Although I’m an iPhone developer, I’ve always admired the BlackBerry and the company that created it, Research in Motion (RIM). Considering the two co-CEOs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, are fellow Canadians, how could I not? And a recent book has now shed some intriguing light on the faith of the “Father of the BlackBerry”, Mike Lazaridis.
BlackBerry: The Inside Story of Research in Motion, by Rod McQueen, offers some fascinating anectodes about the history of both Waterloo, Ontario based RIM, and its leaders. Religion had a part to play in the whole saga from the very beginning. Mike Lazaridis was born in Turkey in 1961 to a family of Greek ancestry. As Christians, they were forced to flee the country due to a wave of religious persecution that broke out when Mike was only three. After a brief stay in Germany, the Lazaridis family sailed to a permanent home in Canada.
In recent years, Lazaridis has famously founded the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo. A think-tank of sorts, the best and the brightest in the field are invited to research theoretical physics, funded by generous donations by Lazaridis (who personally donated $100 million) and others. A fascinating anecdote in the book that takes place at a Christmas dinner for Perimeter’s board of directors at the Lazaridis’ home:
The wine was poured, but the soup was not yet served as the guests turned toward their host, who had on the table in front of him a small lectern holding a Bible. Lazaridis read a selected passage, picked out some key words, and then wove them into a five-minute homily to the assembled about physics and faith. “He is a sincere Christian and not afraid to show his Christianity”, said Ken Cork. “He’s a Christian in the sense of the instruction in the Bible – love one another – and he does. That’s part of why RIM’s such a great company. When he reads the Bible he’s not a politician trying to make a point. he’s trying to raise up his audience by reading something to them that’s uplifting. He’s pursuing the high road to get to the high goal. To him, religion is practical and that’s quite different from the politically activist type of religion.”
In this regard, Lazaridis – the engineer who is fascinated by physics – follows in famous footsteps. Einstein argued that nature could not possibly be a random place; there must be an underlying reality that causes the particles that make up our world to have defined positions and known speeds. “God does not play dice with the universe”, Einstein famously said, a concept with which countless others have been wrestling ever since.”
– “BlackBerry”, p. 226
Doesn’t the religion interfere with science?
im not a develop im wish be a develop but i dont have the knowledge but i always reed about mobiles phones and wireless networks this guy is a awesome guy this man is inspiration for me im lover of the phones and i want be like him
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