The Galileo Thing

While the northern Italian city of Padua (where Galileo Galilei taught at the University from 1592 to 1610 and made the first astronomical observations of the four moons named for him) has established a literary prize in his honour, The Catholic Herald, Britain's leading Catholic newspaper, published an article yesterday about "the myth of Galileo."

William E Carroll, Thomas Aquinas Fellow in Theology and Science, Blackfriars, Oxford, wrote:

The humbled Galileo, kneeling before the cardinals of the Inquisition, being forced to admit that the Earth did not move – one could not ask for a clearer image of blind faith, biblical literalism and superstition. It occupies a prominent place in mythology of the history of religion and science. Indeed, the modern world is determined to resist any challenge to the view that Galileo was persecuted by the Church as part of an attempt to thwart the rise of science.

But

Galileo did not prove that the Earth moves about the sun.

And

There is no evidence that when Galileo acceded to the demand that he renounce the view that the Earth moves that he muttered under his breath, eppur si muove, "but still it moves." What continues to move, despite evidence to the contrary, is the legend that Galileo represents reason and science in conflict with faith and religion.

Related post:

• Viva Galileo! Viva Benedict XVI!