Galileo and the Holy Inquisition

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posted by The BioLogos Foundation | 9:24am Tuesday June 2, 2009

This year marks the 400th anniversary of telescope astronomy, first begun by Galileo’s observations of the night sky and the publication of his treatise Sidereus Nuncius in 1610.

Few realize, however, that Galileo’s publication of this treatise placed him at great risk with the Inquisition of the time. He and his printer Baglioni were forced to present a copy of the manuscript for approval before publication. However, unlike his later run-ins with the Holy Inquisition, things passed smoothly. The Venice Council approved the manuscript and allowed publication. Part of this could be that Galileo slipped in a few last minute observations — including the moons orbiting Jupiter which would have caused quite a stir — after the manuscript had been submitted. Regardless, the decision points to the fact that not every matter of science and religion met with a head-on clash, even during the times of the Inquisition. Instead, thanks to their agreement, we have benefited from 400 years of telescopy, showing us the countless wonders of the universe around us.

Subscribers to Science Magazine can read more on Galileo, Sidereus Nuncius, and the legacy of the telescope in the article “Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of Telescope Astronomy” in the latest issue.

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DML

posted June 2, 2009 at 12:06 pm

The Holy Inquisition does not deserve any credit here. Obsequious groveling to the Medici family and his post-review additions regarding the movement of Jupiter’s moons to the manuscript are what got this thing through. The Inquisition, even then, was committed to allowing scientific conclusions to be made only if they were amenable to received dogma.

Kristian

posted June 3, 2009 at 5:41 pm

I have to agree with DML. The Inquisition’s failure to persecute Galileo for publication of this paper is not evidence of any common ground between scientific inquiry and the religious authority of the time. I am a strong proponent of the harmony between science and faith, but I believe that science as a way of understanding the universe should be embraced by religion, not conditionally tolerated.