Grimer wrote:
In The Sleepwalkers (1959) Koestler writes, . . .
That is a fascinating description of Galileo and the conflict. I have often quoted it myself. Koestler described another fascinating aspect of the dispute. The story that Church experts "refused to look through the telescope" is pure moonshine. They did look, but the instrument was poorly designed and constructed, and what they saw was unconvincing. Also, it should be noted that the Church initially supported the Copernican theory, and over the centuries it has funded a great deal of top-notch scientific and academic research. I certainly agree this situation is not black and white. I was just kidding yesterday. On the other hand I am adamant that religion -- politics, and other belief systems -- should *never* dictate what "may be allowed to hold as true."
- Jed
