Departed Harmony

Long Ago Galileo Sought Truth on Science & Scripture

It is well-known that Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was a giant of modern astronomy and physics. Less well-known is the fact that he wrote thoughtfully both about principles of biblical interpretation and about the relationship of science to theology. His ideas on both subjects are worthy of attention, and his discussion of the latter is particularly important for current debates.

The Copernican view of the cosmos gave the earth a double motion, rotation on its own axis and revolution about the sun. In addition, it stripped the sun of its own daily revolution around the earth, giving it instead a fixed position in the center of the world. In defending this heliocentric model against the traditional,...