What would you do? Would you deny something you know is true?

Galileo’s motto might have been “follow knowledge wherever it leads us.”

Biblical references Psalm 93:1, 96:10, and 1 Chronicles 16:30 include text stating that "the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.“ In the same manner, Psalm 104:5 says, "the Lord set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved." Further, Ecclesiastes 1:5 states that "And the sun rises and sets and returns to its place" Christian Arguments for a Geocentric Universe

Christian view of a Geocentric Universe

“Galileo on Trial”

Copernicus’ Heliocentric Universe

Galileo’s response to the Inquisition: A VOICE FROM THE PAST With sincere heart and unpretended faith I abjure, curse, and detest the aforesaid errors and heresies (of Copernicus) and also every other error …contrary to the Holy Church, and I swear that in the future I will never again say or assert…anything that might cause a similar suspicion toward me. Galileo Galilei, quoted in The Discoverers

Assignment On a piece of paper you will write a “Talk Back” to Galileo. You will have at least 3 paragraphs. 1.Tell Galileo what you think of the way he handled this situation. Do you agree with him? Why or why not? 2.Come up with at least 5 questions that you would have asked the church OR Galileo about this trial. 3.Tell Galileo how you would have handled this situation. Answer the following questions: 1.Can an Idea be dangerous? 2.Does modern scientific knowledge seem mostly harmful or helpful? 3.Galileo faced persecution for teaching new ideas. Could this happen today? 4.Describe a situation in which you lied but you believed you were doing it for the “right” reason.