The Heliocentric Theory
This long-held belief was eventually challenged by Nicolas Copernicus (1473–1543) and mathematically confirmed by Johannes Kepler (1571–1630). Their theory was called heliocentric, meaning that the sun was the center of our solar system, and Earth and the other planets revolved around it.
This theory was regarded as poppycock and ultimately turned into heresy. Great controversy surrounded the hypothesis while it was still only mere speculation. When Galileo invented a telescope and was able to prove the theory via empirical and indisputable observation, things really hit the fan.
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian mathematician and scientist who proved the heliocentric theory. His telescope also showed that the moon had peaks and valleys, crags and craters, and that the sun had spots that appeared and disappeared, disproving the Aristotelian/Christian belief of pristine heavens. In 1616, he was called before the Inquisition and forbidden to teach the heliocentric theory. Knowing what fate befell those who defied the Inquisition, he sensibly consented to this demand. You cannot keep a good scientist down, however, and in 1623, he published a work called “The Appraiser,” which reiterated his heliocentric belief. He was tried and found guilty, but he recanted, and his life was spared.
Legend has it that Galileo offered the then-pope the opportunity to look through his telescope and see for himself the true nature of the cosmos. The pope refused. He had no need to look through the telescope because his mind was already made up.
The Catholic Church ultimately suffered as a result of their stubborn condemnation of the Copernican heliocentric view of the cosmos and the persecution of Galileo, not to mention the murder of Bruno and numerous other “heretics.” In 1993, Pope John Paul II more or less apologized for past indiscretions and acknowledged that the Earth did indeed revolve around the sun.
