Born: July 20, 1822, Hynčice, Czech Republic
Died: January 6, 1884, Brno, Czech Republic
It is amazing where history carries not only the story of religion, but, also in tandem science. Be it the Greeks or Romans or the Middle Ages through to the acceptance of genetics long after the death of it's first documentation. Darwin was the same way. His work wasn't accepted until after his death. As a matter of fact the story goes that he told his wife not to reveal his findings until his death or later. He was worried about falling out of favor with the kingdom of man.
1866 Mendel's paper is published: units of inheritance in pairs; dominance and recessiveness; equal segregation; independent assortment. These ideas are not recognized for 34 years.
Scientists have worked in the extremes of social acceptance for nearly their entire existence. Science is complicated and government frequently believes it is best to have life simple and explainable. Science rocks that boat. It carves a new path for belief. It is challenging to most folks on their best day to understand why it is snowing with subzero temperatures while Earth is still warming. The INNOCENCE of the society that is governed is exploited for control and outcomes to elections.
For thousands of years farmers and herders (click here) have been selectively breeding their plants and animals to produce more useful hybrids. It was somewhat of a hit or miss process since the actual mechanisms governing inheritance were unknown. Knowledge of these genetic mechanisms finally came as a result of careful laboratory breeding experiments carried out over the last century and a half....
Yet, the truth is, scientific investigation happened within religious orders long before it was secluded to laboratories.
The religious should be unafraid of science as Pope Francis certainly is.
