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Thok · Oh, foe, the cursed teeth!

So what I get is that for 16 years (from 1616-1632) Galileo mostly held his tongue over a theory he thought was true, and the Church for all intents and purposes made it difficult for anybody to try and to compare Tycho and Copernicus's theory by declaring one heretical for some period of time from 1616 onward.

Oh, and that Galileo was censored for being an outspoken jerk who hurt some people's feelings.

Neither of these makes me favorable to the Church. That the Church was mostly smart enough not to get involved in other debates doesn't make up for the fact that it was involved in this debate.

Basically, I'd be as annoyed with the Church if they had declared plate tectonics heretical in 1922, and put Alfred Wegener under house arrest in 1930. In the real world, people took sides even though there was no real proof until the 1950's and the debate resolved itself in the 1960's.

Edit: I'll add that much of the basis of the "The Church wasn't so bad" argument is really "Fortunately, there was a lot of scientific investigation that could avoid biblical subjects, so scientists could do things without annoying the Church".

extropalopakettle · No offense, but....

Zag · Unintentionally offensive old coot

You say that because the Catholic Church has always been so relaxed about making metaphoric interpretation of the Bible? Tell that to all the early Lutherans who were killed for heresy for saying that Transubstantiation was not a literal thing, but just a metaphor.
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extropalopakettle · No offense, but....

Jedo the Jedi · Paragon in Training

extropalopakettle · No offense, but....

MatthewV · Daedalian Member :_

This article is a response to the Oatmeal's comic. I thought it was interesting and defense/viewpoint.
http://catholicdefense.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-catholic-reply-to-how-to-suck-at-your.html

Jedo the Jedi · Paragon in Training

That article is a little anxiety driven in its need to "defend the faith," but the ultimately good point is that the webcomic does set up a number of strawmen for its attack. I still thought it was funny though precisely because I know it doesn't affect my beliefs or religion.
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