Science & the Church

The practical & cynical Universities have never been as popular as they are today. Even in places where they existed, they needed financial and often social support. University funding & academic tenure - a professor or curator with academic tenure has an appointment that lasts until retirement age, except for dismissal with just cause.

Academia without tenure Good professors & researchers become mediocre Bad professors & researchers become dangerous

Sources of Funding for Science in Europe Private sector – mostly a recent phenomena. Historically private sector funding has been more focused on engineering. Government – common nowadays, but historically this has rarely been the case The Church – the most significant benefactor.

Sponsorship of Scientific Research The first European universities were founded by the Church. Bologna University (1088) Paris University (1150) Oxford University (1167) Vicenza University (1204) Cambridge University (1209) Naples University (1224) and many others

Sponsorship of Scientific Research "The Roman Catholic Church gave more financial aid and support to the study of astronomy for over six centuries, from the recovery of ancient learning during the late Middle Ages into the Enlightenment, than any other, and, probably, all other, institutions." The Sun in the Church: Cathedrals as Solar Observatories

Sponsorship of Scientific Research “it is clear from the historical record that the Catholic church has been probably the largest single and longest-term patron of science in history, that many contributors to the Scientific Revolution were themselves Catholic, and that several Catholic institutions and perspectives were key influences upon the rise of modern science." Historian Lawrence M. Principe

Scientific Sponsorship in Modern Times The Pontifical Academy of Sciences – founded by the pope in 1934. A number of prominent researchers from this institution have received Nobel prizes. The Vatican Observatory

Structural Role of the Church Common academic language – church Latin was used in all universities founded by the Church. The common language boosted the spread of scientific research. Monasteries became a center of scientific thought in the middle ages. The majority of scientific thinkers were educated by the Church.

Structural Role of the Church The leading scholars of the Early Middle Ages were clergymen, for whom the study of nature was a small part of their scholarly interest. The monk Bede of Jarrow predicted and described the passing of two comets over England. According to him this would bring bad luck to the people.

The Church & the Spread of Ideas Monks were the ones who combined available knowledge into encyclopedias and translated it in different languages. Clergymen were the spreaders of knowledge among the common people. Few medieval men had subscriptions to scientific journals.

Cooperation between the Church & Science The good: Mathematics & engineering Architecture Medicine Geolog The bad: Biology ~ yet to accept scientific views after 140y The ugly: Astronomy ~ it took 200y to accept scientific views

Astronomy Since the times Aristotle, the scientific community agreed with the theory of geocentrism In 1533 Copernicus lead a series of lectures in which he disclosed his theory of a heliocentric universe. Several influential Church figures urged him to publish his beliefs. Physicists of the time rejected heliocentrism. In 1615 Galileo Galilei published his work on heliocentrism. His research was suppressed by the Inquisition. Physicists once again rejected heliocentrism. Galilei was put into house arrest until his death and was forbidden to lecture.

Why Did the Church Reject Heliocentrism tremble before him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. Chronicles 16:30

Why Did the Church Reject Heliocentrism The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; Psalm 93:1

Why Did the Church Reject Heliocentrism The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. Ecclesiastes 1:5

Why Did the Church Reject Heliocentrism The Church did not understand it. Scientists couldn’t understand it. Copernicus refrained from publishing his heliocentric theory for some time, not out of fear of censure from the Church, but out of fear of ridicule from his colleagues.

Why Did the Church Reject Heliocentrism Even though it was right, neither Galilei nor Copernicus could answer questions about Heliocentrism asked by 2000 Aristotle. If heliocentrism were true, then there would be observable parallax shifts in the stars’ positions as the earth moved in its orbit around the sun. However, given the technology of Galileo’s time, no such shifts in their positions could be observed.

Dangers of Heresy Research is important even if it is wrong.

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