Science and the Sacred

Science and the Sacred

What about Galileo?

posted by The BioLogos Foundation | 8:00am Friday May 8, 2009

Galileo_before_the_Holy_Office.jpg

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org

The Galileo affair, depicted above in a painting by Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury, is a favorite example of how science and religion are destined to be in perpetual conflict.  According to the popular retelling, the trial pitted Galileo, the champion of science, against the Catholic church, upholders of scripture and faith.  If these two sides could not agree then, what hope do science and religion have of harmonizing today?

However, in his article “The Pursuit of Science in a Christian Context: Modeling Dialogue Rather Than Warfare“, Randy Isaac cautions us about simplifying events like the Galileo affair down to the fact that science and religion are perpetual adversaries:

“In Galileo’s case, for example, he and his principal Vatican opponent,
Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, agreed that the Bible should not be
reinterpreted without absolute proof of the earth’s motion. Galileo
thought he had such proof, but his arguments, based on the phases of
Venus and the cause of the tides, were logically flawed and he pushed
them beyond their real force. In the process, he personally insulted
his longtime friend, Pope Urban VIII, who retaliated by summoning
Galileo to Rome to face charges of heresy. In short, there was plenty of blame to go around. It was not simply a matter of ‘science’ versus ‘religion.’”

Certainly, when science and religion meet, sparks sometimes do fly.  But, as Isaac astutely realizes, such “headlines do not tell enough of the story.”  Instead, his article encourages understanding and dialogue between the two sides.

Isaac’s article is available in its entirety from The Trinity Forum’s website.  Also, be sure to check out our other featured readings at BioLogos.org for more reflections on the relationship between science and religion.



Previous Posts

We're Moving
Science & the Sacred is moving to our new home on The BioLogos Foundation's Web site. Be sure to visit and bookmark our new location to stay up to date with the latest blogs from Karl Giberson, Darrel Falk, Pete Enns, and our various guests in the science-religion dialogue. We're inaugurating ou

posted 8:00:00am Dec. 11, 2009 | read full post »

Shiny Scales, Silvery Skins, and Evolution
  Source: Physorg.comIridescence -- a key component of certain makeup, paints, coatings of mirrors and lenses -- is also an important feature in the natural world. Both fish and spiders make use of periodic photonic systems, which scatter or reflect the light that passes against their scales or

posted 8:00:00am Dec. 09, 2009 | read full post »

A Stellar Advent Calendar
Looking for a unique way to mark the days of the Advent season? The Web site Boston.com offers an Advent calendar composed of images from the Hubble Telescope, both old and new. Each day, from now until the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, the calendar will offer a beautiful image from the hea

posted 8:00:00am Dec. 09, 2009 | read full post »

Belief, Guidance, and Evolution
Recently BioLogos' Karl Giberson was interviewed by Marcio Campos for the Brazilian newspaper Gazeta do Povo's Tubo De Ensaio (i.e. "Test tube") section. What follows is a translated transcript of that interview, which we will be posting in three installments. Here is the first. Campos: Starting o

posted 8:00:00am Dec. 08, 2009 | read full post »

Let's Come at this From a Different Angle
Every Friday, "Science and the Sacred" features an essay from a guest voice in the science and religion dialogue. This week's guest entry was written by Peter Enns. Enns is an evangelical Christian scholar and author of several books and commentaries, including the popular Inspiration and Incarnatio

posted 8:00:00am Dec. 04, 2009 | read full post »

Advertisement
Comments read comments(3)
post a comment
Charles Cosimano

posted May 8, 2009 at 11:00 am


I always wonder how the history of science would have turned out if, the day after pronouncing the Copernican Model heretical, Roberto Bellarmine had been found in the Tiber with his throat cut but scientists tend to stress reason more than force, historically to their detriment.
Let us not forget that in the year Galileo died, Sir Isaac Newton was born and by the time he was through it no longer mattered what any Pope would have to say on the subject of science again, as they have to be reminded every now and then. But let us also remember that the reason Newton did not face the fate of Galileo was not the triumph of Reason, but rather the Protestant Reformation and the guns of the British Navy which meant while the Pope could sputter and fume, there was nothing he could do about it.



report abuse
 

DML

posted May 8, 2009 at 10:11 pm


I agree with Charles. The Catholic Church and other religious forces are much weaker than they once were. This is why religion now cedes to science, but only reluctantly, hoping to have full command once again.
I really enjoyed reading Carl Sagan’s Cosmos many years ago about the Galileo’s struggle with the Church. It is complex, but I wouldn’t want to try to justify the Church’s position as is implied above. These people burned others at the stake for petty reasons, sometimes related to dogma, and at other times for personal reasons. I wouldn’t want to say that it was o.k. when it was due to a betrayal of a cleric’s friendship.



report abuse
 

MH

posted May 10, 2009 at 7:13 pm


While in theory Science and Religion should be able to follow the NOMA principal and coexist. But it doesn’t seem to work out that way.
Besides Galileo we have the age of the Earth and evolution debate. Both of which have a great deal of evidence, but there’s still controversy after 150 years.
There are still a few flat Earthers out there so I doubt this will ever be settled.



report abuse
 

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.

Share this story


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Help

Media Kit

Subscribe

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.