Galileo and New Ideas Versus Religious Authorities and Old Ideas

Galileo Galilei’s heliocentric theory upset the religious authorities because it was a new idea that was different from the commonly held biblical belief that the earth stayed still and was in the center of the universe. Galilei’s heliocentric theory represented the scientific revolution versus the Church’s long held biblically based belief. By writing down his thoughts and publicizing them, Galilei was making them accessible and understandable for all. The Church was threatened because his findings were in direct opposition to the Church’s beliefs. They understood Galilei to be contradicting the bible and committing heresy. Therefore, Galileo Galilei’s heliocentric theory and the Church’s push back against him represented the clash between the new generation that involved scientific knowledge, and the old generation that was based on religion and ancient philosophers.

Galileo Galilei and the religious authorities represent the clash between the new ideas and old ideas of the 17th century. Galileo Galilei represents the new ideas with his heliocentric theory, and the religious authorities represent the old ideas while demanding that Galileo Galilei’s ideas are false because the Bible says that the earth is the center of the universe. Galileo Galilei said, “They know that as to the arrangement of the parts of the universe, I hold the sun to be situated motionless in the center of the revolution of the celestial orbs while the earth revolves about the sun. They know also that I support this position not only by refuting the arguments of Ptolemy and Aristotle, but by producing many counter-arguments; in particular, some which relate to physical effects whose causes can perhaps be assigned in no other way.”(3:1) This provides infor...

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...nclusion, Galileo Galilei’s heliocentric theory created tension with the church since they thought he was contradicting their beliefs, but in actuality, he was a religious man recognizing the new scientific era and gaining knowledge and sharing his knowledge. The Church was feeling like their beliefs were threatened since they refused to look at Galilei’s ideas and reconsider the understanding of their own. Galileo Galilei’s ideas and publication of the heliocentric theory represented the new ideas of the scientific revolution which clashed with the old ideas of the Church, based on religion and philosophy.

Works Cited

Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, Galileo Galilei (1615)

Robert Bellarmine: Letter on Galileo's Theories, 1615

Sentence of the Tribunal of the Supreme Inquisition Against Galileo Galilei, given the 22nd day of June of the year 1633