Why Should We Love Science?

[abaris]

And I would add that the church has a rather mixed record with regard to science.  When it has been able, it has repressed results that conflict with then current theology, not by rational argument, but by force.

They haven't got a mixed record. If they believed it to be a danger to their dogma, they supressed it.

The irony lies in that much of medieval science came from muslim sources. Back then they weren't afraid of science and education and mingling with them during the crusades led to the first cracks in the armor of stupidity that made up Europe up to that point.

Friedrich II saw that. He invited muslims to his court. For his time he was very interested in the laws of nature and wrote several books about it. His most famous, I believe, a book on falcons. Through his whole lifetime he wasn't on the best footing with the holy see and was excommunicated for not going on a promised crusade. And even when finally embarking on that adventure he shined in comparison to his peers. He won Jerusalem by negotiating instead of slaughter.