MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN MODEL OF THE UNIVERSE

No more famous words were ever spoken in the clash between Science and Religion.

Galileo’s name is synonymous with the former, having been called “The Father of Modern Science“.  But his deepest convictions regarding the scientific certainty that the Earth circled around the Sun (heliocentric theory) almost cost him his soul, placing him at odds with his own religion. 

It was the year 1616, when the Catholic Church and all of mankind was still convinced that Earth was the center of the universe, and everything revolved around our world (geocentric theory).  After a very long and openly contentious battle with the Catholic Church over this issue, Galileo was forced to publicly recant his belief that the Earth circles around the Sun in order to save his soul - thereby avoiding torture and excommunication from the Church.  Legend has it that after he had “confessed” that the Sun revolves around the Earth, he reputedly whispered under his breath those famous words,  ”And yet it moves” - referencing the fact that the Earth does move. 

As ludicrous as it may seem that the Catholic Church held such antiquated beliefs back then, and even forced a man of science to be brought before a religious inquisition, we should not ignore the power of religion to keep our minds stuck in the “Dark Ages” even today.  Case in point:  a biology text that is currently being recommended for home-schooled children which attempts to refute Darwin’s classic Theory of Evolution by replacing it with Creationist theory – which a Federal Court has already declared unconstitutional for inclusion in public education curriculum, and further debunked as unscientific.  Even worse is the fact that this “biology” textbook also contains a not-so-veiled threat in very stern terms warning young science students what they should believe if they want their souls to be saved. 

Here is some of the text from that book:

 [A] “Christian worldview … is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is.”

So now ask yourself, does the Earth revolve around the Sun? 

Be careful how you answer that question.  The salvation of your soul may hang in the balance . . .  as well as your child’s education.