Galileo

The theme of this reading is heresy, and revolves around the trial of Galileo before the Roman Inquisition. It was heretical for Galileo to go against current interpretation of scripture that the earth was stationary and the sun moved. Galileo was being tried for heresy because he published books and furthered the Copernican view of the sun being immobile and the earth rotating around the sun. The Roman Inquisition forced Galileo to denounce his views and abandon all efforts to further them.


The text provides adequate background information of the trial of Galileo. The book, The Assayer won Galileo the support of Pope Urban VIII who took Galileo under his wing because he wanted to be associated with the latest intellectual activity. However, when his book, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, was published it caused him a lot of problems. This book promoted Copernicanism more forcefully. This book caused Galileo to lose support from Pope Urban because the pope felt it was a direct insult to him. Throughout the trial Galileo denied that he felt Copernicanism as being undeniably true, he simply thought it was probable. However, the Roman Court said that any view that is contrary to scripture is not probable. The Court made Galileo renounce his views and he was sent to Sienna for a year, and then he returned to his home in Arcetri where he remained under house arrest for the rest of his life.


This is so interesting that the church was trying to respect scripture and prevent anyone from going against scripture, when they did not know that scripture is not in opposition to the earth rotating around the sun. They really thought they were doing what was right as Christians in defending scripture, but they basically ruined a brilliant man's life in the process. This whole account reminds me of the trial with Socrates, where Socrates is accused of corrupting the youth and believing in other gods, neither of which were true. Socrates simply wanted to embrace wisdom and challenge people to look at themselves deeply and seek out wisdom as well. He was the only one really doing that at the time and the young people that wanted to follow in his ways were those he was accused of corrupting. Socrates was sentenced to death for these things because he would not give up the life of philosophy he wanted to live. Would Galileo have been tortured or put to death if he had refused to renounce his beliefs? Perhaps the story would have been even more life Socrates if Galileo had refused to give up his beliefs.


One thing that stood out to me was that Galileo was seventy years old when he was put on trial for this, and Socrates was seventy-two I believe. Both of these men were late in years as they were put on trial. Galileo lived nine more years, one year as an outcast and eight under house arrest. Something else that stands out to me is that the pope is being referred to as his Holiness. I think that is way too grand a title for any person to have. No one is holy except God. Every person falls so short of absolute Holiness. When the pope is referred to as his Holiness, the "h" is capital, and later when it is said, "the most holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ", the "h" is lowercase. I think Jesus' name deserves a capital "h" much more than the pope's title.


A modern parallel I see is the controversy over evolution and scripture. To be honest, I am a six day creationist, and a science major. I have read many things that cause me to believe that carbon dating is flawed and is probably not accurate. I support a literal interpretation of Genesis and a young earth perspective. Perhaps an old earth and evolution are compatible with scripture, or perhaps they are not. Maybe those who want to stand by a literal interpretation of scripture and not by science are wrong and we just haven't seen how they are compatible yet, or maybe they are right. Either way, that point is not a salvation determining factor. As long as the church does not ostracize and punish anyone who would go against their interpretation of scripture, we are doing better than the church of the 1600's.

Source:
Text Book
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/galileo.html