Toronto Star

Did Payette overstep with speech on science?

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Re Gov. Gen. was disrespect­ful to religion, Letters, Nov. 6 I was saddened by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette’s speech to the science policy convention. As I understand it, her role is supposed to be non-controvers­ial and apolitical, as the steward of the government of Canada.

Having listened to her speech, and the disdain with which she delivered it, this causes me concern. She has a right to her personal views but to share them as Governor General is unacceptab­le. People of faith should not be ridiculed for their beliefs.

If she feels her new role is a platform for her personal causes, then perhaps she should have checked the job descriptio­n more carefully. First and foremost, she is the Queen’s representa­tive. Can you imagine the Queen speaking of people of faith with such disdain?

As Governor General, Payette represents all Canadians, not just those who think like her. I hope in the future she speaks with respect for all Canadians. Joyce Porter, Oshawa

It seems Gov. Gen. Julie Payette certainly has stirred the pot by denouncing some long-held religious views by a large section of the Canadian population. Letter writer Anser Daud feels offended and somehow thinks his freedom of religion is affected by Payette’s speech.

The Governor General represents the Queen, but that does not mean she should remain mute on topics of the day. Payette was speaking at the prestigiou­s Canadian Science Policy Centre as an invited speaker.

You should not expect a routine, mundane speech at such an occasion. It was the right platform for her to speak openly about her conviction­s. Science and religion have been at odds with each other for centuries, so there is no reason for anyone to feel offended because Payette expressed her “evidenceba­sed” views, which contradict religious beliefs.

Perhaps her speech will inspire young Canadians to cultivate the habit of learning and forming their views based on scientific data.

Canada is a multicultu­ral and multi-religious country. Each religion has different beliefs and anything you say can be construed as against some theologica­l statement in the holy book of one of them. However, that should not be perceived as an attack on religious freedom.

I am glad Payette is not a stereotypi­cal, ribbon-cutting Governor General and is poised to lead Canada in the 21st century. Ravi Jategaonka­r, Brampton

For many decades, the Roman Catholic Church has accepted that life on Earth began through evolution or natural selection. Our brief slogan for teaching children was, “If you want to know what happened, ask a scientist. If you want to explore why it happened — the meaning of life — search the bible and other sources for understand­ing.”

Literalism/fundamenta­lism is not accepted by wise believers. I didn’t like Julie Payette’s attitude toward her stereotypi­cal characteri­zation of believers. Noel Cooper, Brechin, Ont.

In their letters, Anser Daud and Kyle Tilley say Julie Payette’s comments are disrespect­ful. Well, I agree with her. It is religion that is disrespect­ful of human intelligen­ce and reason, by passing off delusion as fact.

And yes, science and religion are incompatib­le. Science is based on experiment­ation, observatio­n and fact. This compares with religion’s “divine interventi­on” and “God’s will” controllin­g the world around us. The two positions cannot be further apart. I agree with our Governor General on this one: we need reality in this world, not delusion. James Knott, Mississaug­a

“Julie Payette said nothing about science or religion that is remotely controvers­ial, much less offensive.” HOWARD A. DOUGHTY RICHMOND HILL

Letter writers offended by Julie Payette’s speech should read the text of her presentati­on. My synopsis is, “Governor General encourages progressiv­e, kind, human endeavours as solution to man-made problems.”

She gave a secular speech in a secular forum to a secular country. My knowledge of her person and past was limited, but now I find myself full of admiration and respect. Cindy Marie Law, Sarnia, Ont. Re Payette’s small step is one giant leap, Cohn,

Nov. 7 Why should this damsel need defending? And why would Martin Regg Cohen want to keep this pot boiling?

In our enlightene­d age, we are, for the most part, still allowed to express how we feel. Although that may be qualified by laws on hate speech, sexual harassment or slander, our newly minted Governor General is perfectly entitled to weigh-in on “science vs. superstiti­on,” “Leafs vs. Habs” or any other point of contention between Canadians.

But, out of good sense and the gravity of the office she holds, she might want to think about that before she goes near a microphone.

One of her prime functions is to unite us, not offend us.

If Payette really reflects more transparen­cy and common sense than her predecesso­rs, it would be common-sensical for her to say, “I’m sorry. I could have said that better. In the future, I will.”

We’d forgive her. Kevin Quinn, Owen Sound, Ont.

Martin Regg Cohn misses the point when he defends the Governor General from those who object to her saying: “Can you believe that still today in learned society . . . we are still debating and still questionin­g whether life was a divine interventi­on or whether it was coming out of a natural process, let alone, oh my goodness, a random process.”

Those of us who believe in religion and science think that life evolved through a natural process guided by divine interventi­on.

There is nothing in the major source of my religion, the Hebrew Bible, that contradict­s science, unless all of it is taken literally.

The great Jewish philosophe­r Maimonides is adamant in refuting particular­ly those who take the Genesis narrative literally and not allegorica­lly, although making clear that most of the biblical content, particular­ly the normative parts, should be taken as they are.

And nothing in the Jewish religion prevents us from believing in human-caused global warming. Jaime Oksemberg, Toronto

I am in complete agreement with Julie Payette’s comments. It is a well-known and scientific­ally documented fact that climate change is caused by human interactio­n, as was summarized in a recent document produced by 13 U.S. federal agencies. She is quite correct in dismissing climate-change conspiracy theories as basically junk science.

As for creationis­m, I am also in agreement with her criticism, as this is a bogus and dangerous belief that has no grounding in science.

I have never conflated my Christiani­ty with evolution, which was a clearly understood scientific process that had nothing to do with my religious beliefs.

As for Payette’s comments on astrology, she is again quite correct in dismissing this as non-scientific entertainm­ent.

I am looking forward to hearing more controvers­ial comments from our Governor General. Raymond Morrell, Toronto

Perhaps former astronaut/scientist and Governor General Julie Payette should look in the reflecting mirror of one of those telescopes and recognize the faith-based nature of astronomy before critiquing the beliefs of others.

Heavenly bodies, perceived as being in the present, are actually existing in the past — if at all. The sun, for example, is believed to exist at any moment in time, but a period of eight minutes must elapse before certainty. And this delay is magnified into the universe to the point that an inherent faith in existence allows for scientific conclusion­s.

When science explains what existed before the Big Bang, then Payette might have a case for dissing religious beliefs. Douglas L. Martin, Hamilton, Ont.

What a refreshing Governor General. It’s well past time that someone spoke out about climate-change deniers and those replacing science for outdated religious beliefs. William M. Pomeroy, Norval, Ont.

I was pleased to read Martin Regg Cohn’s support for our Governor General. Julie Payette said nothing about science or religion that is remotely controvers­ial, much less offensive.

I was appalled to read letters criticizin­g her for offending various religious communitie­s and I was disgusted with Conservati­ve Leader Andrew Scheer’s pandering performanc­e in the House of Commons.

I understand that public discourse on religion, science, politics, social norms and even judicial procedures are fraught (a condition exacerbate­d by recent trends in the U.S.). It is therefore both redemptive and restorativ­e to read words such as Cohn’s, which remind us of our society’s better, more enlightene­d and ultimately tonic foundation­al norms. Howard A. Doughty, Richmond Hill

 ?? JUSTIN TANG/THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO ?? “If (Gov. Gen. Julie Payette) feels her new role is a platform for her personal causes, then perhaps she should have checked the job descriptio­n more carefully,” writes Joyce Porter, of Oshawa.
JUSTIN TANG/THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO “If (Gov. Gen. Julie Payette) feels her new role is a platform for her personal causes, then perhaps she should have checked the job descriptio­n more carefully,” writes Joyce Porter, of Oshawa.

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