Roger Bacon

By Clair Simpson

Roger Bacon was an avid student of Robert Grosseteste, who is known as the father of the scientific method, around 1250 A.D. Roger advocated the scientific method. He wanted to use science to break the shackles of superstition that held the people in bondage. For example, they thought a diamond could be broken if you applied goat’s blood. Roger’s experiments finally proved this wrong.

Roger also believed that science supports Christianity. He believed the more you knew about science the more you knew about God, who is the Author of science. He believed that science could draw people to salvation. He was one of the few that could see the potential of science. Roger rightly predicted flying machines, submarines, explosives, and worldwide travel. Although scientists laughed then, today they marvel at his great wisdom.

In 1266, Bacon wrote to Pope Clement IV with the suggestion that the church gather the work of scholars into a great encyclopedia of the sciences.  The pope, thinking he meant that the encyclopedia was already written, asked to see it.  Bacon feared disobeying the pope and so sat down and wrote a three-volume encyclopedia of the known science of his day.

            Roger Bacon, also known as Doctor Mirabilis (Latin for astounding teacher), died in 1294.  A crater on the moon is named in Roger Bacon’s honor.