The chief aim of our endeavors

We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and thanks to God for His marvelous works; and some forms of prayer, imploring His aid and blessing for the illumination of our labors, and the turning of them into good and holy uses. - Francis Bacon, The New Atlantis

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3

We humans are a creative and curious lot aren't we? Dedicating our time, attention, and money to eradicate this disease or to delve into the intricacies of the farthest reaches of the universe we never cease to amaze ourselves with what we are able to accomplish. It seems to be something that drives is as creatures, as humans, to subject ourselves to this wanton, unbridled curiosity. It is both fair and fitting for us to invoke God for his illumination and empowerment of and in our pursuits. But, if our prayers stop there, I fear that they will fall on deaf ears.

By virtue of our decision in the Garden of Eden we were given the illumination we sought through partaking in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God permitted us knowledge far too great and involved for us to handle properly. Science is a mixed bag isn't it? We find an ever-increasing dominion over nature only to have it taken back by nature itself. We find and ever-decreasing dominion over ourselves as we use these advancements to destroy each other.

And there it is. The prayer of the New Atlanteans is prescient and wise. Knowing that such scientific endeavors would be used for evil they invoked the guidance and blessing of Almighty God. We would be fools not to do the same.

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