I find it very interesting how over the span of the last millennium science and philosophy have continually evolved. At times the changes are so drastic; they yield entirely new discoveries that rewrite history books and scientific journals. Think of this for a moment: The 1500’s brought forth an amazing renaissance of thought. During the life of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, the church and state of Europe still had a firm belief that the Earth was the center of the Universe around which the sun and all stars revolved. Any individuals, including Copernicus, who contested this long- held theory, were many times persecuted and punished. The Catholic Church was one of the biggest advocates of this theory. It took one man however to set the world on its heels – an Italian Astronomer named Galileo Galilei. At the turn of the 16th century, through use of the scientific method, Galileo proved that the Earth was not in fact the center of the Universe. Believe it or not this was still thought to be a ridiculous theory and was even labeled blasphemy. Today however, we know that the old theory of the Earth and even the Sun as the center of the Universe is ludicrous. Yet, Copernicus and Galileo were persecuted until the day they died for a theory they believed in and even proved scientifically.
What I find interesting is that all the kings, priests and church and state officials of the era believed with unfaltering faith that the Sun revolved around the Earth, yet they were mistaken. It was not until March 1984 that Pope John Paul II finally conceded and corrected a 350 year wrong. It took 350 years for the Catholic Church to reverse its stance about a basic law of Astronomy. In addition, open-minded thinkers like Galileo and Copernicus died before their beliefs to the contrary were lauded as a monumental scientific discovery. Is this a tragedy? Probably not – they died with their science based beliefs in place. Still, I can only imagine their frustration – seeing the ignorance that ran ramped through the highest echelons of power. Yet, this does parallel modern life in many ways. As long as you have faith in something, whether right or wrong, you will instill into it a strong belief system that defines you. You may even be punished or ostracized by individuals or groups who do not see things your way. Ignorance, racism and religious persecution are problems our global community still faces day to day.
My point is, as free thinking individuals, there is a need to question authority. To confirm that what we learn in life from a societal, political and spiritual view is valid information. Much of today’s information, food and energy is held hostage by the elite in power. Look at all the “fake news” that pummels us daily – especially in America. For what? to keep a select few and their interests in power; no matter the truth or lies? It is sickening. It is important to remember that thinking freely with an open mind is one of the most extraordinary gifts we have as humans. Galileo and Copernicus were free thinkers in a very close-minded world, yet their discoveries revolutionized how we perceive ourselves and our world today. We are not the center of the Universe – we are merely one part of something so vast it boggles the imagination. Yet one principal will remain constant over time: Humans will still always desire to understand why we exist and how the Universe operates. Who knows? The thoughts we think today may seem crazy to those who live generations in the future. The vital thing is for everyone to live with faith in science and not blind faith with trust and openness for change, void of persecution.
John C. Bader is a photographer, wellness advocate and consultant specializing in spiritual self-evolution, meditation, and bio-energy healing. In his writing, he bridges science with spirituality and provides steps to encourage more mindfulness in daily life. His new book, The Responsive Universe – Illumination of the Nine Mandalas is a step by step process on how to begin your very own journey in Self-Discovery.
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The answer was in the Bible for centuries that the earth was round not flat!!!
THE BIBLE IS NOT A SCIENCE TEXTBOOK, YET IT CONTAINS STATEMENTS THAT WERE WAY AHEAD OF THEIR TIME.
In ancient times, many people thought that the earth was flat. In the fifth century B.C.E., Greek scientists suggested that it was a sphere. But long before that—in the eighth century B.C.E.—the Bible writer Isaiah referred to “the circle of the earth,” using a word that may also be rendered “sphere.”—Isaiah 40:22.
New King James Version says…
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
Aristotle reasoned that the celestial spheres were rigid. The one holding the stars in place, like the others, could neither shrink nor expand.
Does the Bible offer a similar conjecture? No; it states nothing dogmatically on this point. However, note the interesting word picture that it presents: “There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers, the One who is stretching out the heavens just as a fine gauze, who spreads them out like a tent in which to dwell.”—Isaiah 40:22.
Which proves more fitting today—Aristotle’s model or the Bible’s imagery? How does modern cosmology view the universe? In the 20th century, astronomers were amazed to learn that the universe is anything but rigid. In fact, the galaxies appear to be moving rapidly away from one another. Few scientists, if any, had ever imagined such expansion of the universe. Today, cosmologists generally believe that the universe started out in a very compact state and has been expanding ever since. In effect, science has rendered Aristotle’s model obsolete.
What about the Bible’s words? It is not hard to imagine such a man as the prophet Isaiah looking at the starry sky draped elegantly overhead and finding that the image of a tent stretched out was remarkably apt. He might even have noted the similarity between the Milky Way and the appearance of “fine gauze.”
Further, Isaiah’s words invite us to create mental pictures. We may imagine a tent of Bible times; perhaps we envision a relatively small bundle of sturdy fabric being opened, unfurled, and spread out before being raised up on poles and becoming a home. Similarly, we may imagine a merchant picking up a small bundle of fine gauze and stretching it out for a customer to inspect. In either case, something relatively compact is spread out and becomes larger to our eyes.
Of course, we are not saying that the Bible’s poetic imagery of a tent and fine gauze is meant to explain the expansion of the physical universe. Is it not fascinating, though, that the Bible offers a description of the universe that fits in so well with modern science? Isaiah lived more than three centuries before Aristotle’s day and thousands of years before science provided compelling evidence on this subject. Yet, the description penned by this humble Hebrew prophet does not need to be revised as does the ingenious model designed by Aristotle.
SO, THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE IN THE BIBLE, THE EARTH WAS NOT FLAT BUT ROUND!!!