11-Year-Old College Grad Wants to Pursue Astrophysics to Prove God’s Existence

[Fake Messiah]

Hey, I wish more theists would turn to science to honestly look for god. This is something that I always wanted to tell to theists who think that some sort of brain spontaneously evolved at or before beginning of the universe then why don't I hear some church collecting money to launch a powerful telescope to look for it? If you think that god might be in the middle of this galaxy or in other galaxy then why not explore the galaxy? That's actually progressive and not what most of the other theists do which is they get obsessed with gays and sex in general, as well as women's rights and cutting off tops of penises. I would love to hear, let's say, Pope to say "Let's explore the galaxy, let's explore solar system looking for god." but they know it's futile.

Then again searching for god can be an obstacle too, like Newton who lost many years trying to calculate when Jebus would return.

[Minimalist]

Newton had an excuse, he was born in the 17th century.  No one has that excuse anymore.  If they are ignorant it is by choice.

Fucking superstitious twits.

[polymath257]

Newton had an excuse, he was born in the 17th century.  No one has that excuse anymore.  If they are ignorant it is by choice.

Fucking superstitious twits.

Well, perhaps a very closeted 11 year old...

[Jehanne]

11-year-old William Maillis is making headlines this weekend after graduating from St. Petersburg College in Florida with an “associate in arts degree.” He’s now a college graduate at the same time other kids his age are preparing to enter middle school. No small feat.

This fall, he’ll start taking classes at the University of South Florida with the hopes of pursuing a career in astrophysics… and he has a couple of very clear goals in mind. First, he wants a Ph.D.

Then there’s this:

“I want to prove that God does exist through science,” William said, his robed father [an Orthodox priest] looking on. “So that the world can know.”

The article continued:

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That’s… not how it works.

Some astrophysicists find things they don’t understand and try to make sense of it. William’s goal is to find things he doesn’t understand, then give up and give credit to God.

(Also, Rule #1 of Science: Don’t start with a conclusion and try to prove it. You gather evidence and follow it wherever it leads you.)

He’s still young, and he said the same things when he was 9. I’m not mocking him. It’s far more disturbing when adults who ought to know better push the same Creationist myth as a pre-teen (regardless of his accomplishments).

But as he continues his studies, there will undoubtedly be a time when he faces some serious conflicts between the realities of the universe and the fiction of his faith. I wonder how strong that passion for science will be when his driving goal disappears.
I’m also curious what sort of job he’ll have if and when he completes grad school. He wouldn’t be the only person with a doctorate in science who believes in God — but some of them now work at religious institutions (like Answers in Genesis) where no other scientists take their work seriously. Others have successfully navigated high-profile jobs but it’s because they believe God and science are separate ideas that require a different set of rules. It’s not because their religious views ever made a dent in our understanding of how the universe works.

That said, William’s religious parents deserve a lot of credit for embracing his curiosity and letting him pursue his studies. The question now is how much of a critical thinker he’ll become as he grows up.

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http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyath...m=facebook

Why does God, if he exists, need an 11-year old to prove that which he can prove himself.

[Joods]

OP: The programming is strong in this one.

Somebody, quick, find him a 14 year old girl!

Maybe he's a real life Sheldon.

[Angrboda]

OP: The programming is strong in this one.

Somebody, quick, find him a 14 year old girl!

Maybe he's a real life Sheldon.

I don't doubt that. One can only imagine how the prioritization of school and book learning might have impacted his knowledge in other areas.

[Joods]

By the time he's 40, he might be interested in girls.

[Anomalocaris]

OP: The programming is strong in this one.

Somebody, quick, find him a 14 year old girl!

Maybe he's a real life Sheldon.

He needs to bring some yellow cake to his father’s congregation.

[Rhondazvous]

I thought graduating from college was supposed to make you godless. Also 11 years old? Who lets an 11 year old go to college?

I was wondering when someone would mention that. Even if he'd started kindergarten the day he was born,he still hasn't lived long enough to complete grade school, much less college. He would have had to enter college when he was 7 to complete a 4 year college program by the time he was 11.

So we're already talking about a highly deluded life. Of course, he'll find proof of god.

[Angrboda]

I thought graduating from college was supposed to make you godless. Also 11 years old? Who lets an 11 year old go to college?

I was wondering when someone would mention that. Even if he'd started kindergarten the day he was born,he still hasn't lived long enough to complete grade school, much less college.  He would have had to enter college when he was 7 to complete a 4 year college program by the time he was 11.  

So we're already talking about a highly deluded life. Of course, he'll find proof of god.

Two year degree. Not four.