The Trial of Galileo
Religious faith and science are often thought to be at odds with one another. Probably the most familiar examples are the beliefs regarding the Creation of the Universe (such as the Old Testament account in the Book of Genesis vs the Big Bang Theory of modern cosmology) or the belief that the Earth is the center of the Universe (that is, that the sun, the moon, the stars, etc, revolve around the Earth, rather than the Earth revolve around the sun.)
The latter argument may seem to most of us as a non-issue, but five hundred years ago the idea (put forward in 1543 by Copernicus) that the Earth revolved about the sun was heresy, contrary to Scripture, and subject to severe punishment of those who chose to believe and—especially—teach this. This led to the famous trial of Galileo Galilei for disobeying the 1616 Papal injunction against teaching, holding, or writing about Copernican theory. In 1643 Galileo was sentenced to imprisonment by an Inquisition called by Pope Urban VIII.
Religious faith and science are often thought to be at odds with one another. Probably the most familiar examples are the beliefs regarding the Creation of the Universe (such as the Old Testament account in the Book of Genesis vs the Big Bang Theory of modern cosmology) or the belief that the Earth is the center of the Universe (that is, that the sun, the moon, the stars, etc, revolve around the Earth, rather than the Earth revolve around the sun.)
The latter argument may seem to most of us as a non-issue, but five hundred years ago the idea (put forward in 1543 by Copernicus) that the Earth revolved about the sun was heresy, contrary to Scripture, and subject to severe punishment of those who chose to believe and—especially—teach this. This led to the famous trial of Galileo Galilei for disobeying the 1616 Papal injunction against teaching, holding, or writing about Copernican theory. In 1643 Galileo was sentenced to imprisonment by an Inquisition called by Pope Urban VIII.
Three
hundred years later, the Church attempted to deal with its actions against
Galileo. The condemnation of Copernicanism and the imprisonment of Galileo had
become an embarrassment.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II proposed a review of the “Galileo case” by a commission of theologians and historians. Eighteen months later the commission was formed, and finally (it took twelve years!), on October 31, 1992, the Pope addressed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. In that speech he recognized and commented on the two paths to knowledge.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II proposed a review of the “Galileo case” by a commission of theologians and historians. Eighteen months later the commission was formed, and finally (it took twelve years!), on October 31, 1992, the Pope addressed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. In that speech he recognized and commented on the two paths to knowledge.
There exists two realms of knowledge, one which has
its source in revelation and one which reason can discover by its own power. To
the latter belong especially the experimental sciences and philosophy. The
distinction between the two realms of knowledge should not be understood as opposition.
The two realms are not altogether foreign to each other; they have points of
contact. The methodologies proper to each make it possible to bring out
different aspects of reality.”
In his speech to the
Pontifical Academy, the Pope stated further
… the Bible does not concern itself with the
details of the physical world, the understanding of which is the competence of
the human experience and reasoning.
For
a detailed description of the trial of Galileo, see
The
belief in the literal truth of the Bible, and the argument that this truth must
be taught in the public schools as an ideology superior to widely held
scientific theories, led to a second famous trial of science vs. religion—the
Scopes Trial. Before we look at that case, let's look at what science is all about.
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