Team Espinoza

I recently read “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury. It is a really interesting collection of stories about the Earth men taking over Mars. Some stories are comical while others are a social commentary on science, racism, censorship, and war.

In one story two Earth Men are discussing the Mars Martians. Spencer explains his view of the Martians to his Captain.

Captain: “It sounds as if the Martians were quite naive.”

Spencer: “Only when it paid to be naive. They quit trying too hard to destroy everything, to humble everything. They blended religion and art and science because, at base, science is no more than an investigation of a miracle we can never explain, and art is an interpretation of that miracle. They never let science crush the aesthetic and the beautiful. It’s all simply a matter of degree. An Earth Man thinks: ‘In that picture, color does not exist, really. A scientist can prove that color is the way the cells are placed in a certain material to reflect light. Therefore, color is not really an actual part of things I happen to see.’ A Martian, far cleverer, would say: ‘This is a fine picture. It came from the hand and the mind of a man inspired. Its idea and color are from life. This thing is good.’ ”

I love that explanation of how religion, science, and art can all co-exist. Science is an investigation of God’s miracle and art is an interpretation of God’s miracle.