Raffaele CarcanoBy Marc Alan Di Martino
Published: 2010-01-28 Generalizing is tough because those considered the knights of new atheism vary greatly in their opinions and how they express them. Can there ever be church-state of the kind that exists in the United States? Is that even desirable in Italy? Italy is part of the EU, and EU to me appears to be moving decisively toward increased separation. It's difficult to say whether we'll ever arrive at anything quite like in the U.S. or France. If Italy existed outside of Europe it would no doubt face huge difficulties. I don't think it would be worth such risks just to safeguard Catholic Church privileges. Gay marriage was recently legalized in Mexico City. What about Italy? Sooner or later, yes. That's the direction in which the world is headed. The problem is when. Italy thinks of itself as a European nation. In reality it's just the richest of the developing nations. The richest, but certainly not the most civil. What are your thoughts the Swiss banning new minarets? I don't agree. Minarets in cities fall under private building codes, which are obviously regulated through city planning. Crucifixes in public buildings are a public matter. Freedom of conscience in private is the opposite hypothesis. How do you interpret the Catholic Church position on evolution? I'd like to know! It's ambiguous. On one hand, it has clearly distanced itself from creationism, and, somewhat less clearly, from intelligent design. On the other, it considers the existence of Adam and Eve a "historical fact." In my view these positions betray Church's inability to elaborate a position that reconciles scientific data with scripture and Catholic teaching. What kind of people join the UAAR? All kinds. As regards the norm, our members are more likely to be male college graduates living in northern cities. As for age, many are in their 40s. There are a lot of people who work with information technology. Does the UAAR proselytize? No. We exist for those who are already atheists or agnostics, those who wish to explore their own sense of doubt. It wouldn't be coherent for a freethinking association to send out "missionaries" of unbelief. People are perfectly capable of coming to their own conclusions. |
PERSONALITIES Barbara AielloRabbi Barbara Aiello has linked her vivid Jewish present with Calabria's hidden Jewish past.  Olga Rudge"They'll always pick on [Ezra Pound], but I know he wasn't an anti-Semite." Claudio Cappon"The Italian scene lacks what's accepted as normal professionalism in most places..."  Andrea BargnaniAndrea Bargnani is the first Italian to reap the full benefits of basketball globalization.  Irene Pivetti"The problem is with Italian journalists who tend to love all things foreign. It’s a provincial attitude." More Personalities |
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September 9, 2010 | Rome, Italy | Partly Cloudy, 19°C
