on science.

Newton is a paradox. He is both one of the first true scientists, and one of the last sorcerers. He dabbled in mysticism and the occult, held some rather unconventional views of the "Holy Trinity" that probably would have gotten him into lots of trouble if he had published them in his lifetime, never took holy orders as was customary when being appointed Lucasian chair of Trinity College, and refused his final communion. He seemed to have trouble with the "party line" according to the Anglican Church, and to be casting around, looking for something he could believe in.

My impression of Newton has always been one of a man who is confused and unsure about his beliefs. Fanatics are always certain they know the absolute truth. I can't agree that Newton was a fanatic.

--
The Evil Michael Davis(tm)
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"There's a sucker born every minute" - David Hannum (often erroneously attributed to P. T. Barnum)