World History Galileo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World History Galileo - Essay Example World History – Galileo During his work in astronomy, Galileo found many things that supported the view of the Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus that the earth was not the center of the universe, but a heavenly body that orbited the sun. This was against the belief that the earth was the center of the universe as put forward by Ptolemy and taken as true by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church declared the Copernican Theory as false. Thus Galileo’s support for the Copernican Theory was against the doctrines of the Church (3). Galileo did not want to oppose the Church, but some of his writings were against Church held views and his opponents made brought these to the notice of the Church to draw the support of the powerful Church in harming Galileo. It is against this background that Galileo wrote the letter to the Grand Duchess Christina. (4). In this letter Galileo defends his position on the support of the Copernican theory, as it is based on his own observations. His opponents are unable to prove otherwise and have fallen back on the support of philosophy and the sayings in the Bible to prove him wrong. Galileo takes the position that a true interpretation of the Bible would enable the world to understand that there is nothing unacceptable with his views on the Copernican theory. â€Å"I think in the first place that it is very pious to say and prudent to affirm that the holy Bible can never speak untruth-whenever its true meaning is understood†.