Georges Lemaitre, Sugar, the Black Count

"The evolution of the world can be compared to a display of fireworks that has just ended; some few red wisps, ashes and smoke. Standing on a cooled cinder, we see the slow fading of the suns, and we try to recall the vanishing brilliance of the origin of the worlds." ~Georges Lemaitre 

 

    Lemaitre was the guy who shook up the world with his proposal of The Big Bang Theory back in 1950.  What’s interesting is that he was a devout Catholic.  How ironic then that we have such a division of science and religion when the man who first conceived of The Big Bang was a Catholic physicist, a man who seemingly stood by both theories of origin as parallel interpretations.  But after doing some research I found that this isn’t the case.  When Pope Pius XII referred to the new theory of the origin of the universe as a scientific validation of the Catholic faith it alarmed Lemaitre.  

 

“As far as I can see, such a theory remains entirely outside any metaphysical or religious question.  It leaves the materialist free to deny any transcendental being... For the believer, it removes any attempt at familiarity with God.” 

 

    Huh, what a strange conclusion to make.  I get the feeling that Lemaitre isn’t praised at Einsteinian levels for his ideas simply because he was recognized by The Church as proving God's work scientifically.  Why else would a man with an insight so clearly rooted in science not be extolled by scientific historians?  Why isn’t Lemaitre a household name like Einstein’s is?  Einstein himself was quasi-religious, so whatever world. 

    On an unrelated topic, I need to say that I find it fascinating that sugar was used to treat a number of illnesses back in the 19th century.  In fact it was used to cure so many illnesses that it became one of the most sought after resources of that century.  And here I have my 21st century mother thinking that sugar causes cancer.  *Smh*, lol.  I have always felt that sugar was good for people.  Too much of it is what you need to watch out for, but the same applies to any other staple food, so I don’t see why it is so frowned upon in our society.  If people ate more sugar the world would be a better place, just as if people smoked more weed.  True, you might not live as long due to increased energy levels, but I’d sure as Hell rather live a shorter, funner life than a longer, more boring one. 

    I found this information about sugar while reading a book called The Black Count by Tom Reiss.  It’s about the real Count of Monte Cristo, the real Edmund Dantes; the author’s father, Alex Dumas.  He was one of the best fighters of his generation and a valued commander in the French Revolution.  What’s striking is that the man was black at a time when black slavery was rampant.  Pretty damn cool.  I’m only 5o pages in but I can tell I’m going to be highly recommend once it’s finished.