Galileos Documents in Western Civilization - Essay Example

Science and Religion The advent of the scientific revolution impacted religion by the contravention of new scientific discoveries on commonly held beliefs during Galileo Galilei’s period. During those times Aristotelian and Ptolomeic teachings were the established truths accepted by biblical scholars and so-called learned men of society. Questioning the accepted facts about the universe then was unacceptable. Galileo’s thirst for knowledge about the natural world resulted in his discovery of facts behind every established “known-truth” accepted by the Church during his time. In Part 13.5 of “Documents in Western Civilization”, Galileo’s quest ultimate quest on the formation of clouds eventually led him to discovering how water vapor forms. During those periods, the only truth being accepted by the Church is that clouds are formed by water vapor. He argues that Aristotelian thinking and philosophizing based on religious scripture is nothing, if man fails to ultimately discover the properties of everything around us. Due to these beliefs, there was great opposition to his work by the defenders of the established truths during his era. Scholars were locked in the old knowledge and beliefs, commonly acceptable to the Church. New discoveries contradicting these were heresy and persons proposing them were destined to ridicule and even worse, arrest, as was Galileo’s fate later on in his life. In the succeeding chapter, his letter to the Serene Duchess Mother showed his frustrations against the non-acceptance of his discoveries and line of scientific inquiry, particularly his discoveries of the heavens. He describes the fondness of scholars during his time for their own opinions, rather than the search for truth and the use of biblical passages in the wrong context, to advance their accepted beliefs. In his letter, he describes how other scholars are greatly disturbed by his arguments, a broad ways apart from the popular beliefs, which resulted to his condemnation and house arrest. In his view, his quest for knowledge, stimulates investigation and growth of the scientific arts, and not the destruction of science per se. He further argues that God gave man the intellect and sense of reason to ultimately look for the truth of all that is around us. Religion and science clashed by Galileo’s discoveries as they were considered radical during his era. It deviated from established beliefs held acceptable by scholars of the period. A greater number of scholars held on to these beliefs commonly held acceptable by the Church. Galileo however argues that the understanding these scholars held as fact were in error, and that there is an ultimate truth behind these accepted beliefs of the era. Religion was commonly being used to propagate these facts of knowledge, to the extent of using biblical passages to support their common beliefs and understanding. Galileo however maintained that the understanding of biblical passages during this period was in error, which the other scholars haven’t yet fully understood, and that there was still a consuming truth beyond what is written in the passages and not yet discovered by man. Galileo further describes how other scholars tend to cover up their fallacies by the use of religion and the Bible. He supports his argument by Saint Augustine’s writings calling for moderation regarding the established truth of the period and the use of the Holy Books in supporting these. He justifies his actions as a continuing quest for knowledge and goes on that his discoveries are not contrary to the Bible. It is important to note, that during Galileo’s time, religion was a controlling force in society. Significantly, the Church held sway on popular belief and politics during this period. Going against the established beliefs and teachings acceptable to the church would cause repercussions on individuals propagating what are considered radical views. Other scholars of Galileo’s time held on to such common beliefs. His discoveries did not really counter the Biblical writings but rather, knowledge commonly accepted during this period. Religion was used by those opposing his beliefs in order to advance the popular and accepted truths as it was the controlling power in society. Religion and science did not really clash during Galileo’s time. Rather, it was his discoveries clashing with other scholars who were held in high esteem by religious leaders of his period. His discoveries were considered unacceptable by the Church as it goes beyond what is traditionally accepted. Galileo however maintains that his quest for the ultimate fact and knowledge about everything around man is in consonance with the teachings of the Bible. He argues that man is still lacking in knowledge and that there was a never ending need to discover. He supported his view that man was given the knowledge, wisdom, intellect and reasoning ability by God to search for the truths about everything around us. This is an agreeable proposition since, if there was no more need for the truth, these abilities shouldn’t have been given to man. In his argument, Galileo believes that there is still a great number of undiscovered truths during his time, thereby a continuing search for knowledge. It was his beliefs that clashed with accepted truths, not religion. Work Cited Documents in Western Civilization. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, n.d. CD-ROM. Web 6 November 2012. Read More