Langford, Galileo, Science and the Church - Essay Example

The Catholic Church faced another threat from the scientist's arguments- one of the demystification of Christ. This was "The man Jesus as the personal, visible only way to the actuality of redemption [p.201], not realizing that knowledge was a precursor to salvation simply and succinctly through the Holy Scriptures. The knowledge of Christ was what followers sought. And this was coveted by Churchmen- that the knowledge of Christ = salvation.St.Thomas Aquinas would have earlier stated that one need not have been smart to come to an understanding of this.

What is needed for an introduction but a name. It would have gone something like: "Jesus meets follower A." It doesn't take much to make an acquaintance. What proves valuable is what kind of relationship ensues. For example, such as Master to Teacher, Parent to Child, Creator to the Created and ideally of Friend to Friend. Galileo's groundbreaking views of the universe were demystified with science and religion working together. Whereas the author of this book deemed the church cautious, this reluctance to accept the fated duo (Science and the church) delegated the Catholic Church to play the role, in a sense, of a magician who vowed never to divulge his tricks.

Galileo's mentality or stance toward the Church hierarchy was utterly flawed. He believed himself to be an intellect. He took himself much too seriously and not seriously enough. "it was the unavoidable reaction of one who thought himself capable of outwitting all and making a fool of the Pope himself"[p.145].Had he regarded the Church more austerely he might have gained more approval and less backlash possibly? As it were, how could the Church hierarchy respect a man who could so easily recant his theories?

Galileo's inability to stand by his own claims was a move the Church could not respect. And how could they be expected to His response showed doubt and lacked faith. It is dismal even sad that the man who invented the telescope could see the major and minor constellations, planets, and moons but could not see this point as some sourly missed preemptive polemics.