Logan+Week+3

Thoughts on Galileo

What Galileo finds in the sky was not put there but discovered. His improvement to the telescope helped man observe things that were once before, unseen, whether it be the mountains on the moon, the moons of Jupiter, or the sun’s spots. However much of Galileo’s conclusions from this knowledge were not to his benefit. Many refused to accept Galileo’s discoveries as the truth. “They seemed to forget that the increase of known truths stimulates the investigation, establishment, and growth of the arts; not their diminution or destruction.” Galileo was only trying to seek this curiosity and to further human knowledge. What he discovered was something no one had even talked about before. Unfortunately, Galileo’s conclusions were against the holy Church and we have yet again a dispute between religion and science.

Galileo did not want an argument with the Church even though what he says should be accepted. I think at this time it was hard for Galileo to question what people thought as the truth. The Church had authority over Galileo. Even with his high social status this put him in a position without power. It is interesting when you look at Nicholas Copernicus’s great advances in astronomy and the “heavenly motions.” Copernicus was Catholic and a priest. His research led to changes among the Church (such as their calendar). Copernicus did scientific research and was not accused of being a heretic nor were his books objected. However, he also only made conclusions based on first hand experiences and observations. This made it unlikely that Copernicus could ever contradict the words of the holy Church.

Galileo was only trying to improve on what Copernicus was analyzing. When he publishes his book, the Church names Galileo as a heretic because his teachings are against what the Holy Scriptures say. Then again, not everyone receives the same message from the Bible. “The Bible has confined itself rigorously to the bare and restricted sense of its words, when speaking but casually of the earth, of water, of the sun, or of any other created thing? Especially in view of the fact that these things in no way concern the primary purpose of the sacred writings, which is the service of God and the salvation of souls.” Galileo is saying that the Bible should not be limited to what is literally printed, but is open to interpretation. There are different variations of Christianity and views because the Bible can be interpreted differently. This can be a good or bad: ideas can have deeper meanings but can also stray from what the Bible is truly saying. I believe it is good if things are left up to interpretation because then it forces a decision on your own part instead of following what is set in stone. On the other hand, if you take meaning the wrong way, you are construing the message that is being given. Even though the Bible can be interpreted, Galileo thinks this does not matter because of its purpose: "That the intention of the Holy Ghost is to teach us how one goes to heaven, not how heaven goes." And so what Galileo is arguing is that the Bible did not mean to tell us if the Earth stood still and it is at the center of the universe or not. That detail is insignificant in the eyes of God. Therefore, what Galileo is pursuing is not at all against the “holy scriptures.” Unfortunately, Galileo cannot convince everyone.