ABSTRACT
In the year 1633, the eminent scientist named Galileo (1564–1642) was forced to stand trial before the Holy Inquisition at Rome. His crime was that he continued to put forth a position held by Copernicus—that the planet Earth, instead of being at rest at the center of the universe, actually moved about the sun. This was not the first time Galileo had run into trouble with the Catholic Church. He had written earlier letters concerning science and religion that, as Drake mentions, “held and propagated heretical views on the interpretation of Scripture.” But this was the last time: he recanted his Copernican position under threat of torture, was forbidden to publish anything else, and was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life. Thus culminated one of the most striking clashes between science and religion. Was this merely a dispute between different opinions, or were there more fundamental issues involved?
